For High School Students in the following areas:Washington, D.C. Metro Area, Southern New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and New York
Diverse Minds Writing Challenge
Now celebrating its 11th Anniversary!
This innovative competition asks high school students, in each region, to write and illustrate a children’s book that tells a story of tolerance, diversity or inclusion.
Students currently enrolled in the 9th – 12th grades are eligible to participate. The first place-winning individual or team will receive a college scholarship of $5,000, and B’nai B’rith will professionally publish the winning submission – making the student a published author! Submissions placing second and third will also receive scholarships.
In addition, the teacher of the student(s) who place first will receive a $1,000 stipend and the school will receive a $500 grant. The submission deadline for DC/Delmarva and New Jersey will be March 18, 2017.
The Diverse Minds Writing Challenge is an education and awareness initiative created by B’nai B’rith International as one of its programs to 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 creativity, inspiration and education.
This innovative scholarship competition asks high school students to write and illustrate a children’s book that tells a story of tolerance, diversity or inclusion. Executed through public, private and charter high schools in select communities, 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.
The contest winner in each contest city/region will receive a $5,000 college scholarship and become a published author!
BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
What a great writing opportunity for teens. Love the emphasis on diversity. We didn’t have opportunities like that!
Hi Patricia,
It’s a great competition. I hope they open it up to the entire US soon.
Wow! What a great opportunity! Too bad my daughter’s in Loudoun, farther north of the Metro DC region. I’ll share this though on my FB page, and in the Mid-Atlantic one. Thanks, Mia!!
Thanks so much for sharing Maria! I love that it gets kids writing! I judged it last year and I was so impressed by the books they created!
What an awesome competition! Can’t wait to see the books that come out of this.
Hi MaryAnne,
I am judging again this year and I was so impressed last year! Looking forward to this year!
Dang! I don’t think I can join in this! I live in Pennsylvania! 🙂
Hi Erik,
I wish the contest was open to the entire US… maybe it will in the near future!