The Baldwin Prize is an essay competition at Baltimore City College High School. Named after the writer and humanitarian James Baldwin, the Prize gives City College students an opportunity, during a pivotal stage of their development, to use the written word to explore their inner lives and how it connects with our shared humanity. In 2020, students will earn $6,000 in awards.
We are set to have 500 student writers this year, so we need more help than ever. There are two volunteer opportunities. You can register here and read more details below.
1. Read and score essays
Readers (AKA judges) just need a willingness to read student writing and a bit of time. Each judge will be given no more than 6 essays on Sunday, March 15, 2020 and asked to submit scores (according to a rubric that will be provided) by Sunday, March 29, 2020.
2. Be a writing consultant
Writing consultants should have some experience writing or editing work for publication. The type of publication and amount of writing or editing experience is not important. Writing consultants just need to be able to listen to students talk about the progress they've made on the current draft of their story and lead a group conversation (consisting of three students and one consultant) on things each young writer may want to consider as he or she revises the piece ahead of the submission deadline. Consultations will take place on Friday, February 21, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Baltimore City College High School (3220 The Alameda, Baltimore, Maryland 21218). You can volunteer all day or any portion of the day.
To volunteer, please complete this short form.
More information about the Baldwin Prize:
- Learn all about the Prize and what students say about it in this short video.
- The Baldwin Prize blog has pictures and information from previous events as well as winning student essays.
- And we have a newsletter. You can sign up for it here.
We are set to have 500 student writers this year, so we need more help than ever. There are two volunteer opportunities. You can register here and read more details below.
1. Read and score essays
Readers (AKA judges) just need a willingness to read student writing and a bit of time. Each judge will be given no more than 6 essays on Sunday, March 15, 2020 and asked to submit scores (according to a rubric that will be provided) by Sunday, March 29, 2020.
2. Be a writing consultant
Writing consultants should have some experience writing or editing work for publication. The type of publication and amount of writing or editing experience is not important. Writing consultants just need to be able to listen to students talk about the progress they've made on the current draft of their story and lead a group conversation (consisting of three students and one consultant) on things each young writer may want to consider as he or she revises the piece ahead of the submission deadline. Consultations will take place on Friday, February 21, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Baltimore City College High School (3220 The Alameda, Baltimore, Maryland 21218). You can volunteer all day or any portion of the day.
To volunteer, please complete this short form.
More information about the Baldwin Prize:
- Learn all about the Prize and what students say about it in this short video.
- The Baldwin Prize blog has pictures and information from previous events as well as winning student essays.
- And we have a newsletter. You can sign up for it here.