KidSpirit, the sole magazine by and for youth to explore life’s big questions, is proud to announce it has received a 2017 Wilbur Award. 10 Years of KidSpirit, which won in the Youth Books category, is a compendium of the most insightful and inspiring writing, poetry, and artwork published by 11- to 17-year-olds during KidSpirit’s first decade in print.
Led by a global network of young editors, KidSpirit is a unique forum for kids of all backgrounds and traditions to delve into timeless questions of meaning in an open and inclusive spirit. Since its founding in 2008, hundreds of teenagers from 18 countries have published expository essays, poetry, and artwork on a wide range of philosophical, ethical, and spiritual topics. 10 Years of KidSpirit represents a cross-section of their incredible work. The 314-page book includes pieces from all 34 issues of the quarterly magazine, each of which revolves around a different youth-chosen theme, including ethics and morality, God, religion and science, human dignity, truth, myth and meaning, and money.
The only book of its kind, 10 Years of KidSpirit exemplifies the ability of teenagers to think deeply about big topics that affect us all. Pieces include probing articles about how we connect to each other, ourselves, and the world; reflections about life-changing moments; personal narratives from a multitude of faith backgrounds and wisdom traditions; poems that meditate on loss and change, optimism and ambition; and artwork expressing the many colors and aspirations of adolescence.
In addition to youth-created content, the volume features a rich offering by adult writers, such as Lama Surya Das, Lynne Twist, Dr. Eboo Patel, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Dr. Daniel J. Siegel, and Valarie Kaur, who share their wisdom in a column called “PerSpectives.” The voices of these renowned thinkers and leaders contribute to an intergenerational conversation that is profoundly needed yet often missing from our public discourse.
This year’s recognition of 10 Years of KidSpirit is the magazine’s fourth Wilbur Award. In 2012 and 2015, Volumes I and III of the Best of KidSpirit were recognized in the Youth Books category, and KidSpirit Online’s Interfaith Connections column was honored in 2014.
The Wilbur Awards are given each year by the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) to recognize the work of secular media outlets that communicate about religion, ethics, and values with professionalism, fairness, and honesty. Founded in 1929, the RCC is an association of communications professionals who work for and with a diverse group of faith-based organizations in the areas of communications, public relations, marketing and development. It is the oldest public relations professional organization in the United States.
The public release of 10 Years of KidSpirit will coincide with KidSpirit’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, which will be held in New York City in November of this year. To learn more about the organization or 10 Years of KidSpirit, please contact Managing Editor Jessie Post at the information below.
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