We are delighted you are here and hope to be able to include you next year, when we will be celebrating Sweet Readers 10th Anniversary!!
To apply for the 2021-22 Council, please review the information below and beneath that, fill out the form, answer the question(s) and click submit. Completed applications are due by midnight on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Good Luck!
History
The Sweet Readers Council was started in 2015 by Sweet Readers Co-Founder Sophie Young and three then Trinity Sophomores, Benji Gross, Emma Gray and Annabel Berney, inspired by their experiences as Sweet Readers. The Council’s mission is to build Sweet Readers Communities and raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and brain health. The Council has since grown to include 30 Young Leaders from seven high schools in the US and Canada.
Accomplishments
Since 2015, the Council has helped to launch and expand Sweet Readers in Canada, the UK, Chicago, Seattle, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Through two documentaries and several community events, the Council has raised awareness about Alzheimer’s, isolation and Brain health in 50 US states and 20 countries and raised over $200,000 to build Sweet Readers communities.
During the 2020-21 school year alone, the Council helped to bring in 18 new eldercare partners and two new school partners. Our Young Leaders also developed the curriculums for new programs which they facilitated!
2021-22 Structure
For the 2021-22 School Year, the Council will have two levels of engagement and be comprised of three divisions.
Level 1: Facilitation & Engagement
Level 2: Facilitation & Engagement + A Division
Facilitation & Engagement
Every Council Member (Young Leaders) will participate in teams of 2-3 Young Leaders in at least one 5-week Sweet Readers program either as a Facilitator or YL Sweet Reader. Participation includes a special 1 hour training session, five one hour weekly multigenerational sessions and an evaluation. Each team will also develop the curriculum for their program, to be vetted and edited by the SR Program Director. Young Leaders may choose between three program cycles, the first starting in October, the second in January and the third in April and may be able to participate in more than one cycle.
Divisions
Communications
collaboratively to run the Sweet Readers social media sites, the Podcast, monthly newsletter and keep the web site updated with news and events. The Communications Division will be supervised by a social media and communications consultant, the Council Liaison and guided by the protocols and suggestions in the Council’s Handbook. Young Leaders in this division will also be responsible for interviewing scientists and wellness experts as part of our efforts to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s, Isolation and Brain Health.
If you are interested in journalism, science and/or communications, then this would be the division for you!
Special Events & Fundraising
This division will work collaboratively to create two special events: the Next Steps Gathering in the late fall and the 10th Anniversary Celebration in late spring, 2022. Young Leaders in this division will work with a special events consultant, the Sweet Readers Program Director, The Council Liaison and the Sweet Readers Executive Director and be guided by the Council Handbook. Young Leaders in this division will need to meet at least once during the summer to finalize the initial plans for both events. If you are creative, social and interested in events and fundraising, then this is the division for you!
Community Builders
This is the Council’s most rigorous and some might say most rewarding division. It is also the most competitive as only a select few applicants will be chosen for this division. Teams of Young Leaders will work with the Council Liaison, Program Director and Executive Director and be guided by the Council Handbook. Each team will be responsible for securing a school partner, eldercare partner, developing the curriculum and facilitating the program. Young Leaders in this division need not facilitate or participate in any additional Sweet Readers programs.
For Every Young Leader:
Training
Every Council Member will participate in our intensive training program, to take place on Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12, each day from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Training will be in person in Manhattan for all Council Members based in New York City and offered either remotely or in person for all members who live outside of NYC.
Meetings
Council meetings will be held every Sunday from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm EST. There will be 12 meetings each semester and every Level 2 Young Leader must attend at least 10 meetings/semester. Meetings will be held in person in Manhattan with remote options for all Young Leaders based outside of NYC.
Level 1 Young Leaders are only required to attend one Council Meeting per month.
Level 1 Young Leaders are only required to attend one Council Meeting per month.
Meeting Dates
- September: 11-12 (TRAINING), 19, 26
- October: 17, 24, 31
- November: 7, 14, 21
- December: 5, 12
- January: 23, 30
- February: 6, 13, 27
- March: 6, 13
- April: 3, 10, 24
- May: 15, 22
Special Events
Every Council Member will also participate in our special events. For the 2021-22 School year we are planning two events, the first in late October, 2021 and the second in late spring, 2022.
How to Apply
To apply to the Council, please take the following steps:
- Read all of the above carefully and be clear that the time commitment is good for you.
- Fill out the form, select the level of commitment you would like to have and if it is level 2, then also your first and second division choices.
- Answer the Application Question(s).
- Click SUBMIT
Applications are due by Midnight on June 24, 2021. We will announce the Young Leaders for the 2021-22 school year on July 15, 2021.
There is a $51.75 registration fee for Young Leaders to help offset the cost of processing the applications and registrations. Financial aid is available for all Young Leaders in need.
Young Leaders will be selected based on school recommendations and the quality of the application answers. Sweet Readers does not discriminate for any reason whatsoever and while we are seeking a richly diverse Council, Young Leaders will be selected blindly, based on merit. Only students who are currently in high school and have completed at least one Sweet Readers program will be eligible to apply to the Council.