Dorchester girls aged 7 to 12 will carry on the 60 year neighborhood tradition of the Little Miss and Young Miss Dorchester contests next weekend. The May 9 event, hosted by the Dorchester Day Parade Committee, will help girls perfect their public speaking skills while they reflect on what makes Dorchester special.

The contest will be held at First Parish Church on Meetinghouse Hill. During the event, participants will answer questions about themselves and discuss the highlights of living in Dorchester. They will also recite their 50 word answer to a Dorchester-themed question, which they prepare when they register for the contest.

Judges will choose a winner based on passion, charisma, pride in Dorchester, public speaking skills, and stage presence.

The event organizer, Annissa Essaibi George, 41, noted that, “for many kids and many adults the idea of speaking in public is horrifying so it’s a big deal that they put themselves forward to do that. […] It’s a huge achievement.”

Essaibi George competed in the Little Miss Dorchester contest in 1980. “The contest is a great opportunity for girls to have a special moment, it’s certainly part of our tradition and our history in the neighborhood,” said Essaibi George.

The Young Miss portion of the contest was added in 2010 to accommodate girls who wanted to continue competing beyond age 9.

“The girls that come back year after year get another chance to speak in public, I think that really adds to their skill set as individuals and I hope that makes them more confident in school and in their individual lives,” said Essaibi George, who is a candidate for Boston City Council at-large this year.

Ella Moye, 10, was last year’s Little Miss Dorchester winner and has benefited from the contest, according to her mother, Jenny Moye.

“She’s really grown in her confidence and public speaking. I feel grateful that she’s had the opportunity and I am grateful for everyone’s kindness and mentorship to her this year,” said Moye.

After the event, the committee will reward the girls with gift bags and a congratulatory pizza party. Every year the committee attempts to have the all the girls participate in the Dorchester Day Parade, which will be held on Sunday, June 7.

Throughout the years the Dorchester community has provided resources that help contestants participate in the parade. Essaibi George noted that,“Often times […] there’s a trolley donated. […] Most years all the girls can come back for the parade.”

Essaibi George also highlighted that it is a priority for all contestants have fun throughout the contest.
“We want to make it as positive of an experience as we can for each of the girls,” she said.

Ella Moye would agree.

“Ella said it wasn’t really about winning, but about being able to express herself— and of course the fun things like the prizes, party, and being able to ride in the parade. Ella has felt honored to be with elected officials at events, and I like that she has gotten some sense of representing the community,” said Jenny Moye.

Essaibi George remembers similar effects that the competition had on her life. She became involved in Dorchester Day activities when her sister Sonia won in 1995. She knows that the Little Miss and Young Miss Dorchester contests introduce the girls to civic life in Dorchester.

“I think it’s a catalyst to get them to neighborhood events that they maybe, otherwise, wouldn’t go to and they get to represent their neighborhood,” she said. “They are the ones that are the future of the neighborhood. We’ve got to create younger people that are invested here. […] It’s the only way to keep Dorchester strong.”

Girls age 7-12 who are interested in the Little Miss and Young Miss Dorchester contests must register and submit an application by May 1, 2015. For more information on the Little Miss and Young Miss Dorchester contests, contact Annissa Essaibi George at 617-594-1841 or email littlemiss@dotdayparade.com.