Empowering Youth Voice to End Bullying has launched a new website to address the issue in Alaska. EndBullyingAKwas built through partnerships with the Alaska Department of Health, Anchorage Youth Vote, and Spirit of Youth, and seeks to empower the community to work together to build inclusive, bullying-free environments across the state.
One in five Anchorage youth report they have been the target of bullying, which is classified as unwanted, aggressive behavior among peers that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. This behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.
Empowering Youth Voice to End Bullying has been working to address the problem for more than five years, and the website will prove to be an important tool in those efforts. Featuring resources that range from anti-bullying trainings, podcast recordings, and downloadable fact sheets, the website will be a valuable asset for educators, employers, parents, coaches, and youth themselves.
The website also lists grant opportunitiesspecifically designed for youth-led projects that address the issue of bullying. Aimed at middle and high school youth, grant applicants are encouraged to create projects or programs that promote respect and inclusion; increase community awareness; and reduce stigma around bullying among their peer groups.
Funding for the website was provided with support from a Comprehensive Behavioral Health Prevention and Early Intervention grant from Alaska Department of Health, received by Spirit of Youth.
The Spirit of Youth Coalition is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022-2023 “Empowering Youth Voice to End Bullying” grants. The coalition awarded up to $3,000 for youth-led projects that work to prevent bullying in schools, clubs, or other programs in the greater Anchorage area. Grantees will establish and implement programs that promote respect and inclusion; increase the broad community awareness and concern of bullying and its consequences; and reduce stigma among middle and high school youth about reporting bullying.
Four programs were selected from among the applicants:
One Eagle project at West High School
Students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program will provide presentations to peers at West High and other Anchorage high schools regarding bullying, its impacts, and resources for teens. Student artists will also craft an anti-bullying sticker to distribute to all members of the high school community.
You Are Not Alone (YANA) at West High School
Funding for the You Are Not Alone (YANA) program will provide assets for the “Bee Kind” campaign, that recognizes bullying speech and behavior, and empowers youth to speak up in support of peers experiencing bullying. Presentations will be delivered to all math classes at West High, with pencils printed with the 988 Careline number as a prompt for student action. Additionally, a monthly giveaway of “Bee Kind” sweatshirts will be conducted at the school.
Alaska Youth Orchestras (AYO) “Making Beautiful Music Together” project
Youth leaders among the orchestras will establish a peer-to-peer awareness and discussion platform to better equip these high-caliber teen musicians with tools to address bullying. This increased awareness will come about through training for adult and youth leaders, including parents, teachers, and staff of the orchestra programs, with the goal of feeling empowered to address concerns to the Anchorage Youth Orchestras leadership and community at large.
Dance Contempo at Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School
The members of East High School’s Dance Contempo group are creating a community-minded performance to present to local middle schools and showcase to fellow high school peers between February and April, 2023. Led by a student choreographer, the performance will center around the themes of respect for those who are different, and finding beauty in the power of creating as a team, while also providing tools for addressing bullying behavior.
Learn more about the Spirit of Youth Coalition’s anti-bullying efforts at www.endbullyingak.org. Funding was made available through a grant from Alaska Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, Prevention and Early Intervention.
Spirit of Youth, Anchorage Youth Vote, and other community partners are working as a coalition to build inclusive environments free from bullying.
Approximately 20% of students age 12-18 have experienced bullying. The Spirit of Youth Coalition was created to decrease the risk factor of bullying and to promote protective factors among Anchorage youth. Spirit of Youth is dedicated to creating, promoting and recognizing youth involvement in communities across Alaska. Anchorage Youth Vote works to amplify youth voice and create opportunities for meaningful youth engagement in Anchorage. Together, with other partners in the Spirit of Youth Coalition, we work to ensure that all Alaska youth are included, heard, and empowered.
Up to $3,000 is available for awardees of Bullying Prevention Campaign Grants are specifically intended to support youth-led projects for middle and high school students in Anchorage that meet the following goals:
Promote respect and inclusion
Increase the broad community awareness and concern of bullying and its serious consequences
Reduce stigma among middle and high school youth about reporting bullying
Increase bullying awareness among students, parents, teachers and school staff of institutions within the Municipality of Anchorage.
Apply for grant funding by December 9, 2022.
