VOICE OF YOUTH ESSAY CONTEST
Collective Impact’s Voice of Youth in Cooperation with the Fellowship Open Presents:
An Essay Contest on:
Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? by Reginald Lewis
The mission of the Voice of Youth Essay Contest is to facilitate the development of critical thinking and constructive self-expression among Milwaukee’s teens and young adults. Teens who are between 16 and 22 on March 1, 2021, are eligible to enter. Participants in this contest must enter through a Collective Impact Collaborating Organization. (List of CI Collaborators are at the bottom of this page).
The essay should address specific ideas or intentions for how the essayist or the community can benefit from the book’s teachings and insights. Essays should be typed in 12 point Times New Roman Font and no longer than 5 typed pages (not including the cover page or reference page) single-sided, double-spaced with standard 1” margins top, bottom and sides.
The essays will be evaluated based upon:
-
The insights and ideas gleaned from the book
-
Creativity and originality of the essay
-
Grammatical and presentation quality
Essayists will have to sign a statement promising that they did in fact read the book (or listened to it on tape) in its entirety and that they are the true author of the essay that they submitted. It is permissible to interview and talk to others about the book, but it is not permissible to submit any non-attributed work or writings that was done by someone other than the essayist
Contestants are encouraged to register as soon as possible in order to receive related notifications and updates. Essays must be typed and submitted electronically on this page by 5 pm March 1, 2021. The essay must include a cover sheet (provided below) with the Essayist’s name and age, birth date, name of the essayist’s parent or guardian (if essayist is under 18 years of age), complete home address, email address, telephone number, name and contact person of the Collective Impact Organization the essayist is representing.
Essays submitted into this contest become the property of the Collective Impact Initiative and essays will not be returned. By submitting their essay, the contestant is further attesting that they have their parent’s or guardian’s consent to participate and that the name, image, and likeness of the essayist can be published through various media channels along with the essay itself. Members of the Beta Alpha Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity of Milwaukee will serve as senior judges. All judges' decisions are final, and judges have the discretion to disqualify submissions.
Winners will be announced at 5:30pm CST on May 7th, 2021. All essay contestants will receive an invite to the announcement. The following prize schedule has been established:
1st place $1000
2nd Place $ 500
3rd Place $ 400
4th Place $ 300
5th Place $ 200
6 – 10th $ 100
11th - 20th $ 50
Collective Impact Community Based Essay Collaborators
Journey House
Neighborhood House
Milwaukee School of Excellence
Neu Life Community Resource Center
Kellogg Peak Initiative
MKE Fellows
Running Rebels
Operation Dream
CASH Investment Club
Journey House
Urban Economic Development Association
Milwaukee Public Schools
All About Increase
Mentoring Positive
United Way of Milwaukee and Waukesha County
City of Milwaukee
Asset Builders
Secure Futures
Economics Wisconsin
Junior Achievement
UW Extension
Go4it!
Wisconsin Women Business Initiative (WWBIC)
Milwaukee Housing Authority
100 Black Men of Milwaukee
100 Black Men of Madison
The Mary Lou & Arthur F. Mahone Fund of Kenosha
Urban Underground
More on Reginald Lewis and the making of his Billion Dollar Empire Here!
Send any questions in regards to the email contest to: