100 Best Communities for Young People
For: Cities and towns that have made the well-being of children and youth a top priority.
By: America’s Promise Alliance.
Winners Include: Boise, Idaho, which runs a Mobile Recreation Program to provide activities and a free summer lunch program for economically disadvantaged children and youth; Newport News, Va., which has a Youth Career Café program that offers a variety of job training services; and Dubuque, Iowa, which has recently opened the Crescent Community Health Center to provide medical and dental care to underinsured and uninsured families.
Contact: (202) 657-0600, www.americaspromise.org.
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Mom on a Mission: Vicky Gunderson of Onalaska, Wis., was honored by the Campaign for Youth Justice for her opposition to jailing youths in adult facilities. |
National Mother of Distinction Award
For: Mothers who have made outstanding contributions to the juvenile justice field.
By: Campaign for Youth Justice and the National Juvenile Justice Network.
Winner: Vicky Gunderson, of Onalaska, Wis., who, since her teenage son committed suicide in prison, has spoken out against jailing juveniles with adults.
Contact: (202) 558-3580, www.campaignforyouthjustice.org/news.html
Prism Awards
For: Entertainment that accurately depicts addiction and health issues.
By: The Entertainment Industries Council, in collaboration with the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and FX Network.
Winners: Teen Programs – “I Won’t Love You to Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom,” by MTV News and Documentaries and Gigantic! Productions; and Children’s Programs – the “Where There is Smoke” episode of “That’s So Raven,” by the Disney Channel, That’s So Productions and Warren & Rinsler Productions.
Contact: Henri Bollinger, (818) 784-0534.
Institutional Award
For: Foundations that model effective and responsive grant-making practices, particularly in communities of color.
By: Association of Black Foundation Executives.
Winners: W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Mich., for its Cultures of Giving initiative to increase philanthropy in minority communities.
Contact: ABFE, (212) 747-9320.
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
For: Ten middle and high school students who have demonstrated extraordinary efforts in serving others through volunteerism.
By: The Prudential Foundation.
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Mark Rinkel |
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Jenna Machado |
Winners Include: Kristen Allcorn, 18, of Sedalia, Mo., who founded a soup kitchen; Talia Leman, 13, of Waukee, Iowa, who started a youth community service organization; Jenna Machado, 17, of Boulder, Colo., who founded a nonprofit to increase awareness about depression and suicide prevention; Riley Miller, 14, of Bowling Green, Ky., who has organized an annual citywide day of lemonade sales for the past three years to raise money for cancer research; Kaylee Marie Radzyminski, 16, of Cleveland, Tenn., who collects CDs and DVDs to send to U.S. soldiers serving in combat zones; and Mark Rinkel, 12, of Aurora, Colo., who raised $16,000 to provide medical service dogs for children with diabetes.
Contact: Harold Banks, (973) 802-8974.
Stand Up for Freedom Contest
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Sarah Kramer |
For: People ages 17 to 29 who produce a video public service announcement or podcast about a pressing civil liberty issue.
By: The American Civil Liberties Union.
Winners: Rogin Kim for his video “Hard to Swallow,” about food and nutrition; and Sarah Kramer for her podcast “The Kids Are Listening,” about U.S. foreign policy.
Contact: media@aclu.org, www.aclu.org/standup/contest/index.html.
Afterschool Champions/MetLife Afterschool Innovators
For: Members of Congress, state and city leaders and organizations committed to providing after-school programs to all youths.
By: Afterschool Alliance and the National League of Cities.
Winners Include: Afterschool Champions – Maxine Quintana, of the Mayor’s Office of Education and Children, Denver, Colo.; Mayor Otis Johnson of Savannah, Ga.; Kacy Conley of the YMCA of Central Maryland, Baltimore; and Jeanne Mullgrav, city commissioner of the Department of Youth and Community Development, New York.
Also, MetLife Afterschool Innovators – LA’S BEST, California; the After-School Corp., New York; Lincoln Community Learning Centers, Lincoln, Neb.; and The Native Youth Club, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Contact: Gretchen Wright, (202) 371-1999 www.afterschoolalliance.org.
Awards Available
Earl Reum Award
For: Members of the National Association of Workshop Directors, a coalition of student advisers who encourage and/or train other adults to work in student leadership.
By: National Association of Student Councils.
Deadline: Mid-September.
Contact: Executive Director Genel Hodges, genel@nawd.com.
Caring Award
For: Five adults and five teens who have worked to improve the lives of others.
By: The Caring Institute.
Deadline: Sept. 28.
Contact: (202) 547-4273, info@caring-institute.org.
Alec Dickson Servant Leader Award
For: Leaders in the service-learning movement who improve the lives of young people and influence others to perform service.
By: National Youth Leadership Council.
Deadline: Aug. 4.
Contact: (800) 366-6952, www.nylc.org/inaction_award.cfm?oid=3719.
