In The Spotlight

BRCPS First Ladies Are Learning from a Boston Living Legend Award Recipient and Centegenarian

Beatrice Busby with the First Ladies of The Voices of Renaissance

During her visit to the Boston Renaissance Charter Public School, centegenarian Beatrice Busby spoke with 5th and 6th grade girls participating in the school’s Voices of Renaissance mentoring program, giving them perspective, insight and wisdom gained from her many years as a social rights activist and pillar of the Boston Community.

A previous recipient of the school’s “Living Legend Award”, Beatrice Busby has been working to effect positive change in Boston for more years than most people have been alive. At 101, she can look back to the 1950s to see how her efforts helped transform the hiring policies of Boston’s hospitals and department stores to include women of color. At 101, she continues to look forward to her tireless work with the Women’s Service Club of Boston and her beloved People’s Baptist Church. Making someone else’s life more comfortable has always given Beatrice a sense of joy and accomplishment. And she has more accomplishments to her credit than candles on her birthday cake. In addition to her volunteer work with ABCD – begun at the side of Melnea Cass, a community and civil rights leader and ABCD co-founder – the Women’s Service Club of Boston, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Middlesex County, and the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research have all benefited from Beatrice’s efforts. Back in 1924, her mother taught her that serving others was a gift from God. Beatrice began creating positive change because there was a need to serve and a need to speak out against injustice. She says it has been wonderful to see laws change and people’s attitudes change. She remains inspired by her strong faith and belief in God. Beatrice loves people and cherishes the relationships that she makes with everyone she knows. As Beatrice says, “Doesn’t everyone feel good when they help someone?”