Winners Selected for DROP: A Story of Triumph National Creative Expressions Contest

For Immediate Release
Contact: Karen Carrington, 202-210-4005

The Positive Change Foundation, in affiliation with Black Women for Positive Change (BW4PC) has selected winners for the National Creative Expressions Contest, based on the film, “DROP: A Story of Triumph.” Nine winners from Middle and High Schools and a Homeschool have been selected from schools including Darnell Cookman Middle/High School of the Medical Arts, Jacksonville, Florida; Pittsburgh School for Creative and Performing Arts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; South Carolina Virtual Charter School, in Columbia, and Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School, in Greenville, South Carolina; Luke C. Moore Senior High School, Muhammad’s Homeschool Coop; and H. D Woodson High School in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the Creative Expressions Contest was to provide youth an opportunity to express their reactions to messages about dropping out of school, portrayed in the film “DROP: A Story of Triumph,” produced by Black Women for Positive Change.

The National Creative Expressions Contest attracted 109 applications from 18 states and the District of Columbia. Seventy-six (76) youth completed contest submissions and entered essays, poems, videos and drawings. Contestants were from 52 high schools, middle schools and a homeschool. Winners won prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. In a joint statement National Co-Chairs Dr. Stephanie Myers and Honorable Daun S. Hester stated, “We sponsored the Creative Expression Contest as part of the 6th Annual Week of Positive Change, Non-Violence and Opportunities. We appreciate the support of our major sponsors American Family Insurance, Saint and Streetfighter Foundation, and Highmark Inc., and other partners. Their donations enabled us to provide youth rewards for winning essays, poems, drawings and videos. The views of the youth are powerful and describe the challenges they face regarding staying in school, the dire results of dropping out, and the importance of family support when pursuing education, during and after high school.

Tom Johnson, President and CEO of the Saint and Streetfighter Foundation said, “The Saint and Streetfighter Foundation is dedicated to fighting for social justice and reducing gun violence in the United States. When we keep our nation’s children in school, our communities are strengthened, and our children are made stronger – intellectually, emotionally and physically – able to go forward with the education that will enable them to achieve more in life instead of a path that increases their exposure to gun violence. We are thrilled to support DROP and the Creative Expressions Contest developed by Black Women for Positive Change and the Positive Change Foundation. We are excited that students have viewed the video and eloquently expressed their views about the importance of education and staying in school.”

The National Creative Expressions Contest was managed by Dr. Stephanie Myers, President of the Positive Change Foundation and BW4PC National Co-Chair, Karen Carrington, Creative Expressions Contest Committee Chair; and Nadira Akina, Creative Expressions Contest Administrator. A team of 12 Volunteer Judges evaluated the submissions and selected the winners. Interviews with the winners who are minors, may be available to the press on a request basis.

CREATIVE EXPRESSION CONTEST FILM: DROP: A STORY OF TRIUMPH

AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT www.weekofnonviolence.org

Produced by Black Women for Positive Change

Facebook
Youtube
SOCIALICON