history

Reflection in Action: Building Healthy Communities™ was designed to inspire Boston's Middle School and High School students about individual and community health, and to translate these improvements into engagement in civic action. 

In every aspect of the program, students are exposed to urban health issues and are encouraged to choose a healthy lifestyle. Young people discover that their voices, creative expressions, and activism can have a positive impact on our individual and collective health.

2009

On April 14, 2009, students from Boston and Cambridge schools gathered for the seventh annual Reflection in Action: Building Healthy Communities™ at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center. This year 332 submissions were received from the students.

The third annual Ruth M. Batson Social Justice Award was presented at the event to Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services. Dr. Bigby is a former HMS faculty member and Directory of Community Health Programs at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
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2008

In 2008 Reflection in Action has grown to more than 290 students submissions from 371 youth.

Reflection in Action: Building Healthy Communities™ has been honored to present its second annual Ruth M. Batson Social Justice Award to John M. Auerbach, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The award, sculpted by Fay Stevenson-Smith, sponsored by the Cambridge Health Alliance.
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2007

The city-wide student competition which focuses on heart disease, asthma, lung disease, high blood pressure, oral health, nutrition, health disparities, and other health issues prevalent in urban communities received more than 200 submissions from 377 youth in 2007. A panel of celebrity judges from industry, academe, the arts community, the local media, public schools, and community-based organizations selected winners in performance, art, and writing categories. Winners received cash prizes and all students were recognized with certificates.

This year’s inaugural award, sculptured by Fay Stevenson-Smith and presented to Susan Baston, was sponsored by the Cambridge Health Alliance.
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2006

Reflection in Action has grown from 44 student submissions and 200 student attendees in 2004 to more than 200 student entries and 400 student participants in 2006. This city-wide student competition focuses on heart disease, asthma, lung disease, high blood pressure, oral health, nutrition, health disparities and other health issues prevalent in urban communities. A panel of celebrity judges from industry, academe, the arts community, the local media, public schools, and community-based organization select winners in performance, art and writing categories. Winners receive cash prizes and all students are recognized with certificates.
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2005

Our goal for 2005 was to build on the links between Explorations and Reflection in Action 2004. A city-wide student competition similar to that of 2004 was conducted with an emphasis on heart disease, asthma, lung disease, high blood pressure, and other health issues prevalent in urban communities.  The judges, who were very enthusiastic about seeing the competitions continue, were again invited to judge the students’ work and select winners at varying levels.  Contest entrants and other students were invited to participate in a morning program to recognize their efforts.  More...

2004

Reflection in Action was created in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington and in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education and the 100th anniversary of Harvard Medical School (HMS) at its Longwood Avenue location. The program was designed as a full-day celebration of the Civil Rights Movement, of individuals who went on to address health disparities, and in recognition of the fact that individual efforts can result in community-altering changes.   Two hundred students responded by registering for the day’s events.  More...