gun violence essay contest

End Gun Violence Essay Contest

Human rights are freedoms and protections that belong to every single one of us. They are based on principles of dignity, equality, and mutual respect regardless of age, nationality, gender, race, beliefs and personal orientations.

Persistent gun violence in the United States is denying people their civil and political rights including their right to live, the right to security of person, and the right to be free from discrimination. Gun violence also undermines the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to health and the right to education.

If you have a story we would like to hear, enter Amnesty International’s End Gun Violence Essay Contest, you’ll have a chance to win a cash prize.

Topic : Gun Violence and its Effect on Communities

Eligibility : The contest is open to any current high school and college student

Prize : College Winner will receive $1,000 cash prize

High School Winner will receive $500 cash prize

Deadline : February 15 th , 2021 (11:59 p.m. PST)

Guidelines : Essay should be a minimum of 600 words max 1,000. Submission to be emailed to [email protected]

REQUIREMENTS

• No application is required. Contest is open to current high school and college students, except where void or prohibited by law. Essays must be written in English only.
• Essays must be submitted electronically as an attachment via [email protected] email address. Each submission must include name, address, cell phone and current school. If you are unable to submit an essay electronically contact us at [email protected]
• Essay must be no fewer than 600 and no more than 1,000 words in length, double-spaced.
• General Merit (25) – Ideas, Organization, Wording
• Mechanics (25) – Usage, Punctuation/Capitalization, Spelling
• Overall Effect (50)
• One entry per student.
• Deadline for submission is February 15 th , 2021.
• Essay must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time of the entry deadline.
• Amnesty International USA has the right to provide contest deadline extensions when deemed appropriate.
• Essay must be solely the work of the entrant. Plagiarism will result in disqualification. Essays must not infringe on any third-party rights or intellectual property of any person, company or organization. By submitting an essay to this contest, the entrant agrees to indemnify Amnesty International USA for any claim, demand, judgment or other allegation arising from possible violation of someone’s trademark, copyright or other legally protected interest in any way in the entrant’s essay.
• Decisions of the judges are final.
• Employees of Amnesty International USA, its board of directors and their immediate family members are not eligible for this contest.
• Portions of Essays or its entirety may be reproduced on our website.
• Winners, and all other participants will be notified via email by February 28 th .
• Winners are responsible for providing their mailing addresses and other necessary information under the law in order to receive any prizes. Contest winners agree to allow Amnesty International to post their names on any of Amnesty International USA’s affiliated websites. The first-place essay may be posted in its entirety on any of these websites with full credit given to the author.
• Winners consent to participate in interviews and allow Amnesty International USA to use quotes and take photographs or make movies or videotapes of them.
• Winners release Amnesty International USA and its agents and employees from all claims, demands, and liabilities whatsoever, regarding the above.
• Winners will be solely responsible for any federal, state or local taxes.

TEXT “RIGHTSNOW” TO 21333 TO JOIN THE CAMPAIGN

Campaign has ended.

While this campaign has ended, you can learn about AIUSA’s current campaigns here:

Americans Against Gun Violence National High School Essay Contest

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Announcement Message

Our 2023 Americans Against Gun Violence National High School Essay Contest is now open to all US high school students.

Essay Details

To enter the contest, students must submit an essay of 500 words or fewer in response to the following prompt, which was chosen based on input from some of our past essay contest winners:

“Describe your thoughts about lockdown drills conducted in response to the threat of shootings on American school campuses.”

Awards 

We’ll be awarding a total of at least $15,000 again this year, distributed among at least 12 contest winners, with the option of giving additional awards, as we've done in past years, if we receive more than 12 outstanding essays.

Individual awards will range from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $3,000.

Deadline to Enter Contest 

April 15, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time

More Information and Contest Entry Details 

Full contest details and the online entry form are available on the High School Essay Contest page of the Americans Against Gun Violence website .

SFUSD neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity described in this announcement. This distribution is provided as a community service.

Announcement Links

UUSS – A Sacramento Church

Essay contest, senior high youth group, posted by dirk, posted on april 8, 2021.

Information about an High School Essay Contest (copied from email):

April 17 Deadline for Students to Enter Our 2021 National High School Essay Contest with $15,000 in Total Awards

Dear Annette, The April 17 deadline for students to enter our 2021 Americans Against Gun Violence National High School Essay Contest is now less than two weeks away. We would appreciate your help in bringing the contest to the attention of any potentially interested high school students with whom you have contact and in reminding them of the approaching deadline. A contest flyer is attached. Full contest details and the online entry form are posted on the High School Essay Contest page of the Americans Against Gun Violence website.

The contest is open to all high school students in the United States. We’ll be awarding a total of at least $15,000 to 12 winners again this year, with individual awards ranging from $3,000 to $250. We also reserve the option of awarding additional prize money, as we’ve done in the past two years, if we receive more than 12 outstanding essays.

To enter this year’s contest, students must submit an original essay of 500 words or fewer in response to the following prompt:

“Describe the effect on American youth of the confluence of our country’s longstanding gun violence epidemic with the current Covid-19 pandemic and the threat of violent insurrection; and describe what role you believe the adoption of stringent gun control laws should play at this critical time in our nation’s history.”

This is the fourth consecutive year that we’ve offered our national high school essay contest, and up to the time of my sending this message, we’ve received considerably fewer entries into our 2021 contest than in past years. The lower than usual number of entries certainly isn’t due to a lull in the epidemic of gun violence in our country. There have been three high profile mass shootings – in Atlanta, Georgia; Boulder Colorado; and Orange, California – in just the last three weeks. And although gun violence received less media coverage over the past year than the Covid-19 pandemic and the political upheaval surrounding the 2020 presidential election, according to unoffical reports posted on the website, Gun Violence Archive, the number of U.S. gun related deaths reached a record high in 2020, with more than 43,000 U.S. civilians dying of gunshot wounds.

