Press & Awards

The Washington Post

March 15, 2021

“Anya Dillard has been politically engaged for much of her life. She began following the news closely at 13 years old and has put on protests in support of racial justice long before the swell of support for Black Lives Matter last summer. In June, Dillard helped organize a protest in her community of West Orange, N.J., drawing more than 2,000 people.”

Teen Vogue

“Activist and social entrepreneur Anya Dillard started her first advocacy project when she was just five years old: A mutual aid initiative called Anya’s Holiday Gift Giving Charity. Now a student at Rutgers, Anya’s activism journey has transformed into radical political spaces and become increasingly informed by her Black and Afro-Caribbean heritage.”

December 13, 2022

ELLE Magazine

July 21, 2020

“These Teen Black Lives Matter Activists Are Writing the Future…Anya Dillard was part of a group of West Orange students who organized a Black Lives Matter protest for their community, drawing thousands of people and garnering the attention of their mayor and local officials. She's also the creator of The Next Gen Come Up, a nonprofit organization that encourages community service and activism among teens.

Press Selects 🗞️

League of Women Voters — Black Activist You Should Know: Anya Dillard (02/28/23)

The Huffington Post — What Activists And Organizers Do When They Feel Discouraged (05/26/23)

Red Table Talk — Extreme Violence: Inside the Minds of People Who Hate (06/16/22)

CUNY TV — Gen Z Looks Toward The Future | Shades of U.S. (04/21/22)

Her Campus — Anya Dillard is Encouraging Young People to Get Involved with Activism and Community Service Through Her Non-Profit, “The Next Gen Come Up” (11/09/21)

Global Citizen — 6 Ways Young People Stepped Up to Make the World a Better Place in 2020 (12/23/20)

Very Good Light — What Black Gen Z activists want you to know about Black History Month (02/03/21)

Patch — Inspiring Teen From West Orange Earns Spot In Scholar Society (07/12/22)

The Conversationalist — Anya Dillard Human Rights Honoree (2021)

The North Star with Shaun King — 33 Inspiring Women We Crushed on This Year (01/02/21)

Hypebeast — UGG® Hosts Feel House HBX Panel on Mental Health and Creating Safe Spaces in Fashion & Beyond (10/27/23)

Seventeen — How a Group of New Jersey Teens Started an Effective Social Movement From an Instagram Poll (06/26/20)

Grazia USA — Anya Dillard Is Leading the Way into a New Era (2021)

Revolt — Meet Anya Dillard, a young, gifted, and Black leader fighting for change in her community (03/30/22)

Reimagined — Anya Dillard on Effective Organizing (04/26/21)

Essence — 15 Gen-Z’ers Who've Made History In The Last Year (05/01/24)

Glamour — Juneteenth Is a National Holiday, but There’s Still More Work to Do (2020)

Do Something — 11 Young Black Activists Changing the World (02/24/22)

NYU Washington Square News — Demonstrators march across Manhattan to protest Tyre Nichols killing (01/29/23)

Rutgers University Newark — Student Receives International Recognition as 'Young Frontrunner' (04/06/23)

Patch — West Orange High School Senior Named ‘Student Leader Of The Year’ (05/14/21)

My Written Works ✍🏽

Medium — Will Rutgers Newark Students Be Voting in the 2024 Election? (2024)

Daily Targum — Express Newark celebrates Amiri Baraka, Black art with 'Blues People' exhibit (04/07/23)

Rutgers Scarlet Magazine — This New Student Org is Cultivating Black Excellence On and Off campus (2023)

Medium — This Study Abroad Program At Rutgers University Took Students to Belize for Free (2024)

Medium — Our Past. My Future. Growing up Black in America. (02/08/21)

Daily Targum — Rutgers—Newark hosts Student Organization Showcase, student leaders discuss cultural clubs (02/12/24)

Channel Kindness — Is Black History Your History? (02/24/21)

Medium — Rutgers Newark’s HLLC Launches New Initiative to Spotlight Scholar Achievements (2024)

Appearances 🎥

The JAAM Podcast — Episode 51 | Changing American (Her)story w/ Anya Dillard (03/06/26)

CUNY TV —Gen Z Looks Toward The Future | Shades of U.S.Gen Z Looks Toward The Future | Shades of U.S. (04/21/22)

Regen Reports for Puma —Penalized for Peeing (05/31/23)

BET — La’Ron Hines Hosts BET Talks: McDonald’s Future 22 | Part II (04/29/22)

Possibilities Over Problems Podcast —Philanthropist, Social Entrepreneur, and Aspiring Filmmaker Anya Dillard (02/23/22)

MS Now (MSNBC) —My Generation Docuseries (10/05/24)

The Conversationalist Podcast —Let’s Talk About Combining Creativity and Activism with Anya Dillard (06/20/21)

Gucci Changemakers — Anya Dillard(02/10/24)

Yahoo In the Know! — Anya Dillard founded Next Gen Come Up, a nonprofit devoted to helping people develop their voice (12/17/21)

NPR — The Takeaway w/ Melissa Harris-Perry (08/31/22)

The Conversationalist —POV: Hate Living in America? Then Just Leave! (07/03/23)

The Conversationalist —POVz: Is America Great? (07/03/23)

The Conversationalist —Orly Israel on The Importance of Listening(07/03/23)

MS Now (MSNBC) —My Generation Docuseries (10/05/24)

CNN Podcast —Silence is Not an Option by Don Lemon (06/10/21)

Awards & Honors 🏆

2025

Gucci Creator Fellows

Clement A. Price Institute Transformational Community Service Award

2024

Community Healing Network Community Healer Award

Emmett Till Legacy Foundation Women of Courage Award

2023

Because of Them We Can Youth Frontrunner Award

APC Community Services Community Leader of Excellence Award

2022

Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21

Varkey Foundation Global Student Prize Top 50

McDonald's Future 22

Certificate of Congressional Recognition from Yvette W. Clark

2021

Ulta Beauty's Muse 100

West Orange High School Student Council Award for School Service

West Orange High School Principal's Award

West Orange Board of Education Student Leadership Award

West Orange Board of Education Outstanding Community Service Award

NJASC Student Leader of the Year Award

2020

The Conversationalist Human Rights Award

The BLACK GIRLS ROCK Social Justice Grant