Eight years old and 2nd grader Sedric Irasubiza, a son of a Rwandan refugee in Columbus, Ohio was one of the winners of the 2023 Columbus 20 Under 20 Award which honors outstanding young people who contribute to their communities through exemplary acts of volunteerism and advocacy.
Sedric Irasubiza, the East Linden Elementary School student assists both his mother and father with interpreting.
“Sedric’s family arrived from Rwanda as refugees. Sedric assists both his mother and father with interpreting and supports an art program where he helps make clay and do projects with Congolese and Rwandan women through, Community for Refugees and Immigrants Services, CRIS health and wellness programming,” according to the honorees’ booklet.
“I am very happy for him,” the mother, Mrs Irasubiza told the New Americans magazine through the son, Sedric who interpreted the question to her and her answer to the magazine as well.
Others who were honored with the Columbus 20 Under 20 awards, which took place at the 2023 Neighborhood Best Practices Conference included:
Molly Tangorre, Home schooled, 9th Grade
Dani DeWeese, Hillard Davidson High School, 12th Grade
Shreejana Bastola, The Ohio State University, Freshman
Desmond Hunter, South High School, 2023 Graduate
Ekam Judge, Licking Heights Middle School, 8th Grade
Michelle Morrison, Linden-Mckinley STEM, 8th Grade
Sedric Irasubiza, East Linden Elementary School, 2nd Grade
Tamana Omarzai, Hillard Davidson High School, 12th Grade
Onyinyechi (Chi Chi) Saunders, Bishop Ready High School, 12th Grade
Magnolia (Lia) McMillian, PAST Innovation Lab, 11th Grade
Caliana Song, Columbus Prepartory, 11th Grade
Aditit Pyakurel, Reynoldsburg High School, 10th Grade
Leshon Breckenridge, Valor, 9th Grade
Larkin Harrelson, Metro Early College, 8th Grade
Madelyn Thompson, Reynoldsburg High School, 12th Grade
Tia Ward, Centennial High School, 12th Grade
Jasmine Davis, Columbus School for Girls, 5th Grade
Alek Boyd, The Columbus Academy, 11th Grade
Khadila Yasin, Columbus Alternative High School, 11th Grade
Dexter Jones, Worthington Kilbourne High School, 12th Grade.
In an address to the conference, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther described the theme “Stronger Together- Building Healthy, Equitable and Resilient Neighborhood,” as “near and dear to my heart.”
“While Columbus is a city on the rise, it’s also clear that columbus’ residents of color continue to experience the outcomes of systemic racism.
“Through my equity agenda, the City of columbus will boldly collaborate with partners and residents, growing prosperity by dismantling racism together. This will benefit every Columbus resident through the community’s improved economic stability, stronger health and wellbeing, and safer, more resilient neighborhoods.”
“As Mayor of the 14th largest city in the nation, I am proud of our diverse multi-cultural environment and our many historic neighborhoods. I am proud of our differences and our similarities. Our community includes vibrant art scenes, lively urban neighborhoods and true diversity’” said Mayor Ginther.
“As a public servant, I appreciate any opportunity we have to improve our ability to serve our neighborhoods. This conference represents such an opportunity as it will give each of you a chance to explore and expand upon some of the best practices that are occurring around Columbus. We hope that you learn from each other and that we learn from you.”
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