It’s possible that high school students may be finding this year’s essay contest prompt more challenging than in past years, when we asked students to describe their thoughts on various gun violence related quotations. (I’m appending the prompts that we used for our previous essay contests below.) I think that the main reason, though, why we’ve received fewer than the usual number of essays so far this year is that from March of 2020 until just recently, most U.S. high schools were physically closed. We depend on high school educators to help publicize our national high school essay contest, and high school students have had much less direct contact than usual with their teachers over the past year. I’ve been chairing a high school essay contest on different topics for the Sacramento Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility for the past 17 years, and the number of entries in the PSR contest this year was also unusually low.

Whatever the reason might be for the relatively low number of entries we’ve received so far in our 2021 Americnas Against Gun Violence National High School Essay Contest, we’d appreciate your help in bringing the contest to the attention of any high school students with whom you might have contact. The good news for students who do enter this year’s contest is that if the final number of essays is lower than usual, any student who submits a well-reasoned and well-written essay will have a better than usual chance of being chosen as a winner. The bad news for all U.S. high school students is that 15-19 year old youth in our country are murdered with guns at a rate that is 82 times higher than in the other high income democratic countries of the world. We believe that the essay contest is an important way of fostering and rewarding critical thinking among our youth on the issue of gun violence prevention – an issue that is of vital importance to them.

Shortly after the April 17 deadline for students to submit their essays, we’ll begin the winner selection process. Please respond to this email if you’d be interested in participating in this process by being an essay reader. We read and rate essays blinded to any student identifying information, so even if you know a student who enters the contest, you can still participate objectively in the winner selection process.

Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who made monetary contributions to Americans Against Gun Violence over the past year to support our work, including our annual high school essay contest, and I’d like to ask you to consider making an additional tax deductible donation to the essay contest fund at this time to help ensure that we’ll be able to continue to offer the essay contest in future years. The winning essays in past contests are posted on the High School Essay Contest page of the Americans Against Gun Violence website. If you have any doubt about the importance of the essay contest (or the other work we do), I suggest you read some of the poignant and inspiring essays of our past winners.

Thanks for your support of Americans Against Gun Violence, and thanks for helping us demonstrate through our actions and not just our words that we are a society that loves its children and youth more than its guns.

Sincerely, Bill Durston, MD

President, Americans Against Gun Violence

Essay Contest Prompts Used in Past Years

(Click on the year to read the winning essays.) 2018: “The time has now come that we must adopt stringent gun control legislation comparable to the legislation in force in virtually every civilized country in the world.” – The Late Senator Thomas Dodd of Connecticut, June of 1968

2019: “The Second Amendment guarantees no right to keep and bear a firearm that does not have ‘some reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia.'” – Excerpt from the late Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun’s majority opinion in the 1980 case of Lewis v. United States

2020: “Firearm regulations, to include bans of handguns and assault weapons, are the most effective way to reduce firearm related injuries.” – Position Statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics, issued in April of 2000.

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PSR/Sacramento High School Scholarship Essay Contest

The 2024 psr sacramento high school scholarship essay contest is now open for entries from all california high school students.

The Sacramento Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility is pleased to announce that its 2024 High School Scholarship Essay Contest is now open for submissions from all California high school students. PSR/Sacramento is hosting its annual essay contest jointly this year with Americans Against Gun Violence, a national organization that grew out of the gun violence prevention work that we were doing locally. PSR/Sacramento endorses the mission statement of Americans Against Gun Violence , which is posted  on the Gun Violence Prevention page of our website. To enter our 2024 High School Essay Contest, students must submit an original essay of 500 words or fewer describing their thoughts about the following excerpt from the Americans Against Gun Violence mission statement:

“In creating constitutional obstacles, where none previously existed, to the adoption of stringent gun control laws in the United States comparable to the laws in other high income democratic countries, the Supreme Court’s 2008 Heller decision and its progeny are literally death sentences for tens of thousands of Americans annually.”

Full contest details and a link to the online entry form are posted on the High School Essay Contest page of the Americans Against Gun Violence website. Americans Against Gun Violence will be awarding at least $15,000 in scholarships, divided among 12 national essay contest winners, with a maximum individual award of $3,000; and PSR/Sacramento will be awarding an additional $10,000 in scholarships divided among 10 California essay contest winners, with an additional maximum individual award of $3,000. All California high school students who enter the Americans Against Gun Violence will be automatically entered into the PSR/Sacramento essay contest and will be eligible for scholarship awards from both Americans Against Gun Violence and PSR/Sacramento. The deadline for California students to enter the contest is Saturday, April 20. Americans Against Gun Violence will notify national essay contest winners by Monday, May 20, and PSR/Sacramento will notify California winners by Wednesday, May 22.

2024 marks the 20th consecutive year that PSR/Sacramento has offered its High School Scholarship Essay Contest. With this year’s awards, the total amount of scholarship money awarded by PSR/Sacramento will exceed $200,000. Tax deductible contributions to support our annual High School Scholarship Essay Contest can be made via the Join/Donate page of this website. The scholarship essay contest is run entirely with volunteer labor, and 100% of contributions to the scholarship essay contest fund go directly to student awards. 

Links to the winning essays in our 2023 contest are posted on the Home Page of this website. The winning essays in other past contests can be accessed via the links below:

• 2022 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
• 2021 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
• 2020 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
• 2019 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
• 2018 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
• 2017 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
• 2016 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
• 2015 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
• 2014 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
• 2013 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
• 2012 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
• 2011 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
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• 2007 High School Scholarship Essay Contest
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100 Black Men of Atlanta to choose winners of Art, Poetry, and Essay Contest about gun violence 

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100 Black Men of Atlanta will present the winners on Feb. 10 of an Art, Poetry, and Essay contest centered on curbing gun violence.  

Students, in grades 8-12 in the Atlanta Public School System, submitted original art pieces and writings themed on ways to resolve conflicts and reduce incidents of gun violence. The winning submissions will also receive a cash prize.  

The winners will be announced Thursday, Feb. 10 th  from 1:30-3:00 p.m. at B.E.S.T. Academy, 1190 Northwest Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318.   

The Art, Poetry, and Essay contest is part of an effort launched last year by the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, the Anti-Gun Violence Project.

