2024 Common Good Awards Honorees include Toni Elka, May Chau, Shirley Edgerton, Thaddeus Miles, Frederick Wiseman, and Yinette Guzman

BOSTON – Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) President Mary K. Grant today announced the recipients of the 2024 MassArt Common Good Awards, celebrating individuals who demonstrate the transformative impact of the arts on civic life. This year’s honorees include a variety of people who have leveraged art for advocacy, education, and creative practice, advancing the public influence of the arts and fostering positive social change.

“This year’s Common Good Award recipients reflect the many ways art can drive societal change, change perspectives, and honor the diversity that helps communities thrive,” said President Grant. “Each of these recipients have demonstrated innovative work in education, community building, and advocacy and stand as a testament to the essential role that creativity plays in shaping our collective future. We are honored to recognize their contributions to the common good.”

Among those being honored are a Somerville Public Schools educator who will receive the Frances Euphemia Thompson Award for Excellence in Teaching, which is awarded each year to a K-12 arts educator, and a Boston non-profit leader will be honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award, which was first awarded in 1979, and recognizes the outstanding accomplishments, service, and impact MassArt’s alumni have made in their professional practice and in their communities.

2024 Common Good Awards Honorees:

Toni Elka (BFA Painting ’86), founder of Future Chefs, will receive the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for her work empowering Boston-area youth through culinary arts. Future Chefs provides valuable life skills, professional development, and mentoring to ensure successful transitions from adolescence to adulthood. Elka’s innovative leadership has been nationally recognized, making her a dynamic force in youth development and social change.

May Chau (BFA ’07, Art Education), Visual Arts Supervisor for Somerville Public Schools will receive the Frances Euphemia Thompson Award for Excellence in Teaching for her commitment to creating a collaborative and exploratory arts education environment. MassArt, founded more than 150 years ago as a college to educate aspiring arts educators, continues that legacy today. Chau’s approach encourages students to develop their creativity and critical thinking skills, fostering lifelong learning through art in one of Massachusetts’ most diverse school systems.

Shirley Ann Session Edgerton, a Pittsfield-based community activist, educator, and founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program (R.O.P.E.), for her outstanding work mentoring young women of color and fostering self-sufficiency and global citizenship through education and service learning. Edgerton’s leadership and dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion have earned her numerous accolades and honorary degrees.

Thaddeus Miles, founder of the Black Joy Initiative, is a photographer whose work is, in his own words, “a heartfelt expression, capturing moments of joy and the vibrant energy of Black life.” He is being honored for his innovative work promoting equity and empowerment through arts and culture. His Black Joy Day celebration and youth-authored publications embody his commitment to uplifting marginalized voices and fostering joy and resilience in underserved communities. He is Senior Director of Diversity Initiatives at MassHousing.

Frederick Wiseman, acclaimed documentary filmmaker, for his prolific career directing 44 documentaries that capture the ordinary human experience across a range of social institutions. Wiseman’s films have received international recognition, including four Emmys and the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival. In 2016, Wiseman received an Academy Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Yinette Guzman (BFA Architecture ’08), Senior Project Manager of Design and Placemaking at the North Shore Community Development Coalition, for her leadership in curating the Punto Urban Art Museum (PUAM) in Salem, Massachusetts. Guzman’s work in transforming underserved communities through public art initiatives reflects her commitment to cultural preservation, inclusivity, and creative placemaking.

The honorees will be celebrated at a ceremony on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at noon at MassArt’s Design and Media Center (621 Huntington Avenue, Boston). The event is free and open to the public, though tickets are required.

For more information on attending the event or learning about the MassArt Common Good Awards, visit www.massart.edu/massart-common-good-awards.

All honorees will receive custom-made artwork by Sam Kim, a Lowell-based ceramics artist and MassArt graduate (BFA Industrial Design and Ceramics ’18). 

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About Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)

Founded in 1873, Massachusetts College of Art and Design is the nation’s first public, independent college of art and design. The College is dedicated to fostering the creativity of artists, designers, and educators who will shape communities and culture for the common good.

About MassArt Common Good Awards

The MassArt Common Good Awards celebrate individuals and organizations who use art and design to make a positive impact on society. Honorees demonstrate the essential role of the arts in advocacy, education, and community development, contributing to the quality of life and problem-solving efforts in today’s world.