On Sunday, November 9, KidSpirit, the genre-breaking online magazine and community will honor contributing writers and artists from around the world at their annual award ceremony in New York City. This year’s winners represent a diverse cross section of youth from New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Maine, California, Texas, Massachusetts, India, and Pakistan. The program features award recipients reading their essays and poetry on themes exploring heroism, gender, beauty, and truth. Both the themes and the awards are selected by KidSpirit’s young editors around the world. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, Executive Religion Editor at The Huffington Post, is the Guest of Honor.
In addition to original artwork, winning pieces include “Uncovering the Hijab,” an in-depth feature by a teen who has chosen to wear the hijab; several reflections on pivotal moments of self-discovery; an article co-authored by a boy and girl on whether gender is central to identity; and essays by a Quaker, a Catholic, and a Pakistani Muslim, exploring the search for truth in their spiritual traditions. The PerSpectives award, the only recognition for an adult writer, will go to five-time New York Times bestselling author Caroline Myss for her essay “Why We Need Heroes,” an original piece penned for KidSpirit’s youth readers about silent acts of everyday heroism.
The 2014 KidSpirit Awards showcase work published in KidSpirit that is selected by their peers and compiled in the Best of KidSpirit Online, Volume III. The 140-page book contains work by over 40 youth from 11 states and five countries, including the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, and China. Articles were edited by seven editorial boards made up of over 50 young people. The volume represents diverse global voices engaging in conversation on themes rich with meaning.
The volume is a valuable resource for educators looking for rich discussion starters, and a great addition to school libraries. The first volume of the Best of KidSpirit Online was a Wilbur Award winner for youth books. This compilation, along with previous volumes of the Best of KidSpirit Online, are available on Magcloud in both print and digital editions. Press copies available upon request.
WHAT: 2014 KidSpirit Awards Celebration, including a performance by the all-youth Manhattan String Orchestra; readings by award-winning youth and a gallery of work by KidSpirit artists; remarks by Guest of Honor Paul Raushenbush, Executive Religion Editor at The Huffington Post.
WHEN: Sunday, November 9, 2014, 4:00-7:30pm
WHERE: New York University School of Law
Tishman Auditorium and Greenberg Lounge
40 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
TO REGISTER: Go to www.kidspirit.events. Free press tickets available upon request; contact [email protected].
MORE ABOUT KIDSPIRIT ONLINE
KidSpirit has thousands of readers in 185 countries, including syndication on Huffington Post Religion. KidSpirit has been recognized by a unique combination of education, parenting, and spiritual organizations. Most recently, the magazine won two Wilbur Awards — in 2014 for its Interfaith Connections column and for Youth Books in 2012. The Religion Newswriters Association (RNA) has also honored KidSpirit twice; in 2014 with an honorable mention for Online Religion Section of the Year, and second place in 2012 for Religion Story Layout and Design of the Year. KidSpirit has also twice earned distinction from both the Parents’ Choice Awards and the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP), among many others.
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