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 What is Diverse Minds?
This scholarship competition asks high school students to write and illustrate a children's book that discusses the topics of tolerance and diversity. Executed through public and private high schools, the Challenge encourages teens to create innovative ways to teach tolerance to elementary-aged children, as well as encounter new insights into these issues for themselves. Information Submission Information Contest Details: Contest participants should think about how tolerance and diversity can improve our world, and then create innovative ways to teach these ideas to elementary-aged children through the creation of a book. Submissions should provide a story that children can identify with and relate to and promote a greater understanding of different cultures, lifestyles and beliefs. Students should consider the following issues: • What does diversity mean? Submissions may be fiction or nonfiction and must be written for an audience of children in grades K-5. Please note that long blocks of copy are generally not age-appropriate. To download/view more information on this year's contest click here. Click below to see previous award-winning submissions: This Year's Contest City: New York City For the sixth year, B’nai B’rith is pleased to offer the 2012 Diverse Minds Youth Writing Challenge in New York City and would like to thank the NYSE Foundation for its continued support of the program. Also, this year the program is also made possible through the generous support of USA Networks. Students in grades 9-12 currently residing in one of the five New York City boroughs (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens), and who have not have not previously published an original manuscript for profit, are eligible to participate. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 23, 2012 Prizes & Award Details: In each contest city, the winners will be awarded with the following prizes: First prize: A $5,000 college scholarship and publication of the book* Second prize: $2,000 college scholarship** Third prize: $1,000 college scholarship Teacher prize: A stipend of $500 (to use for classroom materials) will be awarded to the teacher who oversees the creation of the first place submission. School grant: A grant of $500 will be awarded to the school of the winning participant. The winners will receive their awards, scholarship prizes and published book at a public award presentation event to be held in June 2012. The students whose submission place in the Top 10, along with their parents, teacher and principal, will be invited to the award presentation event. *The winning book in each city will be professionally published with copies distributed to each public library and elementary school within the local community. B’nai B’rith retains all rights to the published books. **All prizes will be shared if more than one student, teacher or school wins. Rules:
Judging: Judging will be based on the following criteria: creativity, artistic and writing skill, clarity of message, understanding for the intended audience, and appropriateness to the contest theme. B'nai B'rith International will do a preliminary judging round to determine the top 10 finalists in each city. Submission Information: New York City Contest Submission Deadline: March 23, 2012. Submissions may be mailed to: Or sent via email to: diverseminds@bnaibrith.org Submissions MUST include a cover letter that includes the following information: name and contact information of the author(s), name and contact information of student’s school and teacher, a brief biographical note and any other information you would like us to consider. Diverse Minds Youth Writing Challenge Email: diverseminds@bnaibrith.org
For media inquires, please contact:
Click hereto go back to the main Diverse Minds page. B'nai B'rith International is proud to work with the following corporate and philanthropic sponsor, whose funding makes the Diverse Minds Youth Writing Challenge possible in their communities. 2011-2012 Program Sponsors
Previous Program Sponsors The Assisi Foundation of Memphis, Inc.
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The Diverse Minds Writing Challenge is an education and awareness initiative created by B'nai B'rith International as part of its series of programs that promote tolerance and communicate a message of equality among all citizens regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender or sexual orientation. Our goal is to destroy prejudices and strengthen the future of our youth through enlightenment, inspiration and education.
