Malcolm McDowell Award & Recipients
The Malcolm McDowell award is named in honor of the late Malcolm McDowell, noted human rights activist and former member of the Barnstable County Human Rights Commissioner. Funding for this Award comes from the John L. Reed Memorial Fund, honoring the legacy of another Human Rights Activist.
Ms. Aphrodite Purdy, Junior and Senior Seminar Instructor and Human Rights Advisor from Mashpee Middle High School nominated Ms. Doolan for this award noting her strength of character, positive leadership, and excellent work and facilitation on the “Who We Are” Immigration Project. This project showcased, honored and highlighted students and families who have immigrated to our community through shared photos and stories. The photos and stories were exhibited at the Cotuit Center for the Arts, ensuring that community members understand and embrace the backgrounds, strengths and hopes of these immigrants and why they have come to make their new home in America.
Ms. Doolan was also described as “coming to school with a heart, mind and spirit filled with joy and gratitude at the prospect of all the possibilities.”
Josie Gaynor was selected as the recipient because of her demonstrated leadership and initiative in improving human rights in Barnstable County. She has been an active member of Nauset Regional High School’s Human Rights Academy for three years where she initiated a wonderful collaboration with other activism clubs to further causes such as the right to education and water for people. Josie plans to be an elementary teacher someday and, as her advisor Lisa Brown states, Josie wants “to approach her life and career with love, peace, empathy and deep understanding of the human psyche.” Or as Josie puts it, she wants to teach kids to love people as she does.
The BCHRAC is pleased to announce the 2021 recipients of the Malcolm McDowell Award, who are Morgan James Peters II (Zyg), a senior at Mashpee Middle High School and Angelica Oshman (Alex), a junior at Sturgis Charter Public School East.
This award is named in honor of the late Malcolm McDowell, noted human rights activist and former member of the Barnstable County Human Rights Commission. Successful candidates must demonstrate initiative, leadership, and dedication to improving the human rights atmosphere of Barnstable County and the wider world. This award is open to applicant students who have attended the HRA, either through participation with their school’s HRA Club or directly, including students who are home schooled.
Zyg’s interest in human rights was sparked when he was exposed to racist rhetoric and discrimination, as a child. His early expression focused on the sovereignty of his tribe, the Wampanoag Tribe, and on the issues of police violence against black and brown people. An accomplished musician, Zyg formed a project called the K-3-0 Collective, a youth hip-hop organization of black and brown artists supporting the development and presentation of their music, art, film, video, dance, and/or theater projects. Zyg plans on attending Goddard College in the fall.
“His dedication as a musician has not only enriched the lives of a very diverse group of citizens and students, but also has served awareness on key social justice issues facing our society,” offered Celeste Reynolds, an AP educator at Zyg’s school. “Morgan just wants to see the world as a better place!”
For Angelica Oshman, human rights issues are second nature. As a second-grader, Alex raised funds for the crisis in Haiti. In 6th grade, she campaigned to ban plastic bags nationally. As is a member of the Sturgis East Human Rights Club and is the student representative to the Town of Falmouth’s Affirmative Action/Diversity Committee. Last fall, Alex gave an impressive presentation on the history of women’s voting rights at the BCHRAC sponsored Human Rights Academy. Alex says “Human rights is something embedded in my way of life. Everywhere I go, anything I do, I look for the most inclusive outcome of my interactions”.
Alex’s advisor, Eric Porteus, agrees with the assessment when he opined that,” Alex Oshman is a student who exemplifies the McDowell Award. Alex’s commitment to universal human rights is evident in everything Alex does. From a commitment to an in-depth understanding of the challenges facing people from all different creeds to understanding the complexities and challenges of navigating the modern world, Alex could not be more deserving of this award”.
In announcing the winners of the award, Susan Quinones, BCHRAC Coordinator, said, “We are so proud of Morgan Peters II and Angelica Oshman for their dedication to the ideals embodied in the Human Rights framework. As representatives of Barnstable County and of their generation, they give us hope for a world where human dignity and equality can flourish.”