The rustling of notecards and the gentle rumble of a mic check marked the start of the 2026 Brookline Women of the Year awards on Wednesday, March 11, in the Select Board Hearing Room of Town Hall. The celebration was held by the Brookline Commission for Women (BCW) to honor and recognize the hard work, dedication and lasting impact of three women: Abby Dean, Alicia Hsu and Linda Olson Pehlke.

The award recognized Dean for her work as the program coordinator of Brookline’s Behavioral Health Intervention and Prevention program, Hsu for her 30 years as an educator and her continuous advocacy for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and Pehlke for her volunteer work and for serving on the Advisory Committee as well as the Land Use, Zoning and Sustainability Subcommittee.

Former chair of BCW and current commissioner Liz Stillman has been working with BCW since 2019. According to Stillman, the Women of the Year award dates back at least 20 years. Stillman said that she hopes more people will pay attention to women who are getting the work done.

“The purpose of the Women of the Year is to recognize people who are doing the heavy lifting without the spotlight and to put the spotlight on them. To say, ‘We see you, we appreciate what you’re doing, we think you’re amazing and everybody should know,’” Stillman said.

The first honoree to share her remarks was Dean, the Behavioral Health Intervention and Prevention Program Coordinator for Brookline Public Health. She also manages the Peer Leadership and Public Health course at the high school and hosts “The Right Mind Media” podcast. On the podcast, Dean invites specialists in addiction, recovery and mental health to talk about these issues.

Dean said that the award and the recognition she’s received validated the importance of the guidance she gives to others.

“I’m very honored,” Dean said. “I have been doing a lot, and there’s a part of me that thinks I probably deserved it, which is really hard for a woman to say.”

As chair of BCW, Aileen Lee has been working on the event for the last four months along with the rest of the commission. Lee became chair in September of 2025 and wanted the celebration to be a way for the Brookline community to emphasize the honorees’ hard work. Lee said that many citizens aren’t aware that small gestures like the Brookline Women of the Year awards can really matter to people.

“Traditionally, women have been socialized to do the work without taking any credit. So I think this event is about [taking] a moment [to] remember that we still get to be recognized. It’s all the small, little things that matter. We are here to inspire people to do what they love,” Lee said.

Hsu, a former Brookline Public School educator and one of the founders and steering committee members of the Brookline Asian American Family Network (BAAFN), talked about the importance of sharing experiences with the community. Hsu said that she hopes people will continue to share their stories as a mechanism for fighting hate.

Hsu also shared the incredible inspiration and role models who have shaped her career of advocacy. According to Hsu, there are many women in her life who have supported and inspired her.

“So many women inspire me: all the women that were here today, all the friends that I have and the women on the BAAFN Steering Committee. My mother, who’s passed away, is a total inspiration to me even today,” Hsu said.

Pehlke was the last honoree to speak. She shared her experience of watching residents of Brookline come together to build the Minot Rose Garden, whose committee Pehlke belongs to. According to Pelkhe, encouraging and challenging people to see Brookline through different perspectives is one of her skills.

“I just care. I love this place,” Pehlke said. “I also try to get people to think about Brookline in different ways than what they usually do.”

Both Lee and Pehlke spoke about the importance of young people speaking up, pushing back and being brave. Pehlke said that the best way to make a difference is to get involved with what you’re passionate about.

“Show up and speak up. Don’t be afraid. Follow your dreams and your passions,” Pehlke said. “If there’s something you really care about, get involved.”