Last updated:
Spark Boston Impact Awards
The annual awards shine a spotlight on young adults doing outstanding work to improve Boston.
Each year, we celebrate the contribution of 20- to 34-year-olds to our City with the Annual SPARK Impact Awards. This group makes up nearly half the City’s work force, and about 45 percent of eligible voters. They are an economic engine, adding $1 billion each year in goods and services to Boston.
-
Have questions? Contact:
Award winners
2020 Winners
- Activism: Yordanos Eyoel, Malden, nominated for her leadership mobilizing the 2017 Boston Women’s March and at New Profit to equip social entrepreneurs leading work in underinvested areas with the tools and relationships to accelerate their path to success.
- Arts and Culture: Lina Gonzalez-Granados, Milton, nominated for founding Unitas, an orchestral ensemble devoted to performing music, many new works, from Latin America and bringing educational programs to underrepresented communities.
- Community Building: Carolina Prieto, Malden, nominated for her community and civic engagement work at MAPC, especially with the MetroCommon 2050 strategic plan update and first in 20 years Lynn City Summit. She also founded and leads CARAMELO Boston, a dance company that trains women in Latin dance styles and fusion.
- Education and Mentorship: Prophet Parker-McWhorter, West End, nominated for his work as a teacher and mentor to over 400 elementary school students, whether teaching physical education, guitar, or singing.
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Angela Liu, Mission Hill, nominated for her work running and advocating for Hack.Diversity, a social enterprise that connects diverse job-seekers with intentional recruiting, training and mentoring to thrive in the tech industry.
- Public Service: Kharlita Chambers-Walker, Dorchester, nominated for her work as one of Mayor Walsh’s advance Coordinators, Legislative Aide to State Representative Evandro Carvalho, and leader of the City of Boston Women's Employee Resource Group.
- SPARK Boston Outstanding Alumni: Sasha Goodfriend, Roxbury, nominated for her work as President of Mass NOW pushing the I AM Bill, which provides free menstrual products for folks in shelters, prisons, and schools, and leading the movement and legislative charge for childcare access and menstrual equity.
- Unsung Heroes: Claire Solomon, Dorchester, nominated for founding and helming Project Amanda, an effort to support pregnant young mothers impacted by homelessness and in transitional living centers.
2018 winners
- Activism: Alvin Tran, nominated for his advocacy work around body image acceptance and eating disorder prevention in Boston.
- Arts and Culture: Crystal Chandler, nominated for her work to flood Boston's black community with positive messages.
- Community Building: Jeffrey Lopes, nominated for his service as a Boston Police Officer and work empowering at-risk youth.
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Tuan Ho, nominated for his work founding ScholarJet. The program helps students earn scholarships based on their skills.
- Public Service: Reilly Zlab, nominated for her pioneering work in civic technology at the City of Boston.
- Unsung Heroes: Tena Reynolds, nominated for her work as a leader in the service industry.
2016 winners
- Activism and Issue Advocacy: Mario Paredes, who served as Centro Presente's youngest board member.
- Arts and Culture: Matt Parker, for using poetry as a tool for community building and violence prevention.
- Community Building: Sherri Snow, for her leadership as Executive Director of the North End Music and Performing Arts Center.
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Ian So, for spearheading the Chicken & Rice Guys Foundation and founding of the Boston Asian Entrepreneurship Foundation
- Unsung Heroes: Taylor Curley, for supporting her special needs students at the Mattahunt Elementary School.
Impact Award Finalists and Winners
2020 Impact Award Finalists and Winners
A selection committee reviewed more than a hundred nominations to select these finalists.
2018 Impact Award finalists
We had finalists in six different categories.
2016 Impact Award finalists
A selection committee reviewed more than a hundred nominations to select these finalists.
Who's Involved:
-
Have questions? Contact:
