LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ – With a heart as fierce as a warrior and a smile that could light up a city, 𝟗-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐤 stood before the Linden Board of Education, not just as a student but as a symbol of strength, resilience, and hope.
The School No. 4 second-grader has faced challenges that most could hardly imagine, yet she continues to inspire everyone she meets. At the February 27 Board of Education meeting, Azari was honored with the district’s prestigious "It Takes a Village Award"—a recognition of her unwavering courage and the community that has stood by her side.
𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐝𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡
At just two years old, 𝐀𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫, a battle that would test her strength and resilience beyond measure. But rather than allowing adversity to define her, Azari has redefined what it means to be courageous.
𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, she has never wavered in her determination to embrace life. Her laughter fills the halls of School No. 4, her kindness lifts those around her, and her presence serves as a daily reminder that perseverance can conquer even the greatest obstacles.
"𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐀𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐮𝐩—𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲," 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐃𝐫. 𝐒𝐮𝐳𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐨, 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐍𝐨. 𝟒. "𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭."
𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭
Azari’s journey has been one of love, perseverance, and unbreakable support. Standing proudly beside her at the ceremony was her mother, Shakeema Whitted, and other loving family members, who have been by her side every step.
𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐍𝐨. 𝟒, a testament to how deeply Azari has touched the hearts of those around her. Their presence underscored the meaning of the "It Takes a Village Award"—a reminder that true strength is built on the foundation of community, encouragement, and unwavering belief in one another.
𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬
Azari’s impact extends far beyond her own journey. She embodies kindness, compassion, and an infectious joy that uplifts everyone around her. Whether it’s cheering on a friend, offering a helping hand, or sharing an encouraging word, she leads with her heart, inspiring her classmates, her teachers, and the entire Linden school community.
"𝐀𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬," 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐃𝐫. 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐨. "𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞—𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝."
𝐀 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞
The "It Takes a Village Award" is more than just a recognition—it is a reflection of the power of community, love, and the unbreakable human spirit. Azari’s journey is a testament that no one walks through life’s challenges alone. Her family, friends, teachers, and the Linden community have all played a part in her incredible story, proving that we all rise to lift them higher when one of us struggles.
As she stood before the Board of Education to accept her award, Azari was not just a student being recognized—she was a beacon of hope, a symbol of resilience, and an inspiration to all.
And so, with every step she takes, Azari Reddick continues to remind us all to be braver, kinder, and stronger—just like her.