Access the grant guide and application HERE.
Previous grant recipients have included:
Anchorage Youth Court
Koahnic Broadcast Corporation – Youth Health Reporters
You Are Not Alone (YANA) – West High
You Are Not Alone (YANA) – Hanshew Middle School
Anchorage Youth Task Force
League of Women Voters Anchorage / Anchorage Youth Vote
Stone Soup Group
National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Alaska
Youth producers from the Alaska Teen Media Institute contacted awardees to record the 2022 Spirit of Youth Awards radio stories, featuring teens from across the state being honored for the good work they are doing in their communities.
The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. Now in its 24th year, the awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders who utilize this opportunity to share their inspiring and heartwarming stories.
Thank you to the Alaska Teen Media Institute for creating these radio stories!
Suella is a facilitator and communicator on important social issues. Most recently, she has been focusing on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People epidemic, bringing outreach to her community through her projects, participation in community events, and social networking.
Mia helps beautify Cordova by picking invasive species and maintaining the local native plants. She helps with recycling efforts and organized a youth-led march to garner attention for climate change.
When Emaline was 13, she started a nonprofit called Duchess Foundation. The nonprofit provides feminine products to school nurses and school districts. She is now 16 and continues to help her community through the nonprofit.
E was instrumental in crafting Alaska Youth Orchestra’s revised Concert Black attire requirements, setting a nationwide example of this classical music norm, which has historically been gender specific.
Mia works with with KSTK 101.7 FM in Wrangell, Alaska to create a podcast series about the Tlingit language. By broadcasting Tlingit phrases and their English translations, she is helping to preserve the language Indigenous to her community.
Levi was determined to help the current music teacher build up the music program. Thanks to his efforts, numbers in choir and band increased and the entire music department has been reinvigorated.
Hannah and Sophie were instrumental at West Anchorage High School in reviving the You are Not Alone Club after students returned to in-person learning.
Katrina serves as both a TRIO Leadership Committee member and as a mentor for new students in TRIO. TRIO Upward Bound is a college prep program for students who have the potential to be first generation college students and/or of limited income households.
Spirit of Youth is offering one grant, of up to $15,000, to promote youth advocacy in Anchorage. The Youth Advocacy Grant is specifically intended to support youth-led projects that meet the following goals:
Increase advocacy skills among Anchorage youth.
Provide forums to discuss issues impacting the context/environment for youth in Anchorage.
Explore factors that impact youth mental health.
Priority will be given to youth-led initiatives within the 12-24 year old age range.
The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska! The awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we held this year’s award ceremony on Zoom again. With award recipients from Anchorage to Cordova to Wrangell.
Congratulations to the 2022 Spirit of Youth awardees!
Hannah Yi and Sophie Mayers of Anchorage won theLifesaver Award. They were instrumental at West High School in reviving the YANA club (You are Not Alone) after the pandemic and students returned to in-person learning. Once clubs restarted in the fall of 2021, Sophia and Hannah were the main students who picked up the work that had been left off. They also have put a lot of effort into restarting the presentations for classes and have recruited a team of students to make those presentations in February.
Katrina Katoanga of Anchorage won the Role Model Award. She is in her first year serving as both a TRIO Leadership Committee member and as a mentor for new students in TRIO. TRIO Upward Bound is a college prep program for students who have the potential to be first generation college students and/or of limited income households. Most recently, Katrina helped spearhead a community service project where she helped collect diapers and wipes for Afghanistan refugees newly settled into Anchorage.
Mia Siebenmorgen Cresswell of Cordova won the Discovery Award. She helps to beautify Cordova by picking invasive species and helping to maintain the local native plant garden. She helps with community recycling efforts and to organize a youth-led march to garner support and attention for climate change. She is also an advocate for her generation — she serves as the student council representative to the School Board. Through all of her experiences and accomplishments, she remains level-headed, calm, reflective and enthusiastic for the next opportunity.
Shandiin “Suella” Wendell of Chugiak won the Innovator Award. She is a facilitator and communicator of powerful and important social issues. Most recently, she has been focusing on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MAMIP) epidemic, bringing outreach to her community through her projects, participation in community events, and social networking. Suella is an ambassador of Alaska Native issues. She testifies at committees on Native children, works on podcasts with the community and keeps a dedicated presence of how we can all help.
