2 Major Awards for Voices Flagship Program

This past October and November 2006, VOICES was recognized with four major awards: the Pima County Outstanding Out-of-School-Time Award; the Arizona Newspapers Association’s Community Service top prize; the first annual “Model Organization” award and the first annual“Youth Voice Activist” award (for Executive Director, Regina Kelly) from the Every Voice in Action Foundation.

On October 10, 2006, the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, the Youth Development Coalition of Pima County and youth from the Metropolitan Education Commission’s Youth Advisory Council/Teen Council gave VOICES the first annual “Outstanding Out-of-School Time Program Award.” The fact that this was the first time this award was given and that only one such award was bestowed was a huge honor for VOICES and its 110° program.

Only one week later, the magazine that results from the 110° program — 110°: Tucson’s Youth Tell Tucson’s Stories — won first place in the Arizona Newspapers Association contest in the community service category. This is a very big honor in the media arts world. We’re very proud of our 110° youth staff and the terrific mentors who support them and The Arizona Daily Star who publishes, distributes and promotes this important and unique work.

In November, local foundation Every Voice in Action initiated a community-wide nomination process to recognize two organizations that are the top “models” for youth voice advocacy and for two community members who are the top “activists” for youth voice. VOICES was one of the recipients of the “model organization” awards and Executive Director Regina Kelly won one of two the “activists” awards. Dr. Lynne Borden won the other “activist” award — Lynne was nominated by Our Family but she also serves on the VOICES board. We’re so proud!