By Karl Kurtz
Anne Ziaja, director of the Massachusetts Senate legislative education office, received the Kevin B. Harrington Award for Excellence in Democracy
Education at NCSL's 2013 Summit last month in Atlanta. Anne has worked in this office for 35 years and has done an outstanding job of providing civic education for countless young people, high school and college interns and adults. She has consistently achieved 100 percent participation by Massachusetts senators in NCSL’s America’s Legislators Back to School program.
Sponsored by NCSL’s Trust for Representative Democracy, the national award recognizes an individual or organization for advancing the public’s understanding of state and local representative democracy.
Harrington, the founding president of NCSL, was dedicated to improving citizens’ understanding of American democracy. Anne received the honor bearing his name for exemplifying the same passionate commitment to excellence in democracy education.
Here is a video of the award presentation to Anne by NCSL past president Sen. Richard Moore, Massachusetts:
After receiving the award, Ziaja said,“To receive the Harrington Award and be honored on a national level is a highlight of my career. Advancing the understanding of representative democracy, and the rights and responsibilities we enjoy, assures that we will have an informed citizenry. I have been fortunate to work with many senators, representatives and legislative staff to educate Massachusetts residents about our state legislature, and give them the tools they need to engage.”
For more information about Anne Ziaja's excellent work as a civic educator, see this release. Congratulations to Anne Ziaja!
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