The Northwest Indiana Literacy Coalition partners with Hammond Reads and other groups on "Time Out for Reading." This year, grab a red nose and bookmark, and join thousands of teachers and students who will read Friday, September 30, from 10 to 10:15 a.m.
The Coalition again partners with Books to Bridge the Region (B2BR), the "one book" program covering seven North
west Indiana counties, to deliver "Lit Kits" of materials to each school, and each public library, in Lake, Porter, Jasper, LaPorte, Newton, Starke and Pulaski counties. Kits will be delivered to library or media specialists, or to the designated school contact. Each school will receive the book appropriate for that grade level (K-6 schools will receive the children's and YA books; high schools will receive YA and Adult books, etc.)
Summer youth programs can utilize a pair of free Web sites that help middle school students plan for high school, college and career while helping their parents locate financial aid for post-secondary education.
"Drive of Your Life" is an interactive career exploration game that helps middle school students identify career interests, plan for high school and start thinking about college - all while driving a cyber car that they design.
"Trip to College" provides information on college financial aid based on family income, information about Indiana's public and private colleges and universities as well as age-specific advice to encourage academic achievement.
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Do Something - Summer Jobless Grants Program
Deadline: July 10, 2011
In response to this summer's high teen unemployment rate, Do Something, a national nonprofit organization, offers a grant program to help young people get involved in or create local projects to provide youth with volunteer opportunities in place of jobs.
Summer Jobless Grants can be used to help cover the costs of implementing a youth volunteer project, including food, materials and supplies, event space, and transportation, and include more teens in community action projects. All applicant programs must engage at least 25 teens in volunteerism.
The program will provide 8 grants of $2,000 and 18 grants of $500. Applicants must be 25 years of age or younger and must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen. Applications are due by July 10; applicants will be notified whether or not they have won by July 15. Visit the Do Something Web site for program guidelines and application procedures.
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Sodexo, Youth Service America - Childhood Hunger Volunteer Project
Deadline: July 15, 2011
The Sodexo Foundation and YSA are accepting applications from organizations across the US to serve as 2011-2012 Sodexo Lead Organizers. Applications are due by midnight on Friday, July 15.
Sodexo Lead Organizers will work with partner organizations to engage at least 600 youth volunteers in learning about and addressing the issue of childhood hunger in their communities, beginning during Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (November 14-20) and continuing through Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) (April 20-22, 2012). Sodexo Lead Organizers will also build new partnerships in their community and increase public awareness about the issue of hunger and young people's role in solving the problem. Finally, they will report on their efforts to YSA and document effective strategies for engaging youth in addressing childhood hunger.
Information is at http://www.ysa.org/grants/sodexoleadorganizer/
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Ashoka, Staples - 5th annual Competition for Youth Social Entrepreneurs
Deadline: Rolling, through Sept. 19
Ashoka, a global community of leading social entrepreneurs, and Staples, Inc., have launched the fifth annual Staples/Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition, which highlights youth-led organizations using innovation and technology to address social issues affecting their communities.
The competition is open to youth ages 12 - 24 who are operating entrepreneurial ventures that use innovation and technology to advance social change and make a positive impact on communities.
The competition defines "technology" broadly, and it need not be the primary focus of an applicant's work (for example, young people using social media or digital platforms to accomplish their goals in other fields, such as education or the environment, would qualify). Applicants must be able to demonstrate the impact of their project and be willing to put effort into presenting their story to a global audience. Youth must enter the competition or be nominated. Entries will be accepted only in English.
Four finalists receive all-expenses-paid trips to Techonomy 2011, a conference for technology leaders, held Nov. 13-15, 2011, in Tucson, Arizona. During the conference, the grand-prize winning team will be announced and presented with the Staples/Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneur Excellence Award and a cash prize. Three remaining winners receive Achievement Awards and other prizes. Nominations and entries will be accepted on a rolling basis through Sept. 19, 2011. Program details, application procedures, and the entry form are on the competition Web site.
Hammond Reads, Inc., celebrates its 10th anniversary with a free ice cream social on Saturday, July 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Franciscan St. Margaret Health - Hammond, 5454 Hohman Ave., in the 8th Floor Conference Center. 
