Dalia Shapiro, a soon to be seventeen-year-old senior at Boston Latin School, has always had an interest in giving back to her community. A J.P. resident, she lives with her parents, four younger siblings (two of whom attend Boston Latin), and two-year-old black labrador retriever. Her interest in community service started at a very young age when she was taught to be kind and considerate of others and give back to the community.
In the summer of 2004, Dalia traveled to Costa Rica and worked with people in a small town, reaching out and doing community service. She, along with other high school students, taught English to children and adults, painted murals, built a kindergarten and senior center, and helped clean up the town. In the summer of 2005, Dalia journeyed to Israel with students from the Greater Boston Area in a social justice program. While living with Americans and Israelis, Dalia worked in an elderly home, and later lobbied with the government for better rights for the elderly in Israel. She continued her program in Boston working under the theme of “homelessness” as she volunteered in shelters such as the Women’s Lunch Place and the New England Veterans’ Shelter. She also sold the newspaper “Spare Change” and lobbied at City Hall for better rights for the homeless.
In her senior year, Dalia will be the president of her school’s Cooks Who Care Club (a cooking club designated to help others in the community by volunteering at shelters such as Rosie’s Place) and the Key Club (the general community service club at her school). She is involved in her school’s Amnesty International Club as well. Outside of school, Dalia is the Jamaica Plain Representative for the Mayor’s Youth Council. Dalia has done crew since ninth grade and will continue her interest in sports.
Working under the Honorable Justice Roanne Sragow in the Victim Witness Advocate’s office has given Dalia a chance to see a different side of life. As she talks with victims day after day with bruises on their face and in their hearts, Dalia understands the importance of the criminal justice system so that it may help victims of domestic violence and abuse. Observing the way a court system works has furthered her interest in public service as a lawyer.