Life Update as a 2026 Gray Panthers Above and Beyond Award Recipient
I was so deeply honored to be a recipient of the 2026 Gray Panthers Above and Beyond Award!
Being blessed with the community and friends I have made with the Gray Panthers of New York City has been amongst the most rewarding moments of my life and I am privileged to share with you all what I have been up to following my journey with the Gray Panthers!
First and foremost, I’d like to share with you that drawing from the deep inspiration I was blessed through with the Gray Panthers, I was selected as a speaker for TedxTinley Park! My topic? Of course, spreading the word and necessity of Intergenerational Connection!
Interviewing the people behind the activism and change who lead various chapters of Gray Panthers across the nation, sparked the change and activism in me that led me to take that stage and broadcast to the world the need for cross-age connection.
Truly, I could have never imagined being selected as a speaker for Tedx, and I owe much of it to the Gray Panthers. In particular, I’d love to thank Michelle Arnot, and Sophia Casale for recognizing me for the 2026 Gray Panthers Above and Beyond Award and inspiring me with the strive and dedication for change they hold within themselves.
I’d also like to include that I am currently working with the Gray Panthers NYC as an intern and volunteer! My journey with them is life-long, and I have only just begun to get involved! I have always loved writing (hence the article!), and from that passion I am currently taking on the role to write summaries and blog posts for the Gray Panthers NYC. My work with them has taught me that you can take any one of your passions and pursuits and turn it into real activism.
My journey and advocacy continues with the initiative I started this late January at my high school. I am happy to share that we are expanding Generations Connect by starting our very own Pen-Pal program! Connecting high school students with local seniors amongst our communities through letter-writing. It's the perfect opportunity for our seniors to sharpen their cognitive skills, and for our high school students to finally learn how to read a second language: cursive.
Working with the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow—a youth entrepreneurship non-profit organization—I am looking forward to how I can spread the impact of Generations Connect to my community in a larger capacity. I am just getting started and have so much to do for my community, and the world.
Thank you Gray Panthers for believing in me and being my first step to achieving the person I want to be.
Sincerely,
Hadia Miriam
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