Addie Lentzner, founder and co-executive director of the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network, and Chris Alfano, founder of the smartphone app Civicly, have been named 2023 recipients of the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award by Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas in partnership with the National Association of Secretaries of State.
The national award recognizes those 25 years or younger who have demonstrated leadership abilities, have a passion for social justice and are motivated to improve the quality of life in their community.
“I’m thrilled to honor these two exceptional young people who are making a difference in Vermont as well as at the national level,” said Copeland Hanzas. “I was particularly excited to give this award in honor of John Lewis at the start of Black History Month.”
Lentzner, a first-year student at Middlebury College, founded the Student Anti-Racism Network in summer 2020 in response to the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, at the hands of police. The group worked with principals, guidance counselors, teachers and librarians across the state to provide more resources on racism at schools and develop a curriculum that members of the network teach to other young learners via Zoom.
Lentzner also serves as secretary for the Bennington County Coalition Board of Directors and as an executive fellow for Our Turn, a youth-led movement working to dismantle the structures that limit access to quality education.
Alfano, a senior at Burr and Burton Academy, was inspired to found Civicly following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The app is designed to help Americans increase their civic awareness. He hopes to continue expanding Civicly's offerings so that it can be easily used in classroom settings.
Alfano also participated as a civics innovation fellow through Civics Unplugged and as a legislative intern for Vermont state Rep. Mike Rice.