"FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS" Scholarship winners
Billie
YOUR RIGHTS" Scholarship Ceremony (11/15/01)
MTV, SHiNE and major civil rights partners announced today the five winners of
the MTV Fight for Your Rights: Take A Stand Against Discrimination Leadership
Scholarship program at a SHiNE benefit event at the Roxy in New York City. The
Fight For Your Rights Leadership Scholarship Program will award five young
people $50,000 each, with the funds going toward the grantees' education to
encourage continuation of their anti-discrimination and social justice work.
Designed to support the next generation of civil rights leaders, the program
was coordinated by SHiNE (Seeking Harmony in Neighborhoods Everyday) and NCCJ
(National Conference for Community and Justice) and is a component of MTV's
yearlong pro-social initiative "Fight for Your Rights: Take a Stand Against
Discrimination." The judges included the Anti-Defamation League, the Leadership
Conference Education Fund, the Dave Matthews Band, Destiny's Child, Method Man,
Mena Suvari, and youth representative, Jascie Williams.
Muhammad Ali, as a representative from the Muhammad Ali Center and SHiNE, will
recognize the national winner, while Method Man, Wyclef Jean, Jimmy Fallon and
Billy Crudup will present the awards to the regional winners, who attend school
in the targeted cities of Charlottesville, VA (and surrounding Albermarle
County), Houston, TX (Harris County), New York, NY (New York County) and Los
Angeles, CA (Los Angeles County).
Following is a brief description of each of the winners:
MELCHER FABI, AGE 22: Scholarship Winner, National
Melcher (Mel) Fabi is a senior double majoring in film and Chicano studies at
the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a prolific campus activist,
and has organized events including a weeklong voter registration conference,
the first ever Disabled Students System-wide conference in the University of
California, and a Vegan and Vegetarian Food Tasting Conference. Mel finds it
difficult to find stories that truly portray the beauty, history, and
experience of Asian-Americans and gays in the media. In his quest to challenge
Hollywood stereotypes and represent the stories of the repressed and
discriminated-against, Mel plans to pursue a Masters in Film Production and
also a Doctorate in Film Studies.
PAUL VASQUEZ, AGE 17: ScholarshipWinner, Los Angeles County
A senior in high school, Paul Vasquez has already been an activist much of his
life. After suffering an animal attack as a young boy, he was rushed to the
emergency room only to have to wait eight hours before being attended.
Frustrated by the lack of proper medical care he received - and undergone by so
many minority and low-income households - Paul has decided to become a doctor
and work to provide quality healthcare to those who might not otherwise receive
it. Furthermore, as a Latino, Paul has been discouraged by the lack of
political representation his community receives. As a result, he committed
himself at an early age to helping elect minority candidates to political
office. Paul has spent the last three years as a volunteer tutor at an
inner-city elementary school and has worked feeding the homeless at a Los
Angeles mission.
CHRISTINA WALLACE, AGE 19: Scholarship Winner, New York County
A freshman at The New School University, Christina Wallace is working towards a
dual degree in Cultural Studies and Fine Art. Five years ago, when she was only
a freshman in high school, Christina helped found the Beyond Survival Young
Women's Conference dedicated to providing young women a greater voice in
society. Since then, Christina has organized and participated in conferences
and rallies that address issues of race, gender equity and sexual identity.
Through her art and activism, Christina would like to dedicate a significant
amount of her future work to raising the consciousness of white, middle-class
communities on issues of racial justice and the impact of globalization.
AUDREY ETTE', AGE 21: Scholarship Winner, Harris County (Houston)
Rice University senior Audrey Ette' hasn't always been a motivated activist.
But, two years ago, she discovered her voice when she became aware of racist
fliers that were being disseminated at her school. Since that time, Audrey has
dedicated herself to fighting social injustice. As President of the Black
Student Association, she started a pilot program that paired inner-city
elementary student with college mentors. Audrey was also one of the originators
and promoters of the annual Racial Solidarity Week that was started two years
ago on her campus. She has demonstrated her commitment to the issues of racism
and bigotry by building coalitions of student activists to address these
problems in a pro-active way. Audrey has a strong interest in civil rights law
and plans to attend law school after she graduates. Eventually, she wants to
use her legal experience as an avenue to politics, where she would like to
focus on minority affairs and education.
