PASE Network News

826 National Youth Writing is excited to invite eligible youth-serving organizations and schools to apply for grants of $20,000 through the Write to Thrive Fund. This initiative connects programs with 826 National’s writing-and-SEL curriculum and training, strengthening their capacity to support young people’s creative expression, mental health, and well-being. Selected partners will receive $20,000 in grant funding; a flexible, writing-based workshop series centered on reflection, creativity, and care; and facilitator resources, training, and a short curriculum guide from 826 National. The deadline to apply is January 21, 2026.  

Offered through the Women’s Forum of New York, the Women's Forum Education Fund provides unrestricted grants of $10,000 to extraordinary women age 25 and older who have demonstrated heroic effort in overcoming extreme adversity to pursue their first Associate or Bachelor's degree. Unlike traditional scholarships, this award is given directly to the recipient to use for any needs that loom largest, including tuition, childcare, medical bills, or housing. Candidates must be 25 years old, reside in NYC and attend a two- or four-year institution within the city, be pursuing their first associate or bachelor’s degree, and be in good academic standing. Read full eligibility criteria here. Applications can be submitted by March 1, 2026 via their online application. 

Join the Mott Million Dollar Challenge — a pitch competition for kids and teens. This is the place where your best ideas come to life. Kids and teens grades K-12, from any U.S. state or the District of Columbia can enter solo or with a team of up to three for a prize pool up of to $1M. Just jot down your idea and record a simple 30-90 second video about your idea. The two categories are: 1. business challenges, which are pitches for a new business, and 2. social challenges, which are pitches for businesses that address social challenges. Ideas can be submitted by February 27, 2026 via the pitch form. 

For many parents, conversations with young people––particularly around relationships, sex and sexuality, and technology use in relationships––can feel challenging or unfamiliar. For this reason, the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault is planning a Train the Parent Workshop series and is looking for parent and caregiver input to inform the topics and approach. Youth professionals can support this effort by sharing this short survey with parents and caregivers in their networks. The survey will be open until January 25, 2026.