Elizabeth Shvarts

• Staten Island Technical High School

Bridge to Literacy, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Staten Island, NY 

June 2019-Present 

• Founded and currently direct international student-led nonprofit organization that strives to foster a love of language by teaching literacy to children from underserved communities around the world in Kenya, Honduras, Gaza, Mexico, and Ukraine through one-on-one English lessons via digital platforms in order to provide them with greater opportunities 

Finxerunt, Vice-Executive Director, New York, NY June 2020-Present 

• Oversees Lobbying committee of international student-led NGO to campaign for democracy in our
  economic and education systems 
• Led Nationwide School Reopening Panel to inform students and parents about going back to school in the
  age of COVID-19 and interviewed NY City Council Member Ben Kallos and CEOs of educational
  nonprofits, such as Sparks Within Reach 

HOBY State Seminar, Ambassador, New York, NY
            • Selected to represent Staten Island Technical High School at HOBY NY Metro Leadership Conference to explore the pillars of leadership hands-on and collaborate with fellow ambassador to create community service projects 

Girls in Science 4 SDGS International Platform, Girls in Science 4 SDGs Advocate, New York, NY August 2020-Present 

 • Collaborate with fellow young women passionate about science advocacy and the Royal Academy of Science International Trust to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while advancing gender equity for women and girls in science 

Aster Lit, Co-Founder, Iowa City, Iowa September 2020-Present 

• Co-founder of international literary journal and community created by University of Iowa BTL alumni to
  elevate youth voices across all cultures, countries, and backgrounds and create a constellation of young
  voices from across the world.
• Co-host, director, and script-writer of Ad Aster, the podcast companion to Aster Lit where U.S and
  international youth discuss culture connections, writing tips, and empowerment through writing 

Federal Hall Fellowship, Poet, New York, NY October 2020  

• Selected as one of 17 NYC Youth Poet Laureate finalists in partnership with Urban Word NYC to create spoken word poetry while promoting civic engagement with peers 
• Honed performance skills with nationally acclaimed poets and performing artists
  
   

Bridge to Literacy, Volunteer Staten Island, NY August 2019-Present 

• Teach children from orphanages in Ukraine, Honduras, and Kenya English literacy via Skype 

National Geographic Youth Engagement Workshop, Youth Participant, New York, NY December 2019- November 2020
           • Collaborated with National Geographic staff, nonprofit workers from the global social change agency Purpose, teachers, and New York City youth to design a new initiative aimed at engaging young people to take action against the climate crisis

University of Iowa Between the Lines International Writing Program, Student, Iowa City, Iowa July 2020 

•  Selected from a competitive pool of applicants to join 42 other international young writers in a 2-week writing intensive focused on cultural exchange at the University of Iowa
• Studied international literature with mentors who are published writers and professors in the field of writing
  Wrote several creative pieces in additional to a final poem published in the University of Iowa BTL Anthology 

 Urban Word NYC Summer Institute 

•   Engaged in a two-week long writing, revision, and performance intensive that explores what it means to be a young person in New York City as well as what joy and celebration mean in an era fraught with political terror and danger
• Collaborated with Roya Marsh (internationally touring poet/author/ activist) Meera Dasgupta (2020 National Youth Poet Laureate & 2020 NYC Youth Poet Laureate), and Drew Drake (actor, poet, and activist) to craft a culminating spoken word performance centered around identity.

Climate Museum, Intern, New York, NY July 2020- August 2020

• Advocated for and implemented climate change initiatives in New York City and my own community through the creation of a climate action plan
•  Created a publication advocating for the importance and severity of climate change through arts 
• Lobbied Congress for legislation that alleviates climate change 
• Conversed with climate professionals from Stanford, Columbia, and other prestigious universities about engaging with others in action to mitigate the climate crisis
  
  
  
  
   

• The ConversationaLIST Honoree, Education (2020-2021)
• National YoungArts Finalist Play/Script (2021)
• NYC Youth Poet Laureate Finalist/Ambassador (2020-2021) 
• Winner of Hadassah Magazine and jGirls Magazine Teen Essay Contest (2020) 
• Quality of Life INNOVATIONS 1st Place (2020)  
• GENIUS Olympiad Finalist (2020) 
• Diamond Challenge New York 2nd Place (2020) 
• UN Speaker at Girls for SDGs Panel at International Day of Women and Girls in Science Forum (2020) 
• Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Silver Key in Poetry (2020) 
• Climate Speaks Finalist (2019) 
• NYC YMCA Youth Volunteer of the Year (2019) 
• ACTR National Russian Essay Contest Gold Medal (2019)
   

Please feel free to send your comments/questions to BridgeToLiteracySI@gmail.com