The Anti-Gun Violence Project focuses on creating anti-violence messaging and programs to identify and prevent conflict and violence in the African American community. The project is a relaunch of a successful program put on by 100 Black Men of Atlanta in the 1990s and will pick up where it left off to wage a campaign to reduce gun violence in Atlanta.  

Joshua Byrd, committee chair for the Anti-Gun Violence Committee of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, said the group felt compelled to do something about gun violence.  

“We, the 100 Black Men of Atlanta exist to enhance the lives of African-American youth, especially those who live in the inner-cities, by serving as mentors; providing exposure and opportunities to improve their health and wellness, economic well-being and educational advancement,” Byrd said. “However, none of this will occur if we allow violence — especially gun violence — to spread and fester. The devastating toll that gun violence is taking on our community compels us to act.”   

The Anti-Gun Violence Project received a $15,000 grant from Georgia Power to implement a mentoring program for students. The program will feature different modules that will focus on how to reduce gun violence, create awareness, and offer alternative solutions that students can use for violence prevention. 

Martel Sharpe

Martel Sharpe serves as the Director of Public Relations for The Atlanta Voice. He has been with the organization for three years. Martel began his time with The Atlanta Voice as a freelance writer before... More by Martel Sharpe

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Youth Action Against Gun Violence Essay Contest

Apr 5, 2019 | Contest

Win a Scholarship by Spreading the Word that American Youth Are Committed to Reduce Gun Violence

All three winners will be announced on April 20, 2019 at the 20 Years Later – Columbine Anniversary Rally at Seattle City Hall Plaza.

Possible topics for submissions can include but are not limited to: how to get young people involved in the gun control movement; lessons learned (good and bad) since Columbine, Colorado; what is the future for gun control in the United States; how today’s youth can foster change in the US; why is gun violence significantly greater in the US than other developed countries; is youth suicide preventable.

ENTRY RULES: Submissions: 1,250 words or less submitted by April 16, 2019 (8:00 p.m. Pacific Time) Winners Announced on April 20, 2019 Submit to: [email protected] (include full name, email address, name of high school on first page)

1st Place: $1,000 scholarship 2nd Place: $500 scholarship 3rd Place: $250 scholarship

WA Ceasefire Essay Contest – OFFICIAL RULES: NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST

1. SPONSOR: Washington Ceasefire (“Ceasefire”) serves as the sponsor of the Ceasefire Essay Contest (the “Contest”).

2. PURPOSE: This Contest’s purpose is to solicit essays on ways the American youth are directing and pushing for changes in society to reduce gun violence in the United States.

3. ELIGIBILITY: This Contest is open only to high-school students 14 – 18 years of age in the United States. Any student under the age of 18 may also be required to submit proof of permission from their parent or legal guardian if chosen to receive a Prize (defined herein).  Ceasefire Board members and their immediate families or those living in the same household are not eligible to enter or win. An “Entrant” is an eligible high-school student who has entered this Contest and is in compliance with these Official Rules. Each Entrant’s eligibility and each Entry (defined herein) is subject to verification.

4. CONTEST PERIOD: Contest begins on March 20, 2019 and ends on 8:00 p.m. on April 16, 2019 (Pacific Time) (the “Contest Period”).   The winners will be posted on April 20, 2019, announced at the Seattle, WA rally as well as notified by email.

5. HOW TO ENTER: Each Entrant may submit their essay in word form to [email protected].  Entrants cannot submit an Entry on behalf of a third party.

6. ELIGIBLE ESSAY: Any essay entry must be less than 1,250 words.  The essay entry must have a focus on personal involvement in the gun control movement; how to get young people involved in the gun control movement; lessons learned since Columbine, CO; what is the future for gun control in the United States; can gun violence be reduced in the US; why is gun violence significantly greater in the United States than other developed countries; is youth suicide preventable.

In addition, entries must meet the following requirements: · Entries must not (a) contain any false, inaccurate or misleading material, (b) violate any law or regulation, (c) be libelous, inflammatory, threatening or harassing, (d) instigate others to commit illegal activities, (e) contain any obscene, offensive or illicit content, (f) contain any viruses, worms, or other computer programming intended to or that could interfere with the ability of others to enjoy the VPC’s website.

The Entry submitted must be an original work (i.e. a work that does not infringe another person’s rights), and Entrants must maintain significant personal control over the content. By submitting an Entry, an Entrant SHOULD NOT enter if they are in violation, or uncertain of their rights to, any copyrights, patents, trademarks, video, music or other intellectual property.

7. PRIZES: There will be three (3) prizes (each a “Prize” and collectively, the “Prizes”), awarded to three (3) Entrants. The Prizes are as follows: 1st Place Prize $1,000; 2nd Place Prize $500; 3rd Place Prize $250. Approximate retail value (“ARV”) for all Prizes is $1,750. All Prizes will be awarded.

8. SELECTION OF WINNERS AND JUDGING CRITERIA: All Entries received during the contest period will be judged by a committee of judges (the “Committee”) selected solely Ceasefire (consisting of WA Ceasefire Board member), in its discretion, based on each Entry’s (a) content  (40%), (b) creativity (20%), (c) originality (20%), and (d) overall quality (20%).   Any decision of the Committee is final with respect to selecting the winners.

9. ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: The following are conditions to winning a Prize and additional terms and conditions binding on Entrants: a. All federal, state, local tax liabilities and any applicable fees associated with accepting a Prize or participation in this Contest are the sole responsibility of the Winners. b. If a Winner declines a Prize, or if an Entrant has not complied with these Official Rules, such person shall be disqualified and another person will be chosen for the Prize. c. No transfer, substitution, division or splitting of Prizes allowed except in the sole discretion of Ceasefire. d. Acceptance of a Prize constitutes permission by an Entrant to Ceasefire and their agencies to use Entrant’s or names and/or likenesses for the purposes stated in these Official Rules without further compensation. e. Decisions of Ceasefire are final with respect to all matters related to the conduct of the Contest. An Entrant may be disqualified from participating in this Contest and/or winning a Prize for cheating or other bad faith acts in the sole discretion of Ceasefire. f. By participating in this Contest, Entrants and Winners agree to be bound by the Official Rules.

