Youth Leaders for Literacy Grants

NEA Initiative Inspires Youth to Literacy Service

An initiative of NEA and Youth Service America (YSA), Youth Leaders for Literacy grants help youth direct their enthusiasm and creativity into reading-related service projects. Something powerful happens when youth are involved in literacy service. They receive the intrinsic rewards of community involvement, but they also learn more about themselves and the importance that reading plays in their own lives.

Young people ages 21 or younger can apply, either individually or as a group. Grant applications should propose youth leadership in developing and implementing a literacy project that begins on NEA's Read Across America Day, March 2, 2007, and culminates on YSA's National Youth Service Days, April 20-22. The proposal must include a scheduled activity (e.g., read aloud session, trip to the library, book-making, etc.) for each week of the project period. Winning entries will feature outstanding examples of:

• Youth leadership in developing and implementing the project
• The involvement of youth in preparing and submitting the grant application
• The capacity of the individual or group to administer the grant
• The impact of the project on those providing service and those being served
• Complete applications, including all requested support materials

20 grants of $500 each will be awarded, with winners announced in January. The deadline for entry is November 24, 2006.

For more information and a downloadable application, visit www.nea.org/readacross/volunteer/index.html.