As part of the City of Santa Monica’s iam2m Millennium Celebration, the National Conference for Community and Justice presents the NCCJ 40th Annual Literature & Arts Program Contest in partnership with Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus and Santa Monica Bank. Learners from 4th-12th grades and all adults are encouraged to submit entries of poetry, short stories, essays, art or photography based on the theme: Wheels of Change: A Multicultural Kaleidoscope. The contest is open to students in the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District, private Santa Monica schools, ESL students, and to those who live and/or work in the City of Santa Monica. Prizes will be awarded to winners in elementary, middle, and high schools, and adults in three age categories: 18-25 years; 26-65, and 66+.

The Prizes.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners and a Certificate of Participation from the NCCJ will be presented to all participants. All student work grades 4-12 will be bound in a special book and presented to participating schools for installation in school libraries. All participating Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District schools grades 4-12 will be included in a drawing for a brand new iMac computer.

All winners will be announced and prizes awarded at a special National Conference of Community & Justice Awards Ceremony in May, 2000.

Rules & Deadlines

Entries accepted as of January 31, 2000.

Deadline for entry: March 22, 2000.

All submissions must be on the theme: Wheels of Change: A Multicultural Kaleidoscope.

Categories and length restrictions:

Poetry: Between 2 and 24 lines long.

Short story: 400-850 words

Essay: 500-1000 words

Work written in Spanish is accepted.

Art: Any permanent medium is acceptable. Maximum size is 8 1/2 x 14 inches.

Photography: Black & white only, 8" x 10": print mounted on 11" x 14".

First Prize $150 Second Prize $100 Third Prize $75

Adults will be judged in three categories:

18-25 years

26-65 years

66+

How to Enter

Students in grades 4-12 should submit work to their school’s Site Coordinator.

Adults 18-65+ should submit work directly to:

iam2m Literature & Arts Contest

Community & Cultural Services

City of Santa Monica

1685 Main Street, Room 210

Santa Monica, CA 90401

more further information call City Hall at 310.458.8999, ext. 428 or visit the www.iam2m.com/contest.

Physical art work will become the property of the City of Santa Monica and the NCCJ, Santa Monica Bay Area Region. See the Entry/Release for more details.