Emaline Buchanan of Wasilla won the Visionary Award. When Emaline was 13, she started a nonprofit called Duchess Foundation. The nonprofit provides feminine products to school nurses and school districts. She started it when she recognized that her friends needed some help. She’s turned 16 in February and continues to help her community through the nonprofit.
E Chythlook of Anchorage won the Humanitarian Award. E has been a powerful example of LGBTQ inclusion. During the first year with the Anchorage Youth Symphony, E was instrumental in crafting Alaska Youth Orchestra’s revised Concert Black attire requirements, setting a nationwide example of this classical music norm, which has historically been gender specific. That revised policy has been shared with every youth symphony organization in the United States and has been used as the new standard for gender inclusive policy within that sector.
Mia Wiederspohn of Wrangell won the Dreamer Award. She is working with KSTK 101.7 FM in Wrangell, Alaska to create a podcast series about the Tlingit language. By broadcasting Tlingit phrases and their English translations, she is helping to preserve the language Indigenous to her community.
Levi Anderson of Kenai won the Phoenix Award. Last year, Levi was determined to help the current music teacher build up the music program. Thanks to his recruiting efforts numbers in choir and band increased. He also helped a local fundraiser by leading a group of dancers from his school in a musical number. Overall, he has reinvigorated the entire music department and is bringing his enthusiasm to the entire community.
The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. The awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders. We utilize this opportunity to share their inspiring and heartwarming stories with the community.
Register for the 2022 Spirit of Youth Awards here.
Spirit of Youth’s Coalition is running youth developed public service announcements (PSAs), promoting use of the Careline, on popular format radio in Anchorage. These messages were crafted by local youth to share the significant protective role that supportive adults and community engagement play in youth mental health and the powerful negative impact bullying has on the lives of young people. The PSAs refer listeners to call or text the Careline if they need to talk to someone. The PSAs are aired during school drive time (before and after school) to encourage parent/child conversations around mental health and bullying.
Call anytime, toll-free: 1-877-266-4357 (HELP) or text 4help to 839-863, 3-11 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
Spirit of Youth is offering one grant, of up to $17,000, for youth advocacy in Anchorage. The Youth Advocacy Grant is specifically intended to support youth-led projects that meet the following goals:
Increase advocacy skills among Anchorage youth.
Provide forums to discuss issues impacting the context / environment for youth in Anchorage.
Explore factors that impact youth mental health.
Priority will be given to youth-led initiatives within the 12-24 year old age range.
Youth producers from the Alaska Teen Media Institute contacted awardees for the annual Spirit of Youth awards radio stories, featuring teens from across the state being honored for the good work they are doing in their communities.
The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. Now in its 23rd year, the awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders who utilize this opportunity to share their inspiring and heartwarming stories.
Thank you to the Alaska Teen Media Institute for creating these radio stories!
Anna Boltz — Anchorage, Phoenix Award
Anna has been on the Challenge Alaska Alpine Race Team since she was 8 years old. She has been the only middle-school-aged disabled athlete to compete in school sports such as cross-country running (in a handcycle) and Nordic skiing (in a sit-ski). She is a frequent spokesperson for Challenge Alaska.
Story By Sam Bernitz, Senior Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer
Austin Cline — Homer, Discovery Award
Austin became an Eagle Scout by reopening the upper Homestead Trail. He also was a two time finalist in the Caring for the Kenai competition, which asks students to create a proposal to improve the environment on the Kenai Peninsula.
Story By Grady Cutchins, Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer
Collin Friedli — Eagle River, Innovator Award
Collin used his social media and marketing skills to help small businesses in Anchorage, who were struggling economically.
Story By Ormund Alois, Senior Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer
Eielson Youth Group — Eielson Airforce Base, Visionary Award
Eielson Youth Group is helping keep Eielson Thrift Shop open on a regular basis by volunteering their time sorting, pricing and selling items to the community for a reasonable price. The money that is made at the shop goes directly back to the local community.
Story By Yule Zhang, Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer
Ketchikan Youth Alliance — Ketchikan, Humanitarian Award
The Ketchikan Youth Alliance improves the quality of life in Ketchikan by providing young people with a platform to have their voices heard and the tools to create change.
