AFFILIATE MULTICULTURAL PROGRAM AWARD

Purpose: The purpose of this award is to encourage and honor those affiliate who adopt programs, policies, activities ad other events which will encourage greater participation in and development of multicultural involvement within each affiliate.               

Who Can Participate: Any affiliate of NCTE is eligible for the award, except winners of the previous year's awards. Programs should be designed to meet the needs of the respective affiliate, its population, and unique qualities.

 Some possible ideas include:

• launching a membership drive for underrepresented groups
• adding multicultural topics of interest
• increasing visibility of culturally diverse members as conference presenters, speakers, officers, etc.
• planning special multicultural events that relate to English language arts
• promoting multiculturalism through activities, such as African-American Read-Ins, reading groups focusing  on ethnic literature, etc.
• whatever creative ideas affiliates may develop!

Frequency/Number of Awards: Up to a total of five awards will be given at the Affiliate Breakfast at each year's NCTE Annual Convention.

Award Specifics: The award will be a certificate presented to each winning affiliate.

Award Criteria: Previous year's award winners are ineligible to participate. Each affiliate will determine how it has expanded and extended its multicultural reach during the year, based upon the purpose of the award, listed above. Affiliates nominate themselves for this award by summarizing their work in a 1-2 page report, attaching appropriate supporting documents, and filling out the attached Multicultural Program Award Submission Form. Send nominations to the participating SCOA Representative (Shirley Wright, 8412 Santa Ana Dr., Fort Worth, TX  76131-5315), postmarked and mailed no later than May 1 of the year of the award. Items which could be included in the report might include statistics showing an increased number of members of color, expansion of conference programs, special activities/events that focus on multicultural aspects of English language arts, etc. Handouts, programs, letters, etc., may be attached to the report, but are not required. 

DEADLINES:  The completed Multicultural Program Award Submission Form along with a 1-2 page report and supporting documents must be sent to the participating SCOA Representative (Shirley Wright, 8412 Santa Ana Dr., Fort Worth, TX  76131-5315), postmarked no later than May 1 of year of the award. The award-winning affiliate(s) will be notified in late summer so that they may have a representative present to receive the award at the NCTE Annual Convention Affiliate Breakfast. The affiliate representative is expected to purchase a breakfast ticket with conference preregistration.

Administration: The Standing Committee on Affiliates will administer the award.  The Standing Committee on Affiliates will appoint a member to handle the judging and the awards specifics. The committee will also provide annual feedback on ways to improve the program so that it runs smoothly. The Division Director of Communications & Affiliate Services at NCTE will handle the initial publicity and notification to affiliates of the program.

Judging: Members of the NCTE Standing Committee on Affiliates will read each affiliate’s report and choose up to five winners total.

Copies of winning entries may be borrowed from the NCTE Affiliate Office (see lending library announcement).