10. CONDUCT OF PARTICIPATION: By entering the Contest, Entrant affirms that he or she has read and agrees to abide by the Official Rules and the decisions of Ceasefire. Ceasefire reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant acting in violation of the Official Rules or found tampering with the entry process or with the operation of the Contest or the Website. As a condition of entering this Contest, each Entrant agrees that: (a) under no circumstances will the Entrant be entitled or permitted to obtain awards for, and the Entrant expressly waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, and consequential damages, and any other damages, other than actual, out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased, and in no event shall attorney’s fees be recoverable by either party;

11. RELEASE OF LIABILITY: By participating, Winners and Entrants (and the parent or legal guardian thereof if a Winner or Entrant is under the age of 18 or is deemed a minor in his/her state of residence) agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless WA Ceasefire, and each of its respective affiliated entities, affiliates, subsidiaries, parent corporations and companies, and all of its respective officers, directors, shareholders and principals, employees, representatives, and agents (collectively, “Released Parties”), from and against any claims made by any Winners and Entrants or any other third parties related in any way to the operation of this Contest, as well as any other claims, damages or liability due to any injuries, damages or losses (whether alleged, threatened, or actual) to any person or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation in this Contest or any related activity. Winners and Entrants (and the parent or legal guardian thereof if a Winner or Entrant is under the age of 18 or is deemed a minor in his/her state of residence) assume all liability for any injury or damage caused, or claimed to be caused, by participation in this Contest or acceptance, use or redemption of any Prize.

12. MISCELLANEOUS: The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision of the Official Rules is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, the other provisions will remain in effect and will be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein. Ceasefire’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules will not constitute a waiver of that provision. Entrants and Winners agree to waive any rights to claim ambiguity of these Official Rules. Headings are solely for convenience of reference and will not be deemed to affect in any manner the meaning or intent of the documents or any provision hereof. In the event there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between disclosures or other statements contained in any Contest-related materials and/or privacy policy or terms of use on the website, these Official Rules shall prevail, govern and control and the discrepancy will be resolved in WA Ceasefire’s sole and absolute discretion.

13. PRIVACY/ PUBLICITY / USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION: By participating in the Contest, eligible Entrant and/or Winner hereby consent to Ceasefire’s or authorized agents’ collection, use, and disclosure of Entrant’s and/or Winner’s personal information for the purposes of administering the Contest, and prize fulfillment. Entrant and/or Winner acknowledge that he/she has read, understood and accepted the privacy terms contained in this Section 15. The winning Entries and Entrants will be featured and recognized on Ceasefire’s website and social media. By accepting a Prize, each Entrant agrees to Ceasefire’s use of his/her name, statements, and for the purposes set forth in these Official Rules by WA Ceasefire and its respective successors, assigns and licensees may conduct, in any media or format, whether now known or hereafter developed, including but not limited to the Internet, at any time or times in perpetuity, without further compensation or notice, and hereby releases Released Parties from any liability with respect thereto. Winners may be required to sign a further release regarding the grant of these publicity rights. WA Ceasefire reserves the right to amend the above rules at any time

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Rochester mom who lost son to gun violence puts hope in city's youth with essay contest

by Carla Rogner

Rochester, N.Y. — Lentory Johnson knows the impact of gun violence all too well. She lost her son, Johnny in 2015 when he was 22. He was one of three young men shot and killed in a drive-by shooting at the Boys and Girls club, ironically as they were leaving a basketball game meant to address violence in the city.

MORE: Five years later, ceremony honors victims of Boys & Girls Club mass shooting

Since her son's death, Johnson has been vocal about gun violence. For the past two years, she has been hosting an essay contest, asking young people to write about the impact gun violence has had on their lives, and their ideas to stop it.

"The voices of the children are the most important voices to be heard so every year that I have a purpose they will have a platform, so that their voices, concerns, hurt, trauma can be heard and viewed through them actually voicing what is going on because this violence is causing a lot of trauma," Johnson said.

At City Hall on Friday, she awarded several winners with $500 prizes as teens shared their stories of family members and childhoods lost to gun violence.

Marilena Diaz, a 9th grader at World of Inquiry School 58 won an award for sharing her essay, highlighting her older brother, Larry Morales Jr. who was shot and killed near their home in 2017.

MORE: Rochester man shot dead on Glendale Park

"He was the type of person to help somebody out. If he saw someone who was hungry he would give them his food, he was just looking out for anybody and everybody he could and he was just amazing," Diaz said of her brother.

"I feel like I should share his story and the type of guy he was because at the end of the day he did not deserve that and I feel like it was a great opportunity to tell how much of a great person he was, it was hard because people look at it as 'oh was he part of the gang, involved with the wrong people?' when in reality he was a kid who worked, had dogs, had a great family who loved and cared for him."

Gloriann Perez, a 9th grader at East High School wrote her winning essay, sharing the story of her uncle who was shot and killed by a stranger in 2020. He was 33 years old.

MORE: Man pleads guilty to fatally shooting Rochester man 13 times after car accident

Perez described her uncle, David Alvarez, as one of the biggest motivators in her life.

"Some of the things I wrote in my essay is to end gun violence, we need to take our communities back. We need to become one again, we need to come together, love each other, learn how to be empathetic, feel empathy because I feel like if we don’t feel bad, some type of sorrow this will never be solved," Perez said.

Johnson and these teens hope by sharing their stories, they can help lead Rochester on the pathway to change.

"I truly believe Rochester will get better and we just have to hold out a little longer," Diaz said.

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Essay contest at Caring and Sharing Learning School highlights solutions to gun violence

Four fifth-graders at Caring and Sharing Learning School were recognized as winners of an essay contest focused on the effects and how to combat gun violence in the community.

Sponsored by DaySpring Baptist Church, the winners of the contest were recognized Thursday morning at Caring and Sharing Learning School at 1951 SE Fourth St. The theme of the contest was “How Can We Curb Gun Violence In Our Community.”