Story By Sam Bernitz, Senior Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer
No More Mat-Su — Palmer, Life Saver Award
No More Mat-Su is a youth-driven organization that seeks to end domestic violence and sexual assault in the Mat-Su Valley. They spread their message of kindness, respect and fidelity to the practice of active consent through their social media and live events such as Rock the Resilience.
Story By Karl Cranston-Simmons, Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer
Ryann Esteban — Port Graham, Dreamer Award
Ryann is a member of Student Council, Native Youth Olympics, a Sources of Strength youth leader at school, and a teen member on the Port Graham Native Council. She also independently created artwork for a sweatshirt that amplified the voices of missing and murdered indigenous women.
Story By Grady Cutchins, Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer
Tajhrel Prescott — Fairbanks, Dreamer Award
Through his participation at Boys and Girls Club Fairbanks, Tajhrel took the lead in launching the BeYou campaign, which promotes that 78 percent of Alaska teens do not drink alcohol. With the guidance of an adult advisor, Tajhrel led a group of his peers in creating media and hosting events that promoted the organization’s mission.
Story By Karl Cranston-Simmons, Alaska Teen Media Institute Producer
In case you missed it, here is Spirit of Youth’s summer newsletter! You can always sign up to be added to our mailing list if you want to hear more good news about Alaska’s teens.
The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska! The awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s award ceremony was held virtually. With award recipients from Anchorage, Eagle River, Fairbanks, Homer, Ketchikan and Port Graham!
Spirit of Youth is excited to announce the 2021 Spirit of Youth Award Recipients!
We thank you for your support of Spirit of Youth, and the work the organization does to celebrate young Alaskans.
You can read more about this year’s recipients, who were selected by our Teen Advisory Council, at www.spiritofyouth.org. We hope that you can join the virtual award ceremony on Saturday, May 1, at 5:50 p.m. to celebrate the accomplishments of youth in communities across Alaska.
The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. The awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders. We utilize this opportunity to share their inspiring and heartwarming stories with the community. The event is free but registration is required.
Spirit of Youth’s Anchorage Coalition is funded by a Division of Behavioral Comprehensive Behavioral Health Prevention and Early Intervention grant. The Coalition recently updated their strategic plan to reflect the needs reflected in the results of the Youth Needs, Your Voice survey conducted during the Covid-19 Pandemic. You can view the new plan here.
This report presents an analysis of the Youth Needs, Your Voice Survey data. The Youth Needs, Your Voice Survey was developed for the purpose of better understanding the mental health needs and resources available to youth and young adults in the Anchorage Municipality, especially in the face of concurrent social issues in 2020, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing and online education, and the institutional racism highlighted by George Floyd’s arrest and death and the related protests across the country. The intent of the survey was for survey results to inform Spirit of Youth’s direction of youth programming with specified Alaska Department of Health and Social Services grant funds.
Read the 2020 Youth Needs, Your Voice Survey Analysis here.
Spirit of Youth provided several mini grants to a number of organizations. These grants were specifically intended to support youth and young adult-led projects in Anchorage. These efforts promote youth connectedness and engagement.
Learn more about some of the youth messaging projects below.
Girl Scouts of Alaska – Independent Virtual Girl Scout Group
The Girl Scouts have been developing girls’ courage, confidence, and character for over 100 years. The Independent Virtual Girl Scout Group connects girls and allows them to benefit from the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in a time of social distancing. With guidance, girls mix and match activities and resources to suit their needs while giving back to their communities. The goal of the Independent Virtual Girl Scout group is to promote connectedness and leadership through youth-led facilitation and engage young girls in grades 6-12 in service projects and mentoring.
Identity’s LGBTQ+ Youth Leadership Team is a youth-led initiative that supports and promotes mattering, connection, engagement, respect, and inclusion for LGBTQ+ youth throughout Alaska. Youth involved in the work and vision of the leadership team will help shape the future of Identity’s youth program. Identity’s LGBTQ+ Youth Leadership program further connects LGBTQ+ youth in spaces of shared understanding, respect and inclusion.
