If there’s one award programme that I support its the National Youth Awards. Every year I try to keep track of and make time to nominate young people (not just in the literary arts) who I think are deserving. I want to encourage you to do the same. Time doesn’t permit me or any of us to nominate every one or every programme we think is deserving (I actually decided to post this after getting through three nominations and realizing I needed to get back to work) but if everyone nominates at least one person or programme, maybe no one or entity will be overlooked because we don’t have the time or didn’t make the time or whatever. So make at least one nomination nuh? You can nominate young people, people working on behalf of young people, programmes committed to the uplift of young people. I’ll make it even easier for you and post the nomination form here National Youth Awards Nomination Form 2015 Hurry, the window is almost closed shut.
Wadadli Pen at NYA trivia: Wadadli Pen alums who’ve won NYA Awards are Asha Graham (Literary), Angelica O’Donoghue (media), and Tiffany Benjamin (Culture and Performing arts); also past judges Linisa George, Mark Brown, and Floree Williams are past winners (past multiple winners, I believe); past judge Brenda Lee Browne received a lifetime achievement award; and I believe long time patron Best of Books received a corporate award and Cedric Holder of the Cushion Club, another patron, also received a lifetime achievement award if I’m remembering correctly. I hope I’m not forgetting anyone associated with the Wadadli Pen programme, but if I am just remind me. Neither I nor Wadadli Pen have won NYAs but I did receive an honourable mention (literary arts) back in 2006 behind that year’s winner and a special recognition plaque for my support of the work of the Youth Department in 2012.
As with all content on wadadlipen.wordpress.com, except otherwise noted, this is written by Joanne C. Hillhouse (author of The Boy from Willow Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, Oh Gad!, Fish Outta Water, and Musical Youth). All Rights Reserved. Seriously, a lot of time, energy, love and frustration goes in to researching and creating content for this site; please don’t just take it up just so without even a please, thank you or an ah-fu-she-subben (credit). If you enjoyed it, check out my page on Amazon, WordPress, and/or Facebook, and help spread the word about Wadadli Pen and my books. You can also subscribe to the site to keep up with future updates. Thanks.
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