All Solano County Youth, Ages 5 - 18 are invited to enter!

Entry forms and rules are available at www.PeaceJamSolano.org
Entries are accepted now through 5:00 PM on Friday October 17, 2008

The Solano Peace Contest, a program of Youth Peace Initiative (YPI) is a county-wide event. This year we are pleased that the Peace Contest is co-sponsored by the United Way of the Bay Area. This will be the third year of the Solano Peace Contest. In previous years, when the contest was limited to high school youth, we had entries from 12 different high schools in the county, representing six of the seven public school districts, and several entries from incarcerated youth in the Juvenile Detention Facility. We believe that expanding the ages to include elementary and middle school youth will greatly increase the interest in the community (both youth and parents) and will bring more awareness of the contest and how we each can contribute to peace in our community. We anticipate receiving 500 student entries.

We believe that students (and their parents) will be positively impacted by reflecting on the personal nature of the contest. Their entries must address either question: 1) “What does peace mean to you?” or “How can you contribute to peace in our community?” Self-esteem and confidence are increased when students see their work on public display; their efforts are celebrated; and they are exposed to a larger community of caring, peace-minded people.

Adults in the county are impacted by: 1) greater awareness of their personal responsibilities to be a peacemaker in our communities; 2) self-reflecting on how (and if) they are modeling personal peace behaviors; 3) supporting the youths’ involvement in the Peace Contest; and 4) witnessing the deeply moving student Peace Contest entries.

Distribution of the 2009 Peace Calendar will extend the positive influences of the event throughout the coming year.

The Topic: “What does Peace mean to YOU” and/or “How can YOU contribute to PEACE in our community?”

Three Categories are available for each age group: 5 – 10, 11 – 13, 14 - 18

Literature: Essay & Poetry ~ up to 150 words
Poster art ~ up to 9 x 12 inch size
Multi-media: Music & Film

Cash prizes will be awarded for each category – 27 prizes & $3,375 in all!

Elementary School (Ages 5 – 10): First Place Winners: $100
Second Place Winners: $50
Third Place Winners: $25

Middle School (Ages 11 – 13): First Place Winners: $200
Second Place Winners: $100
Third Place Winners: $50

High School (Ages 14 – 18): First Place Winners: $300
Second Place Winners: $200
Third Place Winners: $100

Selected entries will be featured in a 2009 PeaceJam Calendar

How to Enter: Go to www.PeaceJamSolano.org and download the Peace Contest Entry Form and Guidelines. Students may enter each category one time, but a separate entry form with parental permission must accompany each entry.

Mail or deliver entry with signed (parent and youth) entry form (preferably in a manila envelope) to Youth Peace Initiative, California Business Center, 1652 West Texas Street, #248, Fairfield, 94533.

Entries must be postmarked by October 17, 2008 ~ no exceptions

Winners will be announced at the PeaceJam Awards Dinner on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Fairfield Community Center, Willow Hall, 6 – 8:30 PM. All contest entries will be on display. SAVE THE DATE and get your dinner tickets now.

Dinner tickets for this exciting PeaceJam Peace Contest Awards Banquet on November 8, 2008 are free for student entrants 9 and under; $5.00 for all other students 18 and under; $15 for one parent per student entrant; and $25.00 for all other adults (including second parent). Donations and dinner tickets may be purchased by calling Peace Contest Chair, Jennifer Darcangelo at 707-427-6536 or emailing at jdarc623@yahoo.com

Judging: The Peace Contest entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of multi-cultural judges.