The ceremony featured the contest winners reading their essays and a presentation of awards.

“The Eastside community and the churches are coming together to form a coalition to do more things in the community,” said the Rev. Dr. Marie Herring, pastor of DaySpring. “This (essay contest) will help us due to the information we received from the kids.”

Fifth-graders Barrington Carey, Zendaya Stephens, Deanna Moore and Aulani Newton recited their essays.

Barrington was the first to read his essay.

His essay focused on where he believes gun violence stems from and what the community can do to resolve it, like decreasing the members of gangs and requiring more regulations for gun ownership.

“I think the gun violence in my community comes from people using drugs and looking to get money,” Carey said. “I think it may also come from people disliking one another and that dislike causes them to make stupid choices like shooting each other instead of just talking it out to resolve their issues.”

Zendaya said her experience with gun violence has left her heartbroken.

“Just a few weeks ago, right in my community, a young boy was shot and killed, right across the street from my school,” Stephens said. “He was not much older than people I know.”

She was referring to the murder of a 16-year-old boy in the area of the Woodland Park Apartments in August.

A week later after the shooting, the Gainesville Police Department arrested D’Angelo Deed, 20, and charged him with one count of murder and one count of robbery.

“Now a life is lost forever,” she said.

She said she disagrees with Florida HB 543 that was signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 3 and went into effect on July 1 that removed the requirement for having a concealed firearm license to carry a concealed firearm in Florida

Stephens shared her disagreement with a recent law that was passed this year regarding carrying a gun. In the state of Florida, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

To carry a concealed weapon or concealed firearm without a license, you must be eligible for a Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License based on the criteria in the Florida Statutes Section 790.06, except you are not required to complete training or pay a licensing fee. According to the Florida Statute, a person must be 21 years of age to purchase a firearm but it does not prohibit those between the ages of 18 and 21 from possessing them.

Deanna agrees with what Zendaya regarding the new gun law.

“We need some restrictions back in place to help because it will only get worse in some of the communities,” Moore said. “People get guns, they sell them, and could even sell them to those who should not have them, like felons, and this is really only going to get worse as time goes on.”

Aulani said music plays a critical role when it comes to gun violence.

“I think there is gun violence in my community because of gang presence and the type of music that is going through the heads of the people in the community,” Aulani said. “Music today says stuff like, ‘I am going to kill this person or that person,’ and that is really not okay. Hearing stuff like this can send a message that this is how people should be living and then young people want to mirror their musical idols.”

Aulani said people should use other alternatives, like joining clubs, other than resorting to gun violence.

Love Fest: ‘Twila Love Fest’ celebrated the life of Gainesville resident who showed love to others

“People can join those kinds of clubs or crowds of people rather than the wrong kinds where killing is happening and bad influences are a common thing,” Aulani said.

After the fifth-graders read their essays, Curtis Peterson, principal of Caring and Sharing Learning School, said it is important for kids to listen to their parents, school officials and elders in the community about how to stay out of trouble.

“Everybody wants to be hard until it’s time to be hard,” Peterson said. “If they listened to their parents beforehand, they wouldn’t be in the situation they’re in now. The same person they didn’t listen to is the same person they’re hollering for when they’re being sent to jail and prison.”

Peterson said he is thankful DaySpring gave a platform for the students to share their thoughts about gun violence.

He said the topic hits home because a few of the students at the school lost a parent over the summer to gun violence.

“We are more than a school. We are a community project,” Peterson said. “We get involved, especially if it’s something positive.”

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: SE G'ville charter school students participate in gun essay contest

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Male graduate wins annual essay contest on reducing gun violence

MEET THE ACHIEVER

Achiever: Madalyn Stack

School: Madalyn graduated from Louisville Male High School in May

Achievement: Madalyn Stack won first place in the annual Omega Psi Phi essay contest sponsored by the Theta Omega chapter in Louisville. This year’s theme was “What would you propose to reduce the incidence of gun violence in the United States and around the world without taking away the legal rights of law-abiding citizens to acquire and possess firearms?” Madalyn received a $500 scholarship, and her essay advanced to district competition in April but did not place.

Other local winners: Yasmine Goodner of Male High School won second place and Michael Mathis of Butler High won third.

Why she wanted to enter: Madalyn said that Male High School provided a link for students of available scholarships. “English has always been my best subject; I’ve been reading my whole life,” Madalyn said, adding that she decided the contest would be a good thing to try because she is good at writing.

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Her position: “I don’t have a gun and I don’t plan to own a gun, but I care about the issue,” she said. “There have been a lot of incidences of gun violence recently, and I feel for those people deeply. It doesn’t have much to do with me, but I have an opinion and I have to share it. People’s lives are at stake and people should offer solutions.”

In preparation for her essay: She said she spent a lot of time talking about the issue with her father – who is “very smart and logical” – to formulate her ideas. “I didn’t want to say people had to give up their guns or that no one should have a gun, but there have to be boundaries. We have to create a win/win situation. The closest model is a driver’s license. When you have a driver’s license, and you make mistakes, you get your license taken away. And you have to get it renewed,” she said, citing special requirements for people whose age or health might impair their ability to drive. “Gun rules should be similar."

Her research: Before she started writing, she did some reading about how to obtain a gun and how to find one. “I’d never thought about it. I thought it would be hard, but it’s actually incredibly easy. Way too easy,” she said.

An excerpt from her essay: “Resistance to my proposal would include the cost to implement, allowing more access to private information and the burden on the licensee to prove eligibility.” She concluded by writing, “There would be a considerable cost to staffing for screening and enforcement, but ‘more eyes’ on the process is the way to ensure success. I do believe the total cost of implementation could be reduced if our current system leveraged many of the resources and measures already in place in other state level licensing and renewal departments.”

Madalyn’s home life: Madalyn just began her freshman year at Western Kentucky University. Her parents, Kelly and Steve Stack, live in the City of Plantation. Her older brother, Evan, is also a student at WKU.

