Mount Diablo Peace and Justice Center's
Dennis Thomas 21st Annual
Art and Writing Challenge & Youth Activist Grant 2019
Topic/Prompt for Art & Writing Challenge 2019:
"Cultivating a Peaceful World: Visions for the Future"
“The artist's role is to raise the consciousness of the people.
To make them understand life, the world and themselves more completely”
- Amiri Baraka
Across the globe, marginalized communities continue to face direct threats to their humanity and livelihood. We fear not only for the lives of those across the globe, but for ourselves, our families, and our loved ones.
At times, this fear can be overwhelming.
However, we must not let it defeat us. We are more powerful together than anyone can imagine.
We must look inside ourselves and to our community to envision the future we want.
In the year of our 50th Anniversary, the Peace Center sought visions of the future from young people in the community and asked:
When you dream of liberation, what does that look like to you?
What are your hopes for a more peaceful future?
How do you see communities thriving? How do we get there?
We were looking for writing and visual artwork that speaks to these questions.
The theme was intentionally broad to allow artists the freedom to convey their vision. We hoped that artists would take this opportunity to critically grapple with the past and present to inform their work.
We believe that young people hold the keys to our future and it is up to all of us to listen.
Students were asked to submit entries in three different categories:
To see all winning entries, please go to the "MORE" drop down tab on the menu above, then
"Winning Art & Writing Challenge Entries" menu and view the 2019 tabs for Middle School and High School.
"Cultivating a Peaceful World: Visions for the Future"
“The artist's role is to raise the consciousness of the people.
To make them understand life, the world and themselves more completely”
- Amiri Baraka
Across the globe, marginalized communities continue to face direct threats to their humanity and livelihood. We fear not only for the lives of those across the globe, but for ourselves, our families, and our loved ones.
At times, this fear can be overwhelming.
However, we must not let it defeat us. We are more powerful together than anyone can imagine.
We must look inside ourselves and to our community to envision the future we want.
In the year of our 50th Anniversary, the Peace Center sought visions of the future from young people in the community and asked:
When you dream of liberation, what does that look like to you?
What are your hopes for a more peaceful future?
How do you see communities thriving? How do we get there?
We were looking for writing and visual artwork that speaks to these questions.
The theme was intentionally broad to allow artists the freedom to convey their vision. We hoped that artists would take this opportunity to critically grapple with the past and present to inform their work.
We believe that young people hold the keys to our future and it is up to all of us to listen.
Students were asked to submit entries in three different categories:
- Visual Art (any medium including sculpture, photography and video)
- Creative Writing (poem, story or play)
- Essay
To see all winning entries, please go to the "MORE" drop down tab on the menu above, then
"Winning Art & Writing Challenge Entries" menu and view the 2019 tabs for Middle School and High School.
GRAND PRIZE WINNERS:
HIGH SCHOOL
Yoon-Ju Kim - Art - "Breaking Stereotypes"
Las Lomas High School - Grade 12
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Vincent Zhang - Essay - "The Truest Liberation" (click to read)
Dorris-Eaton School - Grade 8
_______________________________________
ART & WRITING PRIZE WINNERS:
MIDDLE SCHOOL ART
1st Place: Sydney Tatsumi (Walnut Creek Intermediate)
2nd Place: Natalie Mangani (Walnut Creek Intermediate)
3rd Place: Rianna Herrera (Martinez Junior High School)
MIDDLE SCHOOL CREATIVE WRITING
1st Place: Rio Meyers-Dahlkamp (Canyon School)
2nd Place: Braeden Chen (Dorris-Eaton School)
3rd Place: Daisy Penney (Joaqin Moraga Intermediate)
MIDDLE SCHOOL ESSAY
1st Place: Luca Dovichi (Dorris-Eaton)
2nd Place: Ella Charlesworth Suring (Fred T. Korematsu Middle School)
3rd Place: Nethra Dhamodaran (Windemere Ranch Middle School)
HIGH SCHOOL ART
1st Place: Jenny Atkins (Miramonte High School)
2nd Place: Yamna Ahmadi (Pinole Valley High School)
3rd Place: Natasha Ghesquiere (Miramonte High School)
HIGH SCHOOL CREATIVE WRITING
1st Place: Kendall Albert (Clayton Valley Charter HS)
2nd Place: Ally Edel (Independence HS)
3rd Place: Sam Aiden Millson (Alhambra HS)
HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY
1st Place: Ashley Wong (Dougherty Valley High School)
2nd Place: Kailyn Lindaman (Independence High School)
3rd Place: Madison Sullivan (Independence High School)
YOUTH ACTIVIST GRANT WINNERS:
The community was invited to nominate a youth organization, an individual, or a group of young people, grades 6-12, that showed exemplary leadership and dedication for social justice, organizing, and human rights.
