West Fashion Student Wins COVID-19 Response Grant To Design Masks

Press release from Niles Township High Schools District 219:

September 2, 2020

Niles West senior Kiana Kenmotsu, a 3rd year Fashion Student, applied for the Power of Youth Challenge: COVID-19 Response Grants and won $250 for her project. Below is what she submitted to apply for the grant.

I am so inspired by all of the front line workers risking their lives to save others, I knew I wanted to do something to help. I turned to my favorite hobby, sewing, and made it into my passion project. Right now healthcare workers are forced to reuse one time items and make them last longer than they are made to. My reusable masks can cover the N95 respirator masks and help to elongate the life span of the N95 mask. I am very fortunate and extremely thankful to have the Power of the Youth grant to help make this all possible.

I am excited to handcraft reusable masks for frontline nurses, care takers and patients that need them most during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Power of Youth Challenge: COVID-19 Response Grants

America’s Promise Alliance launched a new set of mini-grants of $250 each as part of the Power of Youth Challenge. The Power of Youth Challenge, which is made possible through support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, encourages and inspires youth-led remote service projects related to COVID-19 that young people can lead safely from home. Through the Power of Youth Challenge, young people (ages 13-18) across the U.S. can identify a need in their communities related to COVID-19 and apply for a grant to help them put a remote service project into action.

This press release was produced by Niles Township High Schools District 219. The views expressed here are the author’s own.