ASD East High School – Native Student Leadership Council (NLC) / EHS Student Outreach
The Native Student Leadership Council’s mission is to provide opportunities for Alaska Native and American Indian students to learn and utilize leadership skills, share their cultures, volunteer, and enhance pride in being Alaska Native and/or American Indian. As a response to sudden changes and impacts due to COVID-19, the NLC understands the importance of reaching out to students now. Through several efforts such as providing wellness boxes to over 400 youth Anchorage students, NLC will support and encourage adults, youth and their families to engage safely, and genuinely.
To learn more about the Native Student Leadership Council, click here.
See Stories – Youth Speak: Empowering LGBTQ+ Youth and Allies
See Stories builds inclusive communities through film and story. By providing youth access to resources such as film workshops, youth are empowered to share vital stories and messages. Through their current storytelling youth-led project titled “Youth Speak” LGBTQ+ youth and allies,” See Stories seeks to engage LGBTQ+ youth and allies in social justice conversations around mental and emotional experiences, create positive relationships, and expand student networks with LGBTQ+ adults and mentors.
The Anchorage Youth Task Force, a project of Covenant House Alaska and Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, is a group of young leaders in Alaska who are committed in using their knowledge, skills, and insights to improve program practices, as well as inform, and expand youth services. The Anchorage Task Force provides resources to youth and their families across Alaska, offers direct training and technical assistance, and promotes youth/young adult endeavors.
Choosing Our Roots – The Alaskan Queer Experience.
Choosing Our Roots (COR) is a grassroots community organization working to ensure that all queer Alaskan youth and young adults have access to safe homes, supportive communities, and opportunities to thrive. COR promotes inclusion, fosters youth development, and empowers youth by providing spaces for youth to share their experiences & perspectives, and receive affirmation from others. Their current project, “The Alaskan Queer Experience” documents youth voices through a podcast and video series that seeks to highlight multi-generational, diverse experiences across Alaska. With this project, Choosing Our Roots hopes to reach LGBTQ+ youth struggling to find acceptance and resources in their communities and build shared knowledge from individuals across multiple generations and intersections of identities about what they need to feel seen, connected, and supported.
Check out more about Choosing Our Roots – The Alaskan Queer Experience here.
Youth producers from the Alaska Teen Media Institute contacted awardees for the annual Spirit of Youth awards radio stories, featuring teens from across the state being honored for the good work they are doing in their communities.
The Spirit of Youth Awards highlight dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska. Now in its 22nd year, the awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders who utilize this opportunity to share their inspiring and heartwarming stories.
Thank you to the Alaska Teen Media Institute for creating these radio stories!
Garrett Graham—Anchorage, Humanitarian
Garrett has demonstrated courage, resilience and fortitude as he faces challenging personal difficulties. In June of 2018, he formed a team called “Garrett’s Got Guts,” which participated in the Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis fundraising event. He has taken action to educate himself, his classmates and his community members about genetic disorders with both humor and sincerity.
Story by Quinn White, Senior Producer, Alaska Teen Media Institute
Alicyn Bahnke and Zoe Okleasik of Nome, and Quannah Potts and Nanieezh Peter of Fairbanks, Discovery
Alicyn, Zoe, Quannah and Nanieezh were inspired to take action due to their personal experiences with climate change in their community. In their resolution to the Alaska Federation of Natives they wrote about the severe impacts climate change is having on Indigenous ways of life and the spiritual and cultural well-being of Alaska Native communities. Their resolution declares a climate emergency and creates a climate action leadership task force to advance Indigenous voices and advocate for strong climate policies that will ensure the survival of future generations.
Story by Riley Taylor, Senior Producer, Alaska Teen Media Institute
Anna DeVolld—Soldotna, Innovator
Anna developed a program called Promote Our Pollinators. This insightful, ambitious project strives to educate the public about the importance of pollinators and to provide easy-to-implement ways to support these essential creatures. Anna is educating hundreds of students, seniors, and business and community members about the importance of pollinators.
Story by Quinn White, Senior Producer, Alaska Teen Media Institute
Kevin Grimes—Fairbanks, Phoenix
Kevin is a strong member of Facing Foster Care in Alaska. He mentors youth from all ages ranging from 13-25. Kevin fights hard to help foster youth around Alaska. While he is only 18, he has worked with political members and others to spread his message.
