“Build a Bigger Posadas” Contest
The Posadas Project is taking a further step in promoting Las Posadas and advocating for greater compassion towards the immigrant. In September of 2009 the Project gave DVD copies of Posada to over 7,000 organizations and people in worship communities, high schools and universities. In October-November the Project invites those people and communities to make one night of Posadas even more memorable by building a bigger celebration of Las Posadas.
With support from the Our Sunday Visitor Foundation, the “Build the Bigger Posadas” Contest is going to give $500 prizes to seven winning teams who host Las Posadas and relate the celebration to migrants and refugees.
Two Ways to Enter:
Prizes:
If your community celebrates Las Posadas and can use $500 for expenses like publicity, supplies, e.g. food, candles, etc., then find two partners who can help you host Las Posadas. The Posadas Project will award seven communities $500 for this upcoming novena of Las Posadas. Prize money can be used for any Posadas-related expense. Two payments of $250 will be given to the seven teams who submit the best proposals.
The winners will be notified November 24th and given a check for $250. Once the Posadas celebration has been completed, winners will need to send a follow up form and receipts before receiving the remaining $250.
Judging:
Since worship communities, schools and many different service providers are important points of contact and integration for immigrants, the Posadas Project will award winning prizes to groups who come together as a team. A team will need to consist of representatives from a worship community, an organization that serves or advocates for immigrants and ONE of these educational institutions: a high school, college or university.
Example: if you attend high school, you will build your team by asking a local worship community and a local organization that works with migrants and refugees to help you design and host your Las Posadas event.
The team must appoint one person to be their contact person. This team member person will be, “the applicant.” Teams will need to create their own name for its their own celebration of Las Posadas. In 300 words or less, teams will address how they will:
a) promote Las Posadas and,
b) educate and advocate for hospitality and solidarity towards immigrants, refugees and newcomers.
Each team will submit a concrete list of how they would spend $500.
Entries for “Build a Bigger Posadas” Contest can be found online or can be obtained by contacting the Posadas Project organizers. Completed applications will be due November 20, 2009.
A panel of judges will review submissions. Winners will be notified November 24th. Entries will be rated on how well your team proposes to create a faith-based celebration that:
• reflects the spirit of Las Posadas
• involves your local community and/or region
• seeks to include a participation of a broader audience
• includes speakers and activities that relate to immigrations
• efforts to educate and advocate for immigrants, refugees or newcomers
• teamwork among schools worship communities and services for immigrants, and overall ability to connect faith and justice.
Rules & Eligibility:
By submitting application you confirm that your team leaders have read the rules of the contest and agree to follow them.
• Open to all persons who live in the United States, any U.S. territory, and Canada and Mexico, if partnered with a group from the U.S.
• Contestants must make a team that consists of members from:
a) a worship community
b) an organization that provides services to immigrants
c) an educational institution that represents ONE of these three groups: a high school, college or university.
• This team will work together in preparing for and hosting a night of Las Posadas.
• The “Build a Bigger Posadas” application must be completed and received by midnight November 20, 2009 . Any applications received later will not be judged. Incomplete applications, or applications that present false information shall be disqualified.
• The celebration of Las Posadas must be occur in December 2009.
• If chosen as a winner, applicants will be required to submit a feed-back form about how your celebration of Posadas went, and submit proof of purchases i.e. original receipts. The feed-back form and receipts need to be submitted by January 10, 2010. Upon receipt of the form and receipts, the second payment of $250 will be dispersed.
• Winners agree to spend prize money only on the items which were originally proposed in the application. Payment for any other items may be refused by the Posadas Project.
Posada postcards will be given for contestants who submit early!
Click here to download a PDF of the postcard.
The first 25 communities who submit completed applications for the “Build a Bigger Posadas Contest after September 1, 2009 will recieve 25 free postcards ro invite others to their own celebration of Las Posadas and/or a showing of Posada the movie.
