Austin Justice Coalition Launches Art, Essay Contest

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Austin Justice Coalition has launched and art and essay contest for young men of color in grades 3 through 12 with the theme "Black Positivity and Expression," officials said Wednesday.

Via the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color Catalyst Fund at Community Partners — a national fund established to build, develop, and invest in local coalitions across the nation — the city joined the positivity movement through the Austin Justice Coalition to advance justice and build opportunity for boys and men of color, their families, and communities, AJC officials said in a press advisory.

And through the Catalyst Fund, officials said, the Alliance is investing in "...continued policy and systems changes that engage and invest in grassroots leaders working at the intersection of race and gender justice, while advocating for state policy that improves outcomes for boys and young men of color," according to the advisory.

The planned activities as part of the initiative are designed to not only enhance our commitment to boys and men of color, but help inform policies the Austin Justice Coalition continually advocates in Central Texas, officials said.

OVERVIEW

• The Austin Justice Coalition is currently accepting entries for its 2019 Art and Essay Contest. To enter, click here. For more etails, click here.
• The contest is open to young men in Travis, Williamson and Hays counties in grades 3 – 12.
• There are three age group categories: Elementary school (grades 3 – 5); Middle school (grades 6– 8); and High school (grades 9 – 12).
• Students must complete an official entry form to attach to their essays or art pieces. The due date for all entries is April 1, 2019.
• Winners from each division will receive a $75 award and an award-winning book of their choice.

Austin Justice Coalition officials also seek community members to serve as volunteer judges in selecting contest winners. Those interested can contact the AJC or fill out this volunteer judge inquiry form.

Who knows? Maybe among the young men entering the contest is the next Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Frederick Douglass or Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates. So let that spark of creativity and imagination take hold, young men.

Image provided by Austin Justice Coalition

Get Patch's Daily Newsletters and Real Time Alerts

>>> Top image: Photo of Langston Hughes as a young man by James L. Allen via The New York Public Library Digital Collections, public domain.