history 2010

This year, Reflection in Action: Building Healthy Communities™ (RIA) celebrates seven years of linking the arts with science and social justice for schoolchildren in Boston and Cambridge. RIA was first conceived in 2003 as an extension of the Harvard Medical School Office for Diversity and Community Partnership Explorations program. Explorations is an annual, full-day, hands-on program addressing career exploration in science and medicine for Boston and Cambridge middle school students.

Reflection in Action was also created in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington, the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, and the 100th anniversary of Harvard Medical School (HMS) at its Longwood Avenue location. The program was designed as a full-day celebration of the Civil Rights Movement, of individuals who went on to address health disparities, and in recognition of the fact that individual efforts can result in community-altering changes. RIA involves expanding middle school students’ knowledge about health and public health issues, while at the same time recognizing students’ roles as leaders in the community and providing an opportunity for students to express their messages about health through the arts.

Over time, Reflection in Action has grown from 44 student contest submissions and 200 student attendees in 2004, to 278 submissions received from 347 youth in 2010. This city-wide student competition focuses on health disparities, urban health issues, oral health, public health, heart, lung, blood and kidney diseases, sleeping disorders, high blood pressure and nutrition. A panel of judges from industry, academe, the arts community, the local media, public schools, and community-based organizations select winners in performance, visual art and writing categories. Winners receive cash prizes and all students are recognized with certificates.

This year, Reflection in Action: Building Healthy Communities™ is honored to have established the RIA Youth Leadership Awards. These inaugural awards, sponsored by Northeastern University and the HMS Office for Diversity and Community Partnership, recognize outstanding student leaders representing four areas: Boston Middle Schools, Cambridge Middle Schools, Boston High Schools and Cambridge High Schools. Honorees are: Yasmin Bailey, Andrew Edge, Jacob Klibaner, Isaiah Lyons-Galante and Dominique Wilson.
The RIA Youth Leadership Awards were modeled after the Ruth M. Batson Social Justice Award. In 2010, the 4th Annual Ruth M. Batson Social Justice Award recipient is James C. Mullen, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Biogen IDEC. The award is sculpted by Dr. Fay Stevenson-Smith.

Reflection in Action activities also include a Health Bowl that focuses on science content, and a Health Fair where students engage in activities and visit exhibit booths sponsored by area hospitals, health organizations, businesses and academic medical centers. The Health Fair is followed by a raffle for prizes including apparel, movie passes and tickets to area museums and professional athletic events.

In the News: Focus - June 25, 2010

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