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Teacher Quote: Teacher Gary Stewart said he had Madalyn in class when she was a sophomore and again her senior year. He said that Madalyn “shed new insight” with her intellect and wit in class discussions. “It was evident to me that Madalyn wasn't just reading for an assignment; she read the work at a more meaningful level, like she really felt what the author was saying,” he said.

Future plans: Madalyn intends to major in English and train to teach secondary English. She plans to study and possibly minor in art, become a teacher and do art on the side.

She enjoys: reading, writing and drawing

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Our story in pictures: generational engagement matters's journey to make a difference at school 16 resource fair 3/21/2024, 2023 g.e.m anti-gun violence essay contest, generational engagement matters podcast, 3rd annual anti-gun violence essay contest.

 (foreground) Avalon Fox and (background) Lentory Johnson and Ralph Carter on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Friday, May 5, 2023 

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Opinion | My City, My Voice: What do Baltimore teens wish…

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Opinion | My City, My Voice: What do Baltimore teens wish others knew about them?

Teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice, essay contest participate in a roundtable with Baltimore Sun diversity, equity and inclusion reporter Maya Lora, right, at the Enoch Pratt Central Library, on May 22, 2024.

From left, Brandi Gonzales, 14, of Cheswolde, Amirah Haney, 18, of Arlington and Chaneé Howard, 18, of Franklin Square participate in a panel discussion with two other teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Members of the audience listen to the five teen winners of the Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest during a roundtable at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest participate in a roundtable as panelists with Baltimore Sun reporter Maya Lora, at right, at the Enoch Pratt Central Library. (Amy Davis/Staff)

One of the five winners of The Baltimore Sun's teen essay contest, Victoria Atewogbola, 14, of Belair-Edison, left, answers a question from Baltimore Sun reporter Maya Lora during a roundtable at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Baltimore Sun Managing Editor Samuel C. Davis congratulates Victoria Atewogbola, right, and the other teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Sun diversity, equity and inclusion reporter Maya Lora, right, moderates a discussion with My City, My Voice essay contest winners, from left, Amirah Haney, 18, of Arlington, Chaneé Howard, 18, of Franklin Square, Jaylah James, 15, of Edmondson Village, and Victoria Atewogbola, 14, of Belair-Edison, at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. Not pictured is contest winner Brandi Gonzales, 14, of Cheswolde. (Amy Davis/Staff)

From left, Chanée Howard, 18, of Franklin Square, Jaylah James, 15, of Edmondson Village, Amirah Haney, 18, of Arlington, Victoria Atewogbola, 14, of Belair-Edison, and Brandi Gonzales, 14, of Cheswolde, are the winners of the Baltimore Sun's inaugural My City, My Voice" teen essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

A screen displays the names of the winners of The Baltimore Sun's inaugural My City, My Voice teen essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Eric Ford, executive director of the UMBC Shriver Center, addresses the audience at a roundtable featuring the teen winners of The Baltimore Sun's My City, My Voice essay contest. UMBC was a sponsor of the contest and event. (Amy Davis/Staff photo)

The audience listens to the teen winners of the My City, My Voice essay contest during a panel discussion at the Enoch Pratt Central Library on May 22, 2024. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Samuel C. Davis, Baltimore Sun managing editor, welcomes the audience to a roundtable with five teens who won The Sun's "My City, My Voice" essay contest. (Amy Davis/Staff)

I just wanted to be a kid for once. That rare night out flipped how I feel about becoming an adult.

Free. That’s what my friends and I felt one surprisingly warm October night as we drove around Towson. I had grown up inside of my home, not allowed to go anywhere with anyone, as the streets were too dangerous. My entire life was “Did you hear about … what happened at …?”

There is no place for teenagers in Baltimore. It’s just a cycle of keeping an eye out for possible danger that is everywhere. If you walk for long enough, you’ll hear gunshots off in the distance, a grown man trying to holla at a girl, young or old, police and ambulance sirens closing in. Everyone says New York is “the city that never sleeps” but living in Baltimore, I beg to differ.

Asking my mother a question like “Can I go out with friends?”, something she has said “no” to so many times before was the most nerve-wracking thing to me. This time, I hoped she’d say yes. She had to. I was an “A” and “B” student. I was about to turn 18. I was a good kid who just wanted to be a kid at least once before it was over.

The thought of turning 18 was, to me, not a fun one like people made it out to be. Turning 18 in Baltimore was an inevitable fear. Eighteen meant needing to have a job even if you hated it. Eighteen meant soon being questioned by family and friends whether you had a man and when were you going to have kids. At 18, Baltimore started looking like an invisible box, walking up and down the same street you grew up on, to go to work and to come home, and nothing else, that is, until God called you home. I didn’t want any of that, but it felt inevitable.

Shockingly, my mother said yes. That night, we went bowling, walked around the mall, ate, and laughed. We piled into a friend’s mother’s minivan and drove around until it was time to go home, having already planned the next time we would go out.

That night lit something inside me. Something clicked, something hot, something that made my heart swell beyond my chest, something that made my mind wander beyond the few streets of Baltimore City that I knew. That night being 18 in Baltimore wasn’t the end, but my beginning.

— Chanée Howard, 18, Franklin Square*

Expecting the worst out of teens is a stereotype that fulfills and perpetuates itself.

When I was younger I felt as though I could be anything and that nothing could stop me from being what I wanted to be. But now, I feel something different. Teens in Baltimore are capable of extraordinary things, but people don’t seem to care enough to see it.

My parents are some of those adults who want to believe in me to graduate and go to college. But they don’t see what I see, feel what I feel, or even think what I think. Can you believe that my dad thought I couldn’t get into Western High School? He told me not in a sour way but in a surprised voice. I didn’t know how to feel. But I felt like most teenagers in Baltimore — “dumb” — even if they won’t admit it, ’cause, if someone close didn’t believe in me, how could I?

You see, when I look on social media on those Baltimore pages, I don’t see anything about teenagers doing anything great. Instead, I see teenagers who either committed a crime or have died. The adolescents who live in Baltimore will always be thought about in this way simply because we follow the adolescents before us.