Story by Daisy Carter, Senior Producer, Alaska Teen Media Institute
Sarah Mixsell—Anchorage, Visionary
Sarah founded Alaska Kids for Kids in 2011 when she was nine years old. Alaska Kids for Kids is a registered non-profit organization which annually selects a youth focused organization to serve through fund-raising and other donations. Under Sarah’s leadership, the organization has raised over $20,000 in funds and other donations that directly benefit youth in Alaska. As a youth herself, Sarah understands and empathizes with those challenges at a peer level.
Story by Ryan Danigole, Senior Producer, Alaska Teen Media Institute
Spirit of Youth is offering five grants of up to $4,500 to organizations in Anchorage to promote youth connection and engagement. Priority will be given to youth led initiatives within the 12-24 year old age range.
The Youth Connection and Engagement Grants are specifically intended to support youth led projects that meet the following goals:
Mattering – Youth’s perception they are respected, trusted, supported, valued by others, and able to make a difference in their community.
Connection and engagement – Community connection is correlated with decreases in youth risk behaviors that negatively impact learning and wellness.
Youth/adult connection – Youth–adult connectedness is foundational for adolescent health and wellbeing and an active ingredient of effective interventions serving vulnerable youth.
YOUTH NEEDS, YOUR ACTION: Virtual Service Experiences Summit is a two-day event filled with virtual engagement opportunities. Youth and adults can participate in all the activities or just one or two.
The event will kick off Friday 9/11/20 with evening entertainment focused on civic engagement which you will be able to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
On Saturday 9/12/20 there will be a number of virtual sessions you can engage in including:
Presentations by Youth 4 Change, Anchorage Youth Vote, Alaska Teen Media Institute, and more.
Virtual storytelling circles.
A variety of fun youth-led virtual service projects that focus on acts of kindness!
The results of the Youth Needs, Your Voice! Anchorage youth needs assessment will be presented and a brand new youth leadership group will launch. This is a great opportunity to make connections with youth-driven programs, and to learn from young people in our community.
Let’s come together to get better connected in our community and learn how to make positive change! Open to all ages and areas of Alaska. Family friendly!
Feel free to attend as many or as few activities as you would like. Students! Ask your teachers about receiving extra credit!
Spirit of Youth is offering fifteen $1,500 grants for COVID-19 messaging, specifically intended to support youth led projects for middle and high school students. These efforts support the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services #akyouthcombatcovid campaign and are made available through funding from the Alaska Division of Behavioral Health. Youth can create their own media, including but not limited to pictures, memes and videos, and post it to their own social media channels.
Individual teens and youth groups are eligible
For Groups: Grants of up to $1,500 are available to youth groups to facilitate message development, sharing and promotion. This could include graphic creations, memes, social media content, audio and video content or other ways of communicating with teens. Youth producers must receive compensation for their contributions (we highly recommend gift cards to local business but this can be decided by the grantee). Other allowable costs are staff time, equipment, subscription services [such as Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator, Audition, etc.), Canva, Mailchimp, SoundCloud , Dropbox, Google Drive Upgrade, iCloud, Vimeo , Youtube, Zoom etc.], advertising (like Facebook and Instagram post boosts) and other materials needed to complete your project.
For Individual Teens: Teens who are not part of a youth group will have the opportunity to workshop an idea for COVID-19 messaging with Alaska Teen Media Institute (ATMI) through Zoom. Teens who participate will receive compensation (gift cards). Grant recipients are also strongly encouraged to participate in this interactive Zoom meeting in order to share their plans for their messaging campaigns and gain teen collaborators.
Each selected project is limited to a maximum of $1,500 and must be focused on addressing two or more of the following goals.
Messaging Goals:
Increase awareness that COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus that people can give to other people—even if they don’t have symptoms.
Increase community awareness of the need to flatten the curve (slow the rate at which people get the virus).
Help connect people to resources in the community.
Promote the use of the Careline (more info about Careline at carelinealaska.com).
Promote healthy activities while hunkering down (social distancing).
Promote activities that contribute to mental health while hunkering down (social distancing). This includes healthy relationships, staying connected (including special events like high school graduation), happiness, entertainment, amusement, etc. Get creative! You know what other teens would enjoy!
Deadline May 15, 2020. Read the grant guide here. Apply here.
