Neighborhood Networks Week 2009 Essay Contest

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** Congratulations to our Overall Essay Contest Winner -- Arthur Shumar of Searights Career Link Computer Center in Uniontown, PA. A link to Mr. Shumar's essay is in the "What's New" box to the right.**

Nationwide, residents of HUD-insured and -assisted housing are extolling the value of Neighborhood Networks centers.

	"My center is a haven that promotes neighborhood involvement."
	"It's a safe, convenient place to learn."
	"Center staff inspired me to be proactive about my future."

Now, Neighborhood Networks wants to hear from you. In observance of Neighborhood Networks Week, August 3-8, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is sponsoring its biyearly Neighborhood Networks Week Essay Contest.

Release your inner Oscar Wilde or Virginia Woolf, and enter the Neighborhood Networks Week Essay Contest. Send us your award-winning essay describing why your center is a community asset and how it helps to make the community a better place to live.

Participate the Write Way

Individuals who participate in the programs and activities offered at their local center are invited to compete in four age categories:

	Children (6 to 12 years of age): 75 to 250 words.
	Youth (13 to 17 years of age): 300 to 600 words.
	Adults (18 to 64 years of age): 600 to 1,000 words.
	Seniors (65 and older): 600 to 1,000 words.

The Winning Formula

Entries will be judged on originality, creativity, emotional effect, and clarity. All entries must be typed on 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper. Please include the following information with your essay:

	Essay title.
	Your name and age.
	Your Neighborhood Networks center's name, address, and telephone number.
	Center director's name.

Deadline for submission has been extended to Friday, June 19th, 2009.

Submit entries by:

	Mail to Neighborhood Networks Week Essay Contest, 8403 Colesville Road, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
	Fax to (301) 589-2493 (Attn: Neighborhood Networks Week Essay Contest).
	E-mail to: Kristen Stevenson.

Entries will be disqualified if they:

	Do not clearly explain why a center is a community asset.
	Are postmarked later than June 19th, 2009.
	Are plagiarized, that is, the author of the essay uses someone else's statements or ideas as if they were his/her own.

And the Winners are… First-, second-, and third-place winners will be chosen for each age category. Entries that capture first place in each category will be printed and distributed to all centers prior to Neighborhood Networks Week. Also, all winning entries will be posted on the Neighborhood Networks Web site. One of the winning entries will be chosen as the overall winner and will be read during the national kickoff event for Neighborhood Networks Week 2009.