People don’t say, “Oh yeah, didn’t a teenager get an award there last month?” Instead, they say, “Didn’t a boy die ’cause he was dealing with gangs?” But that boy could’ve been remembered by something else.

This is who they are supposed to be. When we are brought up, people don’t say, “Oh yeah, didn’t a teenager get an award there last month?” Instead, they say, “Didn’t a boy die ’cause he was dealing with gangs?” But that boy could’ve been remembered by something else. He could’ve been a well-known artist remembered by his art and not violence. The thing is that teenagers here will always end up in a bad situation because we are following adults here and we will soon tell our teens the same statements.

We only know what we see and hear. We don’t know what we can show and tell because there is no one there to truly believe in us. Being a teen in Baltimore shouldn’t be in the way of me and others being someone great. Teenagers in Baltimore are capable of extraordinary things but they don’t know how to share their abilities, nor does it seem people care enough to see them. So I just sit, put my headphones on and see what most adults can’t.

— Jaylah James, 15, Edmondson Village*

In a city of contrasts, drugs and guns are opportunities that can knock persistently.

As a teenager living in Baltimore, I wish people understood how easy it was to make bad decisions. I am an immigrant, hailing from Nigeria. I immigrated well over seven years ago, coming to live in eastern Baltimore. My time living as a teenager in Baltimore has come with many perks, and penalties as well. Baltimore is extremely culturally diverse, with its residents saluting from many different places in the world. Because of this, I have been open to loads of different points of view, and the dissimilar ways that people see life. Nevertheless, there is one thing that many Baltimoreans can agree on: the danger that comes with living in our city. There are countless examples of why Baltimore is so dangerous, which is constantly covered by the media. However, no one has ever truly expanded on how much more threatening it is as a teen living in Baltimore City.

Everywhere I go, I am met with persistent examples of why Baltimore is so rich: the art, the food, the music, etc. Nonetheless, I am also faced with reasons why it is so easy to be led astray in this city. To say that the opportunities in Baltimore are endless would not be an understatement, but that does not always have good meaning behind it. As a teenager in this city, it is almost impossible to avoid an experience with some form of illegality, especially when it comes to substances. I am almost ashamed to speak about how easy it would be for me to obtain some form of drugs, guns, and even more as a teenager. To say that it is practically normal for people my age to have experience with this would be an understatement. I am enraged at how easy it is to be led astray as a young person. I am frustrated that there are not enough set laws and regulations in place that prevent this. However, in spite of all of this, I am disheartened that experience in these topics is viewed as customary, just because I happen to be a teenager who lives in Baltimore.

— Victoria Atewogbola, 14, Belair-Edison*

To try to fit in, I was changing who I was. I caught myself, but too many teens don’t.

To put it simply, the city of Baltimore is a tough hill to climb; it’s a hill that so many fail to climb, especially teenagers. It’s a hill that needs to be climbed in order to navigate your way through this city.

Being a teenager in Baltimore can feel like walking through a room with no lights. Many teenagers feel lost. Many teenagers feel a constant need to fit in that can lead them to make poor decisions out of fear of being picked on for not fitting in.

When I migrated from Trinidad to Baltimore I was met with a drastic culture change. The schools of Baltimore, the citizens of Baltimore, the places of Baltimore, etc. It was all so new to me, I felt out of place as if I wasn’t meant to be here. Wherever I spoke others looked at me as though my words were secret codes only I knew. The kids thought of me as some alien that was attending their school from some alien planet they never heard of. All of this led to me making decisions I should have left as just thoughts, such as changing who I was in order to be accepted. I did all of this as a shield to protect me from the poisonous arrows that came after every laugh, every negative comment, every bit of embarrassment.

So many teenagers have taken the wrong road as I almost did. Some don’t even realize they are going the wrong way until they no longer recognize their surroundings or even themselves as they are too far gone.

Looking back I realize that many teenagers have been through this; they are going through it right now as I write down these words. Teenagers in Baltimore are lost in the dark room searching for the light. It’s time that more people help those teenagers find the light by understanding their struggles. So many teenagers have taken the wrong road, as I almost did. Some don’t even realize they are going the wrong way until they no longer recognize their surroundings or even themselves as they are too far gone. But there is always hope. Impossible only exists if you don’t believe in possible. You don’t water the leaves of a plant, you water the roots. It’s time we look for the root of the problem before we start attacking what’s on the outside. Teenagers of Baltimore are heavily influenced by others; it’s time to limit this influence and open the gate to let the true love of Baltimore flow once again. It’s never too late.

— Brandi Gonzales, 14, Cheswolde*

People know Baltimore’s quirks and problems. But they don’t know me.

Being a teenager in Baltimore can be intimidating. Most people have an idea of what you should be like, talk like, and act like, but I don’t fit in any of those boxes. The majority of people get their information from social media and occasionally the news, though it isn’t as popular in this generation. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, have made it a common thing to categorize people from Baltimore claiming they know us from the way we say “tew” or based on how we dance. But I wish people understood that not all of us are the same or fit in that box.

I personally don’t want to be defined by my environment. Just because I live in Park Heights doesn’t mean I sell drugs. Just because I work in Mondawmin Mall doesn’t mean I witness shootings all the time. These are just a few of the fixed assumptions people make about people from Baltimore City. I couldn’t be more opposite. I am usually shy and avoid meeting new people. If I see a crowd of people, I’m quick to go another way even if it means it takes me longer to get to my destination. I work at Mondawmin Mall because it’s close and convenient. I’ve never had alcohol or drugs and don’t plan on doing so. I haven’t gotten into a fight since middle school, and I hate dancing in public. I wish people understood that a lot of teens have goals and want to leave this city but often don’t have the opportunities or financial stability to do so.

Sometimes even our family holds us back, whether that is because they need us to take care of our younger siblings or for more selfish reasons. Too many of us are young moms and feel that that’s our sole responsibility and we can’t leave or dedicate time to school because we’re too busy being moms. I know this could apply to people all over the world, but I think people don’t really expect successful people from Baltimore or have lost hope, especially for teens. Living in Baltimore, a city of lost souls, poverty and crime doesn’t define me. I will always put my best foot forward and continue to strive for the best,  regardless of what people think even if that means I’ll have to do it on my own.

