KidSpirit, the only youth-led platform for building community through life’s big questions, celebrates the global youth voices that contribute to its online magazine and community. The organization will present awards to its teen contributors on November 13th in New York City, at a benefit dinner also honoring Deven Parekh, Managing Director at Insight Venture Partners, and Sherrie Westin, President of Global Impact and Philanthropy at Sesame Workshop.
KidSpirit is a nonprofit magazine and community by and for youth to engage each other about meaningful topics in an inclusive spirit. Its mission is to promote mutual understanding among teenagers of all traditions and backgrounds and support their development into world citizens with strong inner grounding. Through a unique collaborative editing process, an international network of editors work together to decide on quarterly themes and create thought-provoking and poignant articles, poetry, and art on spiritual, ethical, and philosophical topics. With Editorial Boards from Kentucky to California, from Paraguay to Pakistan, KidSpirit empowers teens to share their voices in conversations that rarely include a crucial youth perspective.
One youth editor reflects, “KidSpirit provides a platform to freely voice my ideas and concerns and not be afraid of judgement. It fosters community and collaboration among diverse groups of people.”
Each year, the youth that make up the KidSpirit community vote for the works that they feel most represent the mission of KidSpirit. The event on November 13th will bring together friends of the organization, young participants, and alumni to celebrate those that have been selected by their peers. It will also honor two exemplary individuals whose leadership empowers the next generation.
At Insight Venture Partners, Mr. Parekh manages investments in application software, data, and consumer internet business globally. In addition to his investment work, Mr. Parekh is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Greater NY Partnership. He is a Trustee and Executive Committee member for the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, and Chairman Emeritus of Publicolor. In her role at Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, Ms. Westin leads the Workshop’s efforts to serve vulnerable children through mass media and targeted initiatives. Ms. Westin serves as Sesame Workshop’s chief mission ambassador, raising awareness and cultivating support to help children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.
Youth editors from KidSpirit’s global network, along with Mr. Parekh and Ms. Westin, will make remarks at the dinner. The event will also feature the release of a print anthology, The Best of KidSpirit, Volume V. In addition to Award-winning, inspiring youth writing and artwork, the book includes four articles from the PerSpectives column, the only department reserved for an adult with expertise in each theme, by Rev. Konrad Ryushin Marchaj, Nick Stuart, Benjamin Jealous, and Roshi Joan Halifax.
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For more information about the 2018 KidSpirit Awards, or to request interviews, please contact Justine Woods, Operations Associate, at [email protected].
