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The contest asks young people: What is change you can believe in? Choose an issue - racial justice, freedom of speech, immigrants’ rights, LGBTQ rights or something else – then make some noise: Write an essay, poem or short story. Create artwork. Perform spoken word. Make a video. Sing. Rhyme. Be heard!
Thousands of Dollars in Prizes! No topic is off limits. All mediums are accepted.
Deadline to submit is Friday, May 28 – Entries will be reviewed starting April 1. Educators get prizes for submitting the most student entries!
- Download the poster: Color | Black & White (for printing)
- Need more information, have questions or want flyers sent to your school/organization?
Email contest@nyclu.org or call 212-607-3361 - Contest open to NYC youth, 21 and younger. Click here for complete rules.
- Tell your friends: Facebook
- See past winners: 2009 | 2008
Contest made possible by a grant from the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation.
Complete rules:
- You must be 21-years-old or younger to enter the contest.
- You must reside in New York City.
- Entries must be original and cannot be returned
- Group entries accepted
- Current and former NYCLU/ACLU staff and board members, and their relatives, are not eligible.
- We’ll accept the following formats
- An essay or short story up to 1,000 words
- A poem or spoken word piece up to 3 pages, or 5 minutes long, submitted in writing, CD/DVD, as an electric audio file or on uploaded on YouTube.
- A poster, cartoon, painting, collage, drawing, etc., designed by computer or by hand, submitted by mail or electronically as a jpeg or pdf
- A video, song or public service announcement up to 5 minutes long submitted via an electronic link (such as YouTube) or on CD/DVD
- All mediums will be accepted. If you have questions, please contact contest@nyclu.org