ANDREW BORCHINI, AGE 20: Scholarship Winner, Charlottesville (and surrounding
Albermarle County)
Andrew Borchini is a junior at the University of Virginia. When Ronald Gay
walked into a nearby gay bar and opened fire, killing one person and injuring
several others, Andrew first became angry but then realized he had to take
action. In response, he founded the UVA chapter of the American Civil Liberties
Union, which has since addressed issues ranging from racism to sexism to
discrimination based on sexual preference. Andrew's dream is to end
discrimination in the workforce and military, and legalize gay marriage and
adoption. Andrew is also the only openly gay Resident Advisor on the UVA
campus, and has taken steps to educate staff and students on gay rights. He has
even spoken on the Today Show about the racism, sexism, and homophobia still
present on the campus of UVA. After he graduates from college, Andrew plans to
attend law school and devote his life to fighting for people who have been left
behind. Andrew wants to eventually work for the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights
Project in New York City.
The scholarship program was announced in June, when President, MTV Group &
Chairman Interactive Music, Judy McGrath, President MTV & MTV2, Van Toffler,
and MTV President of Programming Brian Graden joined Ali, Suvari, the Dave
Matthews Band, Destiny's Child, and Method Man in a press conference at MTV's
Times Square studios.
Applicants were between the ages of 16 and 24, and enrolled full-time as a high
school senior or college undergraduate. Student applications were evaluated on
academic and extracurricular achievement, a demonstrated commitment to fighting
discrimination, leadership potential, ability to apply critical thinking
skills, understanding of the complex issues surrounding social change, and a
desire to pursue a career in civil rights or a related field.
The money generated for the scholarships was raised by MTV's "Cool Crap
Auction," an on-air and on-line sale of "cool crap" from various artists,
including items ranging from the American flag from Madonna's "American Pie"
video to the waitress outfit worn by Britney Spears in her "Crazy" video.
The 2001 "Fight for Your Rights: Take a Stand Against Discrimination" campaign
is a year-long on- and off-air initiative addressing some of the most prevalent
types of discrimination in our communities today, including those based on
race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and physical and/or
mental ability.
MTV is profiling artists and young adults who are leading the charge against
intolerance and informing the audience about discrimination through specials
and programming events, news segments, a free action guide, online components,
public service announcements and local grassroots programs. MTV has partnered
with some of the most renowned civil rights organizations, including the
Anti-Defamation League, the National Conference for Community and Justice, the
Southern Poverty Law Center, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, National Mental Health Awareness
Campaign, SHiNE and the Human Rights Campaign.
Through these partnerships, the campaign aims to provide the audience with
numerous ways to take action against discrimination and hate through local
activism, anti-discrimination training, and by emailing a letter to members of
Congress and the President about civil rights and hate crimes legislation.
According to top civil rights organizations, including the Leadership
Conference on Civil Rights and the Anti-Defamation League, the youth response
to the FFYR campaign has been highly successful. Approximately 90,000 young
people have signed the Hate Crimes Petition or sent a message to Congress or
the President and Vice President endorsing Hate Crimes Legislation. And, at
hundreds of local community events across the country, FFYR has partnered with
the ADL, Rock the Vote, and local cable affiliates to reach tens of thousands
of young people. Furthermore, 4,000 viewers are now actively engaged with local
civil rights organizations, thanks to volunteer opportunities provided by FFYR.
SHiNE (Seeking Harmony in Neighborhoods Everyday) is a national organization
that uses outlets like art, music, technology, and sports to engage and empower
young people to get involved with issues that they care about. SHiNE's mission
is to build self-esteem and to promote nonviolence and acceptance for diversity
among young people. SHiNE's innovative programming connects young people from
diverse backgrounds, provides opportunities for them to channel their energy
and talent into positive forms of self expression, and encourages them to
mobilize in creative ways for social change.
For more information about SHiNE go to www.shine.com or call Rachael Smith at
877-SHiNE65, ext. 214.
The National Conference for Community and Justice, founded in 1927 as The
National Conference of Christians and Jews, is a human relations organization
dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism in America. NCCJ promotes
understanding and respect among all races, religions and cultures through
advocacy, conflict resolution and education. NCCJ today serves 65 regions in 35
states and the District of Columbia and works to build communities of justice
through its initiatives with youth, educators, workplace leaders, news and
media, government and across faith lines. The organization's newest research
publication, Taking America's Pulse II, NCCJ's 2000 Study of Intergroup
Relations in the United States is now available through the National Office.
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