— Amirah Haney, 18, Arlington*

Gunshots can have a long echo for the young bereaved like me.

Do you know how hard it is for teenagers to grow up with one parent? Growing up with one parent is hard and it’s very sad and stressful. Being a teenager in Baltimore, there’s a lot of killing that takes people’s families away from them, seeing a loved one just be gone forever. People should understand that it’s hard and it could change the person mentally and emotionally by losing a loved one.

During my childhood, I always spent time with my dad, always having fun around the people he was around and feeling loved. At the age of 6, my dad was taken away from me by gun violence and I was never going to be able to see him again. The rest of my childhood was good because I didn’t realize the loss I had until I got older. My dad’s death wasn’t impacting me because I was so young. I just knew that I wasn’t seeing him anymore; even at his funeral, I wasn’t sad.

As I got older I started to get sadder. I tried to stay connected with my dad’s side of the family that I would always be around but eventually, we fell off. Finally hearing the story of how my dad passed was creating anger in me. I started to put my guard up with everyone; I didn’t trust anyone. My mom started to see the change in me. I wasn’t letting anyone in and didn’t talk about my feelings at all. I became very calm and emotionless about everything.

I had no other parent to go to when I and my mom got into an argument like other kids did. Seeing my cousins have a good relationship with their dads would sometimes hurt me because I wish I could have that.

The way I changed started to affect all of my relationships. I was going through changes mentally and more and more people started to realize something was wrong. Every time I had to talk about my feelings, I shut down. Having only one parent was hard at times. I had no other parent to go to when I and my mom got into an argument like other kids did. Seeing my cousins have a good relationship with their dads would sometimes hurt me because I wish I could have that.

As a teenager in Baltimore, I want people to understand that gun violence kills family members and it impacts us by causing us to change mentally and emotionally.

— Laithan Phillips, 15, Perring Loch

Baltimore is brimming with passion. I see it, but more people need to be shown it.

s expected, Baltimore is defined as an “urban” area. According to the Department of Health, urban areas are “”locations with high population density.” However, as a society, we have labeled the word urban as another word for Black. Some may also argue that “urban” has a negative connotation. Despite knowing that, I am proud to say I am from an urban area. I am proud to say I am from Baltimore.

When people think of Baltimore, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Poverty? Drugs? Even murder? As someone who has lived in Baltimore for as long as I can remember, I can tell you Baltimore is so much more than that.

Baltimore bleeds passion from every crack and crevice. Growing up in Baltimore, you realize that there is passion all around you. Everyone wants to have a grind; everyone wants to have a hustle. From little girls braiding hair, to boys cutting hair. People from this city want others to succeed. They want another success story about how someone from their city made it. They want inspiration and proof that they can reach their goals while being from a city that is portrayed so negatively.

People from this city want others to succeed. They want another success story about how someone from their city made it. They want inspiration and proof that they can reach their goals while being from a city that is portrayed so negatively.

I’d say Baltimore is the hidden gem of cities. When you think of places you want to visit or potentially live, Baltimore is usually not on the list. It is overlooked, despite being one of the most beautiful, passionate and hearty cities out there.

No other place goes as hard for their city as Baltimore. We rock Ravens jerseys as if the last time we made it to the Super Bowl wasn’t 2013. The whole city makes a ruckus over the Poly vs. City homecoming game, despite us knowing who wins before the game even begins. You know you’re in Baltimore when you see people rocking Under Armour like it’s designer. You know you’re in Baltimore when you see a group of girls and they’re all wearing puff-sleeved denim jackets. We are the type of city that despite any “beef” we may have with people, we know when Lor Scoota comes on it’s time to put that all aside. We’re the type of city that has everyone mesmerized when pronouncing “to” and “you.” Baltimore is the type of city to have a mayor with an Afro. Baltimore is much more than what they show in the media.

— Empress Rasheem, 16, Hamilton Hills

How does it feel to be a teen? Under-understood.

Being a teen in Baltimore ain’t an easy life. When you are living in a fast world, it’s hard to balance growing up fast to adapt to society but not too fast to be seen as fast.

Around my peers, I always feel like I’m behind in something as if I’m too short on something. I’m always the “No, I don’t smoke” friend, the “I don’t go to parties” friend. But strangely enough, I’m the most experienced. I’m the friend that “swears like a sailor” or can give you relationship advice. Nevertheless, I’m also a friend that you can lean on because I understand what it’s like to feel alone. I listen to my friends dealing with mental health because I understand what it’s like to feel like something is always wrong with you, that I’m never enough. I always feel like teenage life is hating yourself until you have reached self-acceptance. I understand that my peers smoke because their life ain’t easy, that they use smoking to help the fact that their life ain’t no piece of cake. I understand that my peers go to parties to let go of their problems and have fun. I just wish adults understood that. I’m not condoning smoking or the bad things that come with partying;  however, I understand.

Giving kids an environment to be vulnerable helps them shake off their troubles without resorting to drugs.

Understanding is something I think adults lack. It’s always “You think my life’s easy?” or “You’re too young to experience anxiety/depression.” Comments like these cause kids to pick up those habits, especially if their parents do it. Giving kids an environment to be vulnerable helps them shake off their troubles without resorting to drugs. Also, “old school” parents make it harder to balance teen life. I try to use clothes and music to help balance. Yet it always turns into “You’re a representation of me, and you will dress accordingly.” Making me dress as if I’m not a teen. When I listen to music, they worry too much about the fact that the artist is cussing instead of the message.

Saying teen life isn’t easy is an understatement. As teens, we go through a lot that adults can’t understand. Each generation has their problems that they have to deal with growing up. We as teens just want adults to remember their experiences and empathize with teens to help them become independent adults, not just surviving adults.

— Onyx Abung, 15, East Arlington

This project was sponsored by UMBC and supported by the Solutions Journalism Network Complicating the Narratives fellowship of former Sun audience engagement journalist Sanya Kamidi.

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