Black History Month Poster Contest Open to GVSD Students

The non-profit organization, Neighbors in Black and White, Inc., offers students in the Great Valley School District the opportunity to participate in a poster contest focused on Black History Month. The goal of the contest is to encourage students to learn more about the contributions of Black people in America, and to highlight students’ talents. The contest has both an art component and short writing component. 

Neighbors in Black and White, Inc., is a locally managed 501c3 non-profit dedicated to sharing a message of hope that people of different backgrounds can live together in unity and be a force for racial justice and inclusion throughout life.  www.neighborsinblackandwhite.org

Goals:  The goals of the Black History Month Poster Contest include:

• • To further our efforts to build stronger connections between people of all backgrounds by recognizing the contributions of Black people in America – today and in the past.  
  • To move beyond words to action and support non-profit organizations that help further efforts to value Black people in America.

Dates/Deadline: 

• The poster competition will be launched in January 2023 and will continue through the end of Black History Month, Tuesday, February 28^th.
• Students should submit their completed work and accompanying documents in a sealed envelope/container to the school’s main office no later than Tuesday, February 28th.

Participants: 

• Students from all schools within GVSD are welcome to participate. Entries will be judged according to level: elementary, middle, high school.
• Teachers and administrators within GVSD are asked to encourage/support the students in participating.

Awards: 

Individual Awards:  A total of nine awards will be given, three (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd) at each level (elementary, middle, high). Award amounts are as follows: $300 – First Prize / $200 – Second Prize / $100 – Third Prize. 

Non-Profit Award:  Each participating student will also need to research and recommend a non-profit organization to be considered for a donation of $500.  These non-profits must exist to further efforts to value Black people in America in some way.  In addition, an award of $100 will be given to the student that nominates the non-profit that wins the Non-Profit Award.

 Instructions:

1. Research the contributions of Black people in America – both past and present. 
2. Research non-profit organizations that have a goal of furthering efforts to value Black people in America in some way.  Select one non-profit to nominate for the non-profit portion of the award.
3. Design and create a poster reflecting what you learned from your research.
4. Write a summary of your work (one or more paragraphs) to include:
   1. Description of the poster you created.
   2. Explanation as to why you believe the non-profit you selected should receive a donation.
5. Include the name of your school, your grade, your phone number and email, and your name in your summary AND on the back of your poster.  (Note that students may work together and split the award, if desired. Please provide information for all participating students.)
6. Submit your poster and summary in a sealed envelope/container to the school’s main office no later than Tuesday, February 28^th

Selection Process:

• A diverse panel of judges has been assembled to assist in identifying winners.  This panel includes school-related individuals, as well as judges from the broader GVSD community.
• Posters/donation proposals will be judged based upon the degree to which the student(s) followed all of the instructions noted above; keeping in mind that the primary goal is to help us build stronger connections between people of different backgrounds by recognizing the contributions of Black people in America – today and in the past.

Award Announcements:

• Winners will be notified by March 31^st.  Donations to the non-profit organization(s) will be made as soon as administratively possible following the announcement of award winners.

More Information:

• For questions or more information about the Black History Month poster contest, contact Neighbors in Black and White, Inc.: neighborsinblackandwhite@gmail.com or 610-909-6848.