Marcelle Haddix, Distinguished Dean’s Professor of Literacy, Race and Justice in Reading and Language Arts, will be honored with the Orange Circle Award on September 9, 2021.
Haddix facilitates many literacy programs in the Syracuse community, including the Writing Our Lives project for urban youth writers, a Black women’s literary club and a free library project. Her work has earned her several awards, including the 2011 Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Teaching Recognition Award from Syracuse University. In conjunction with the Community Folk Arts Center in Syracuse, Haddix also created the program “Dark Girls: Celebration of Black Girlhood” in 2013 to support literacy, identity, self-esteem and social development of adolescent girls of color. Haddix, the faculty and staff awardee, is being honored for her commitment to the Greater Syracuse area and her efforts connecting the University to the community.
The 2020 Orange Circle Award winners were announced last spring, but the celebration was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Haddix, along with Lisa Gordon G’90 and student organizations Black Reign Step Team, Food Busters and a Hand for Wuhan, will be celebrated at an event during Coming Back Together Weekend.