Dignity: What’s Your Superpower 

Before I begin my dignity post I want to remember and celebrate the life of an amazing dignity leader Dora Robinson. Dora and Frank Robinson have dedicated their lives to helping so many. We have lost a great person but her legacy lives on in the lives she has changed for the better. I send my love and condolences to the Robinson Family. 

https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/06/dora-robinson-former-united-way-of-pioneer-valley-ceo-remembered-as-mentor.html

Today I want to celebrate and recognize a future leader. Over the last 17 years I have watched this person fight through hardships to become the defender of those who have lost their voice and the person who sets the example for others on how to act with dignity. I may be accused of having a bias when it come to this young man but all you have to do is talk to anyone who knows him, and you will see what I have seen since the beginning the emergence of a leader. If you have not guessed, I am speaking of my son Anthony Redd a sophomore at Wahconah High School in Dalton Massachusetts. 

All too often we hear stories about the young people today that are not the most positive stories. I wanted to make today a day to celebrate a young man who has made a positive impact on his community. Now, it did not begin that way for him and there was a time in middle school that we worried about him, but in that darkness, Anthony would show a glimmer of light. I remember we received an email from a mother of an autistic child who was being bullied in school. His mother expressed her gratitude because Anthony would stand up for him. No matter how many times I had to go to middle school or take calls because my son was having a difficult time, he would always stand up for those who could not stand up for themselves. This was Anthony’s gift his ability to have compassion and to honor the dignity of others. 

There was this concern about how Anthony would do as he transitioned to high school, especially during the lockdowns and COVID.  I think his mother and I were concerned too. You always have that sense of anxiety when you go to that first parent night but what we heard became a theme of an emerging leader. Teachers would talk about his kindness, his respectful behavior. They would talk about how much they loved having him in class. We had a teacher say that Anthony is in one of my most challenging classes as far as behaviors are concerned. He talked about how Anthony would be in the front ready to learn. He said Anthony would always check in on him and apologize for the behavior of the other students. He said having students like Anthony made teaching worth wild. This was not an isolated incident. This has been the theme for the last 2 years. 

Anthony has been a part of unified sports for the last two years. Unified sports events are like no other. They team students with and without intellectual disabilities and they compete in sports such as basketball and track and field. Anthony discovered his gift in working with kids with intellectual disabilities. I believe they are drawn to his compassion and gentleness. Just watching him has taught me so much. Not only did Anthony grow as a person but he grew as a student going from a “C” student to an “A” and “B” student. He has won academic awards during both his freshman and sophomore years.  

All the changes that Anthony has made are amazing, but do you know what is even more amazing to me is when people in the town find out you are Anthony’s parent or grandparent, and they tell you a story on what a great kid he is there is no better gift than that. The other wonderful part of all this is that Anthony has friends who are just like him. They give me hope for the future. 

I want to thank my son and his friends for teaching me how to be a compassionate leader and helping me to remember what true dignity looks like.  

Anthony Redd, his superpower standing up for others 

Charles Redd RN 

Dignity Freedom Fighter