Each winner was honored at our awards ceremony on May 11,2019 with a special award and $100 grant.
Lucy Siale, Northgate High School
Rio Meyers-Dahlkamp, Canyon School
Mahi Jariwala, Diablo Vista Middle School
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
We would like to thank everyone who submitted to this year's contest. Each year we feel lucky to honor and recognize the incredible work and talent of the youth in our community. This contest could not happen each year without the support of all the community members, teachers, and artists who dedicate their time and energy.
HIGH SCHOOL
Yoon-Ju Kim - Art - "Breaking Stereotypes"
Las Lomas High School - Grade 12
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Vincent Zhang - Essay - "The Truest Liberation" (click to read)
Dorris-Eaton School - Grade 8
_______________________________________
ART & WRITING PRIZE WINNERS:
MIDDLE SCHOOL ART
1st Place: Sydney Tatsumi (Walnut Creek Intermediate)
2nd Place: Natalie Mangani (Walnut Creek Intermediate)
3rd Place: Rianna Herrera (Martinez Junior High School)
MIDDLE SCHOOL CREATIVE WRITING
1st Place: Rio Meyers-Dahlkamp (Canyon School)
2nd Place: Braeden Chen (Dorris-Eaton School)
3rd Place: Daisy Penney (Joaqin Moraga Intermediate)
MIDDLE SCHOOL ESSAY
1st Place: Luca Dovichi (Dorris-Eaton)
2nd Place: Ella Charlesworth Suring (Fred T. Korematsu Middle School)
3rd Place: Nethra Dhamodaran (Windemere Ranch Middle School)
HIGH SCHOOL ART
1st Place: Jenny Atkins (Miramonte High School)
2nd Place: Yamna Ahmadi (Pinole Valley High School)
3rd Place: Natasha Ghesquiere (Miramonte High School)
HIGH SCHOOL CREATIVE WRITING
1st Place: Kendall Albert (Clayton Valley Charter HS)
2nd Place: Ally Edel (Independence HS)
3rd Place: Sam Aiden Millson (Alhambra HS)
HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY
1st Place: Ashley Wong (Dougherty Valley High School)
2nd Place: Kailyn Lindaman (Independence High School)
3rd Place: Madison Sullivan (Independence High School)
YOUTH ACTIVIST GRANT WINNERS:
The community was invited to nominate a youth organization, an individual, or a group of young people, grades 6-12, that showed exemplary leadership and dedication for social justice, organizing, and human rights.
Each winner was honored at our awards ceremony on May 11,2019 with a special award and $100 grant.
Lucy Siale, Northgate High School
Rio Meyers-Dahlkamp, Canyon School
Mahi Jariwala, Diablo Vista Middle School
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
We would like to thank everyone who submitted to this year's contest. Each year we feel lucky to honor and recognize the incredible work and talent of the youth in our community. This contest could not happen each year without the support of all the community members, teachers, and artists who dedicate their time and energy.
Photo By: Andrea Miralles
Top Row (left to right): Natasha Ghesquiere, Ally Edel, Madison Sullivan, Sam Aiden Millson, Kailyn Lindaman, Kendall Albert
Bottom Row (left to right): Rianna Herrera, Nethera Dhamodaran, Braeden Chen, Rio Meyers-Dahlkamp, Ella Charlesworth Suring, Vincent Zhang, Jenny Atkins
Honorable Mentions:
The Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center wishes to acknowledge the
generous donations received in support of the Art & Writing Challenge program:
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Attorney Ann Van de Pol
And thanks to Our Savior's Lutheran Church for the assistance and the use of
Fellowship Hall for the Art & Writing Challenge Awards Dinner.
generous donations received in support of the Art & Writing Challenge program:
Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
Attorney Ann Van de Pol
And thanks to Our Savior's Lutheran Church for the assistance and the use of
Fellowship Hall for the Art & Writing Challenge Awards Dinner.