FAQs

NEW LOOK LEADERSHIP ACADEMY:

1.Who is eligible to enter the 2012 New Look Leadership Academy? 
Youth entering the 9^th grade during the 2012-2013 school year who have received a Powered By Service Local Certification.

2.How many students will be selected in each city?
45 ninth grade students will be selected for each academy.

3.What are the NLLA locations?
Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and New York.

4.From where are youth recruited to attend?
Schools, churches, recreation/performing arts centers, cultural alliance groups and other youth serving organizations are some suggestions.

5.When will the application process launch?
Applications are accepted at the completion of Powered By Service trainings in October and April.  Online applications open on February1^st.

6.What are the steps in the selection process?

a.     Students complete an application (online or hard copy)

b.    Students are notified in writing/email if they have been selected to complete an interview

c.     Students complete individual interview process with selection committee

d.    Selection committee sends recommendations to the respective city program coordinators

e.     Program coordinators compile a final list and mail out acceptance letters/emails

7.When will students be notified if selected?
Students will receive a letter from Usher’s New Look if they are accepted by May 28^th, 2012 for the 2012 – 2013 program year.

8.What is the term for that 2012 – 2013 Program Year?
The program year begins in September 2012 and continues through June 2013.

9.How long will I be able to participate in the program?
Students enter as 9^th graders and continue participation through their senior year.  Upon graduation, they will also be eligible to apply for the Mogul In Training Program.

10.How often are meetings conducted for the Academy?
Students meet a minimum of twice per month.  Field trips and special events are also conducted.

11.Will there still be an opportunity for students to travel to Atlanta for Camp New Look?
A leadership camp will be conducted between the city sites during the summer.  Students will have the opportunity to travel to Atlanta to attend the World Leadership Conference and Awards held in the summer months.

12.How can someone volunteer with the organization?
Those interested in volunteering will fill out a volunteer application and undergo a standard background check.  Note:  Applications are available upon request from Robin Gittens at rgittens@ushersnewlookfoundation.org.  If accepted as a volunteer, that person will participate in a volunteer orientation meeting.  Volunteers may assist at meetings, large events, as mentors or through sponsorship of Powered By Service Projects.

MOGULS IN TRAINING PROGRAM:

13.Who are the Moguls In Training?
Moguls In Training, or MITs are our college age youth; those who have completed all four years of the NLLA and graduated from high school.

14.How do I become an MIT?
Students who have received their Local and National Certifications, completed required PBS facilitation hours and who are in good standing with the program overall will be eligible to apply for the MIT program.

15.What is the application process?

a.     Students complete an application (online or hard copy)

b.    Students are notified in writing/email if they have been selected to complete an interview

c.     Students complete individual interview process with National MIT Coordinator

d.    National MIT Coordinator compiles a final list and mail out acceptance letters/emails

16.When does the application process begin?
NLLA members should apply in their senior year of high school.  The applications will open April 2012 and selections will be made by May 2012

17.For what are MITs responsible?
MITs have a list of responsibilities.  Amongst those are:

a.     Complete the self-directed curriculum

b.    Participate in monthly conference calls

c.     Facilitate PBS trainings during PBS Months both nationally and internationally

d.    Assist with NLLA Academy meetings on-site & via teleconference

e.     Represent New Look through different media opportunities

18.What are the perks of being a Mogul In Training?

a.     Summer internships

b.    Scholarship opportunities

c.     Access to large corporate networking events

d.    National & International travel opportunities

e.     Eligibility to sit on a panel during the World Leadership Conference

WORLD LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE & AWARDS:

19.What is the World Leadership Conference?  Will the NLLA youth be able to attend?
Once a year, New Look hosts over 250 youth at the WLC, an incredible opportunity for youth, celebrities, athletes, political and corporate leaders from around the world to train youth to engage as local and global leaders, provide youth with a “real world platform” to sharpen and display their skills as leaders, and create partnerships among youth across communities, counties, and cultures to develop global approaches to local problems.  At the close of the conference, New Look will host the Annual World Leadership Awards, a signature conference event that will motivate and inspire youth participants, as well as recognize youth leaders and champions from around the world.

20% of NLLA youth who receive the National Certification will be eligible to attend the WLC.

20.How are youth selected to attend?
Selections are made based off of the students’ participation in the program. You must have received a Local Certification to be nominated to attend.  Those who have met all of the eligibility requirements will be allowed to complete an essay explaining why they should be selected to attend the conference.  Essays will be reviewed and judged by the city program coordinator and the city program’s regular volunteers.

