What Does Freedom Mean to You?National Essay Contest Announced for Black History Month by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and The 9/12 Generation Project.

 "What Does Freedom Mean to Me?" – that question is being asked to students nationwide in grades 6 – 12 by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and The 9/12 Generation Project. As the nation celebrates Black History Month in February, "freedom" is being discussed in schools nationwide. This contest will honor students with grants and the opportunity to be published in a book.

The Freedom Center will provide SEVEN $100 grants and SEVEN $50.00 grants to students in each grade. Additionally, there will be THREE grand prizewinners in grade 6 – 8, 9-10, and 11-12 who will be awarded $250 each.

For more information, go to www.912generationproject.org . 

"The 9/12 Generation Project is a project that educates, inspires and activates students to a life of service which is an enormous freedom," saysMia Toschi, National Director of the 9/12 Generation Project. "This essay contest is a wonderful way for students to be able to express their support of freedom and the value of freedom." 

"We're pleased to partner with The 9/12 Generation to learn how our nation's youth view and value freedom" said Dr. Clarence G. Newsome, President, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center "we appreciate the opportunity to use the contest to challenge and inspire students to really consider what freedom means to them, their families and communities."

About the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center: Located in Cincinnati, Ohio the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center reveals stories of the historic struggle for freedom in the United States from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times nationally and around the world and seeks to educate and inspire modern abolition by connecting the lessons of the Underground Railroad with today's freedom fighters. Since opening in 2004, the Freedom Center welcomed over 1.5 million visitors, including 400,000 school children, from over 40 countries and all 50 states and in 2014 it was accredited by the American Alliance of Museums

About 9/12 Generation Project: The 9/12 Generation Project is the educational division of the American Public Education Foundation and teaches middle and high school students about the following core values: Compassion, citizenship, kindness, diversity, empowering survivors, and volunteerism. Launched in September 2012, the 9/12 Generation Project reaches 500,000 students in more than 1,000 schools about the power of "paying it forward."

CONTACT: Mia Toschi, mvtmedia@live.com 203-524-2422

SOURCE 9/12 Generation Project
NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --