THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 4, 2025 Page 9 Spreading Awareness through Teen Perspectives with Immigrant Learning Center’s Annual Essay Contest By Lauryne Jean Joseph MHS Blue and Gold T he Malden-based Immigrant Learning Center (The ILC) created different topics and prompts relating to immigration for its annual Teen Perspectives on Immigration essay contest. The submission deadline has passed for the prizewinners. Anyone who applied before the deadline has been notified who placed as winners. A celebration will be held on Thursday, April 17 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Arts Collaborative Medford, 162 Mystic Ave., Medford. Those eligible to participate in this essay contest were grades 9-12 students from Malden, Everett, and Medford High School. However, what is eye-catching are the prizes after winning the contest as a whole: the first place winner receives $300, second place receives $200, third place receives HOSTED | FROM PAGE 3 ister at First Parish Church in Malden, who has also served as Counselor to Unitarian Universalist students at Harvard Divinity School; Aisha Cruze; and Malden Councillor-at-Large Carey McDonald. All four spoke collectively and also individually, on their life experiences, respectively, as a transgender man, cisgender woman, transgender woman and nonbinary individual with they/them pronouns. Councillor McDonald spoke at length at one point during a question-answer session with the students, explaining coming out as identifying as nonbinary within the past year and experiences associated with that life change. Nonbinary is one term people use to describe genders that don’t fall into one of the two categories of male or female. The second-term City Councillor holds the historic distinction of being the only elected official in Malden municipal history openly identifying as nonbinary. Following the presenta$100, and honorable mentions receive $50 each. When The ILC first started, their main goal was to “increase awareness of the benefits” and to “shift the narrative about immigration away from fear and mistrust to one of compassion and understanding,” said Ariana Moir, the Education Program Manager. This contest began in 2022, and the only school eligible to join at the time was Malden High School. Later, when the Malden-based ILC expanded to surrounding communities, the nonprofit encouraged students from other schools like Medford High and Everett High School to share their experiences as immigrants in America. This year’s topic is “The Cultural Impact of Immigrants on American Society.” This topic ranged from personal experiences to family members’ experiences and anything else the teens can tion, Councillor McDonald said, “It was an excellent event. A lot of important information was shared with our Malden students today.” Sharing information on resources available to students on these topics is especially important these days, all four of the panelists had explained earlier. According to data collected nationally by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over one in four high school students identifies as LGBTQ+ – about 26% – a dramatic increase over the last decade, from 11% in 2015. The panel presentation was led by an MHS student, Lumi Leshane, an officer in the Malden High Rainbow Lions Club, who was joined on stage by other Rainbow Lions student members. Leshane facilitated the question-answer session by going into the audience with a roving microphone to get questions from the students. Malden High School eighthyear Principal Chris Mastrangelo praised all involved in planning and running the event, as well as the students who atconjure up. Students used these questions to guide their writing: —What cultures and traditions do immigrants bring to your school, community and/or the United States? —How do these cultures and traditions make America a better place? —How do immigrants keep their traditions and share them with others while also learning American ways of life? —How does sharing immigrant cultures help make America special? There were different ways to submit work, including essays that must have up to 1,000 words, artwork and videos. “We accept(ed) art and video submissions in addition to essays,” Moir stated. Trini Le and Jason Juan are both sophomores at Malden High School who entered this contest. They both submitted tended. “We strive to be a welcoming and supportive school community for all of our students, of all cultures and individual identities,” Mastrangelo said. “This presentation is another great example. I commend Ms. Jones and the Rainbow Lions for putting together such a great event. “I am also so proud of over 300 students who showed such great respect and support for those participating in this event, especially with their attentiveness,” Mastrangelo added. The Rainbow Lions Club advisor Jean Jones agreed: “The students were great and there were a lot of them in attendance; they really got to hear some valuable stories from our panelists.” “I would like to thank our four panelists who came to share their life experiences with our students and would also like to encourage all students who wish to participate in the Day of Silence on April 11,” added Jones. Anyone who has any questions or desires further inforIMMIGRATION ESSAY CONTEST: Many students participated this year; winners will be announced on April 17. (Graphic designed by Lauryne Jean Joseph) original artwork that fits this year’s theme. “My piece focused on immigrants who work in the agriculture industry and wake up before dawn in order to provide for their families,” Le explained. Juan emphasized that it is important to “show how the country is built on immigrants and thrives because of them. It can represent the deep connection between America’s identimation on the Day of (No) Silence may contact Rainbow Lity and the diverse cultures that shape it.” Both Le and Juan mention that to them, immigration means “searching for opportunity” and “seeking refuge and a better life for themselves and their families.” During these years, they have posted magazines that feature different contestants discussing the year’s prompts. Last year, in 2024, the magazine posted 39 pieces on the topic of “What immigration means to me,” which shows life as an immigrant in America in many different and creative ways. While scrolling through these different types of submissions, ranging from essays to artwork, one can see different experiences relating to immigration. All are welcome to attend the celebration to be held on Thursday, April 17 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Arts Collaborative Medford, 162 Mystic Ave. ons Club advisor Jean Jones by email: jjones@maldenps.org. New St. Anthony’s Flea Market 250 Revere St., Revere, Lower Hall Indoor Flea Market SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2025 from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Admission .50 Cents NEW VENDORS WELCOME! Free Coffee & Tea! To rent a table, call Lynda: (781) 910-8615 Need Help With Weekend Chores? Call Shea - SENIORS - 207-837-4711 Deep Cleaning - Heavy Lifting - Property Maintenance
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