Are you a teen girl with big dreams of going to prom, but has a small budget? If so, Princess Closet is the answer to your dream!

With over 1,50o dresses plus shoes and accessories to choose from, you will be sure to find at least one dress you like. There are two little problems, though. Dresses sizes 14 and up are scarce and more shoes are needed. No worries. Maria Davalos, a proud mommy and the Founder of Princess Closet, is working on that.  Also, be sure to enter one of their contests they have going on right now: the Curvy Girl Design Your Own Prom Dress Contest and the Ultimate Prom Package (details below). One more thing, be sure to spread the word to other girls with big dreams and small budgets.

To learn more about how the organization started and how it helps to make girls’ big prom dream come true, listen to my interview with Maria Davalos. Then, visit Princess Closet to find out how to get the dresses; to learn about upcoming events; and to find out how to contribute.

Image: Princess Closet

We are always talking about our future, but we somehow fail our future we we fail to do what we can to make sure they are prepared for the future. Since I cannot be all things to all teens, the least I can do is try to help boost their education and employment opportunities. Thus, if you learn of any job or  scholarship information or any other educational opportunities please post them in the comment section below or on our South Side Shorty Facebook Page.

Students in grades 9-12 living in the U.S. or Puerto Rico who plan to enter a full-time undergraduate course of study upon high school graduation are eligible for the 2012 Best Buy Scholarship. You must have solid grades and are involved in community service or work experience. Up to 1,200 students will each receive a $1,000 scholarship. Visit Best Buy now for more information and to apply! February 15, 2012 is the deadline.

Question: What percentage of young people in Chicago were out of work during the summer 2010?

Answer: Approximately 30% of Chicago teens were out of work. This lead to idle minds and even more idle activities.

Let’s try to reverse this trend in 2012. What can you do?

For starters, try to allocate at least $100 per month in your business budget to pay a stipend to a teen worker for the summer. That’s not a huge sum, but they are more likely to be motivated to work because they are being paid. Second, speak to your colleagues to find out if they, too, can invest at least $300 to hire a teen for the summer.

This is what your $300 investment will get you:

1. Low cost assistance with your projects
2. An opportunity for you to mentor a young person
3. Your contribution to the preparation of the workforce of the future
4. Higher graduation rates and lower prison rates
5. Your assistance with helping a young person with his or her career and education choices

For the young person:

1. Discipline
2. Accountability
3. Responsibility
4. Interpersonal  and communications skills
5. A work ethic
6. Networking
7. Time management
8. Mentoring
9. Pay for work

As you can see, this is a win-win for all involved. Let me know if you have $300 to invest in a Chicago teen for the summer.  Also, if you have other suggestions and resources to keep teens occupied for the summer, please share.

Go to www.ronbrown.org to apply. For further information, please contact us:

Ron Brown Scholar Program
1160 Pepsi Place, Suite 206
Charlottesville, VA 22901

Phone: 434 964 1588
Fax: 434 964 1589

E-mail: info@ronbrown.org

Heroes in the ‘Hood
To qualify, nominees must be between the ages of 13 and 18, live in the city of Chicago and have performed the community service in 2011. Winners will receive a trip to Springfield, IL OR to a local outing (similar to 2010 winners who were provided transportation and tickets to a White Sox game), a Plaque or certificate honoring their achievement; Media coverage in the Chicago Crusader and other media outlets; and a T-shirt and “goodie bags. All applicants will be guests at the free reception and awards ceremony April 26, 2012 at DuSable Museum, and be given certifications of recognition. The deadline for applications is March 7, 2012.

Stop the Violence Award
Applicants must be a principal, teacher, counselor or community leader who has developed a prevention, education or outreach project designed to reduce teen violence. The winner receives a prize of $1,000, donated by GO Airport Express and the Chicago Crusader, to their school or project. Applications for the awards can be found here:

• Individual Application
• Group Application
• Stop The Violence Application

All nominees are invited to an award ceremony held at the DuSable Museum, where the winners will be announced. Awards are given to the top three individuals; the top group and the Stop the Violence winner. All nominees are presented a certificate for their efforts.

Information can be found by visiting: www.heroesinthehood.com

Image: thecoloringspot

Totally Positive Products is sponsoring “IT’S IN OUR HAND TO HEAL OUR LAND”, a free five-week after school/weekend Community Works Crime Prevention Program and Service Learning Project. It runs from Thursday, November 17 – Thursday, December 22, 2011.

REGISTRATION: FREE INCLUDES: FOOD AND REFRESHMENT, ESSAY PRESENTATION AND CASH PRIZES!

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: TAJ JONES AT 1-773-488-9553 or visit WWW.TOTALLYPOSITIVEPRODUCTIONS.COM

The Black Youth Project (www.blackyouthproject.com) seeks writers between the ages of 15-25 to write weekly blog posts for BlackYouthProject.com. Candidates at all levels of experience are more than welcome to apply. This young person should be a skilled and imaginative writer. He or she should also be interested in and aware of current events (i.e. politics, sports, music, popular culture, etc), and able to articulate an honest and unique perspective on those events. BYP bloggers have the freedom to write on topics of their choosing, and may espouse a perspective that is true to who they are.

The Black Youth Project’s overall goal is to provide a platform for the voices and perspectives of black youth. We’re looking for passionate, insightful, opinionated young people to join our online team.

If interested, send the following information in the text of your email (NO ATTACHMENTS) to info@blackyouthproject.com:

• Name
• Age
• Address
• Email address
• Phone number
• School (if applicable)
• The kinds of subject matter of interest to you as a writer (this can be very broad)
• Resume
• A brief writing sample (150-400 words) that reflects your voice and style as a writer

Image: Facebook

COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO HOSTS TOWN HALL MEETING: “NOT HIRING: THE PLIGHT OF JOBLESS TEENS”

Why were 18,000 Chicago teens were out of work last summer? In Chicago, only 30 teens of every 100 found a job during June and July of last summer, continuing the dismal unemployment trend of 2010. The average teen employment rate was just 29.5 percent, tying 2010 for the lowest rate since the end of World War II, reports the Center for Labor Market Studies of Northeastern University in Boston. The collapse of the nation’s teen summer job market will be the topic as Columbia Links hosts a town hall meeting: “Not Hiring: The Plight of Jobless Teens.”

Panelists include education and non-profit experts as well as student reporters from Columbia Links, a journalism skills-building and leadership development program for youth and teachers in Chicago Public Schools, housed at Columbia College Chicago.

WHEN: 5:30 p.m.Nov. 2

WHERE: 618 S. Wabash Ave., Stage 2

ADMISSION: This event is free and open to the public.

Laura S. Washington

Twitter @MediaDervish Columnist, Chicago Sun-Times Political Analyst, ABC 7-Chicago