21.Where will the conference be held?
The 2012 conference will be held at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

22.How much does the World Leadership Conference cost to attend?
There is no conference fee for NLLA, PBS Tour, and 2011 returning participants selected to attend. 

23.When does registration open for the conference?
February 1, 2012.

24.When is the 2012 World Leadership Conference/Awards?
June 19^th – June 22^nd

25.What do students receive for completing the conference?
Upon completion, students will receive our Emory University-backed Local Leadership Certification; those entered the 9^th grade in the following school year and reside in one of our base cities will be eligible to apply for the New Look Leadership Academy; all students will be eligible to apply for up to a $500 Powered By Service Grant to implement their own community service projects

POWERED BY SERVICE:

26.  What are POWERED BY SERVICE grants?
POWERED BY SERVICE (PBS) grants are community action grants that award up to $500 to help youth turn their ideas into a reality and take existing projects to the next level. Past grantees have used the money to create such projects as a national college tour for underserved middle school students, a public service announcement bringing awareness to bullying, and a community skate-a-thon that taught youth a fun way to exercise in an effort to eliminate childhood obesity. Through our semi-monthly PBS calls, the Leadership Academy and Mogul In Training program we provide our grant winners with the skills to grow and sustain their projects.

27.  Am I eligible to apply for a grant?
Eligibility Rules:

The applicant must be locally certified through our Powered By Service program

The applicant must identify a non-profit organization to receive and monitor how you spend your awarded amount

28.  How can grant funding  be used? 
What the grant money can be used for is specific to each grant, but for some examples of past projects we have funded HERE

PBS Grants CANNOT be used to fund:

Travel Costs (If you are looking for grants to help you cover a travel abroad experience check out mytravelbug.org or studyabroadfunding.org)

Individual Sponsorships

Individual School Fees (PBS Grants are not educational scholarships)

29.  What do I need to apply for a Grant?
 A completed grant application and a committed non-profit organization partner

30.  What is an example of a good application?
Your application should address your individual role and others’ roles in the project; how you are currently or plan measure the impact you are making on your community; a detailed budget; what schedule you will follow and what goals you intend to reach along the way; and please pay attention to detail in your grammar and spelling.

31.  I started my project with a partner or group. Can we apply together?
Yes, our grants are awarded to individuals and groups. On the application form, you can list who is going to be participating in the project and what role they will play. With groups, you should decide one person to act as the project leader who will be the main contact person. The project leader will enter other group members' emails on the application form so that we can update all of you with any news.  Also, all grants must have an adult ally.

32.  Do I need to partner with a 501c3 organization?
Yes.  If awarded a grant, the money will be sent to your identified 501c3 organization in your name.  You will submit all invoices or requests to that company.  That company will then administer your funds as needed.  You will submit copies of your receipts to the company to prove your spending.  Upon completion of your project, however, you will send all original receipts back to Usher’s New Look Foundation.  If there are any funds remaining from your initial awarded amount, your identified 501c3 will return them to Usher’s New Look Foundation.

33.  What needs to be included in my budget?
Your budget should provide a general overview of your project and how you plan to use your money. Make sure to take a look at what we DO NOT fund, and make sure none of your plans include those items.

34.  How long do I have to use my grant money?
You must use your grant money before December 31 of that same year. So whether you apply in January 2012 or November 2012, your project must be completed (with receipts reconciled and submitted) no later than December 31, 2012.  Remember, the PBS grants are accepted on a rolling basis, so you can apply at anytime.

35.  What happens if my computer crashes while I am working on the application?
Yikes!! Computer crashes happen to everyone. To protect your application from being lost, make sure to FIRST write your essays in Word and then copy/paste them into the online application. We have no ability to access your application if your computer crashes before you hit submit, so please help us help you by making sure you have back up copies of your essays.

36.  How do I find out if I was awarded a grant?
The Powered By Service grant applications are accepted on a "rolling basis" which means that there is no application deadline. You will be notified whether or not you have won a grant within 2-3 months of submitting your application. It's annoying to wait, we know, but we have to read through a lot of applications! Winning applicants will be notified by phone and email. Non-winning applicants will be notified by email two to three months after submission.

37.  So what happens if I don’t win?  
Non-winning applicants will be notified by email 2-3 months after submission. We encourage you to take another look at your application and re-apply. It might be that we had so many great applications that month we just couldn’t fit you in. Or it might be that your application has room for improvement: maybe it needs more clarity on how your project measures change, or maybe you need to explain what makes your project unique. And, if you still are having problems with your grant applications, email rgittens@ushersnewlook.org for one-on-one advice on how to improve your application.