Alameda Students Invited to Compete in Harvey Milk Poem, Poster Contest

Announcement submitted by Alameda Unified School District:

Alameda students in grades 5-12 are invited to participate in a citywide poster and poem contest honoring Harvey Milk, the nation’s first openly gay person elected to public office. Milk, who served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, fought for equality and inspired people around the world with his vision of civil and human rights for all. He was assassinated in 1978, along with Mayor George Moscone.

The theme for this year’s contest is one of Harvey Milk’s most famous quotes: “There is hope for a better world. There is hope for a better tomorrow.”

Poems and posters can celebrate Harvey Milk himself or the spirit and vision of Milk by focusing on, for instance, marriage equality, LGBTQ pride, transgender rights, or ideas such as “all genders welcomed” and “everyone belongs.”

Posters should be no larger than 18” x 24”. Poems can be any style or length. Entries should be submitted by 5 pm April 28 to Gene Kahane, c/o Encinal High School, 210 Central Avenue or Books Inc., 1344 Park Street (Attention: Gene Kahane).

“The Harvey Milk Day Poem and Poster Contest is an opportunity for young artists to celebrate the late gay leader with their art and words and to share their creativity with their peers and public,” Kahane, an English teacher at Encinal High School and one of the contest organizers, says. “The winning posters from the past two years can be seen in classrooms and schools all over Alameda, as well as in businesses and government buildings. And in each place the poster makes a statement - that Harvey Milk was a hero and that everyone belongs.”

For more information about the contest, please contact Olivia Higgins at Olivia@queerlyelementary.com or Gene Kahane at genk40@yahoo.com. More information about Harvey Milk can be found on the Harvey Milk Foundation website.

Photo of Harvey Milk courtesy of Wikimedia