Previous Recipients

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Anthony Grassi has been a Build Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity, a Point for Club 4 (serving dinners to the homeless), an Advisor to the Mentor Program and as Co-Founder and Co-President of Falcon’s Lead—a sports mentoring program. He participated in student government at CRLS as Sophomore and Junior Class Official, served as Representative to the School Committee and interned in Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office. Anthony’s recommenders describe “a natural problem solver,” a “true leader and leader’s leader,” and the guy who would fix your flat tire if your car broke down.

Ezra Rudel founded the Band Land Brass Band at CRLS where he uses music as a vehicle for activism. A mentor of the School of HONK, Ezra teaches trumpet, leads songs and promotes LGBTQ rights and environmental causes.  As President of the Bike Advocacy Club, he has addressed the City Council in support of safer bike infrastructure, and organized bicycle safety and repair workshops. Over 4 years, he worked 470 hours for community service (more than 3 times as many hours as the National Honor Society requires). Ezra is praised in recommendations as “awesome.” And “kind and energetic”, and “he will reach out and help everyone.” 

Annalise Slate has found her passion for social justice in her 2 years of work at the Women’s Center, a refuge for homeless and abused women, where she supports–both in person and via the hotline--women in crisis. She is President of the Intersectional Feminism Club, where she developed a consent workshop for freshmen and trained peers to lead it, as well as Co-President of Project 10 East (Gender and Sexuality Alliance), Last year, Annalise led CRLS students at the “March for Our Lives” rally at the State House, speaking out against gun violence. She trained at the 2018ACLU Summer Advocacy Institute—a program for lifelong engagement in grassroots organizing, policy development and legal advocacy. She wrote The Cambridge Club: “I love building community, supporting people, and most of all, creating spaces where people feel truly safe.” 

Alfred Taylor is described as an “empathetic thinker,” and as a “a creative mind, with humor, thoughtfulness and fearless approach.” As a member of the Cambridge Youth Council, Alfred advocated to subsidize bus passes for low-income students. As VP of the Black Student Union, he has lectured, participated on panels and sat with City and school officials to work to improve race relations.  As Captain of both CRLS Volleyball and Beantown Volleyball, Alfred has coached and refereed in Cambridge middle schools. Troubled by the “disparities in access [to opportunities],” Alfred is committed to study political science and the law with the goal of “improving community dynamics and the quality of life for our youth,” especially youth of color.

Noah Epstein was the Youth Trustee on the Board of Trustees for the Tremont Street Synagogue - a position that exists only because he suggested to the Board that it would provide representation of a critical cohort—youth—not presently represented. 

He’s one of the many young participants, and a critical leader, in a program called Faith Kitchen, a group of young people from several local places of worship: Faith Lutheran Church; Tremont Street Synagogue; Cambridge Islamic Center and any other young people who may wish to participate where they prepare and serve food for those who are hungry. They collect ingredient and foods from the Boston Food Bank and join the guests in the meal. Noah observed: 

 “I work side-by-side and share a meal with people whom I would otherwise be unlikely to meet, and I try my best to take advantage of this time to forge connections. I enjoy sitting down with the patrons during the meal and sharing stories. I meet people who have lived in Cambridge their whole lives and people who have immigrated from around the world, and I get to learn their perspectives on everything