Black History Month Challenge Announced for Rhode Island Youth
Sponsored by Citizens and EVERFI, local essay competition on Black history in the community offers scholarship, new Apple MacBook Pro for winners
PROVIDENCE, R.I: Citizens is partnering with EVERFI to raise awareness and provide educational opportunities focused on Black experiences as well as award eleven student scholarships. The Black History Month Challenge – a unique competition taking place throughout February – uses EVERFI’s African American History courses to help high school students better understand the Black experience through education that highlights Black perspectives, successes, and struggles.
The month-long challenge, created by social impact education innovator EVERFI, features four digital lessons and a capstone essay contest in which students will share a plan for maintaining a year-round conversation about Black history in their community. Eleven winners across Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, New York, and one national winner will each receive a $2,500 scholarship and a brand-new Apple MacBook Pro, courtesy of Citizens Pay.
“Citizens is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive world for all Rhode Island residents,” said Keith Kelly, president of Citizens Rhode Island. “We are proud to sponsor the Black History Month Challenge and hope it will elevate history as a lens to understand current events and encourage meaningful dialogue about race and social justice.”
The Black History Month Challenge is designed to inspire today’s students by sharing stories about the Black experience in America; empower students by amplifying Black perspectives across generations; elevate history as a lens to understand current events; and transform students’ perception of the world around them. Students will explore both historical and current events and learn about the many “firsts” that Black leaders have accomplished in the business and medical fields while also showcasing Black professionals who have blazed trails and made significant contributions to their respective sectors.
In addition to supporting the Black History Month Challenge, Citizens works with EVERFI to support schools and teachers in providing students with knowledge around financial empowerment, financing higher education, digital banking safety, and early literacy to help them succeed in and outside the classroom.
To learn more about the Black History Month Challenge, visit