Westport Teen Diversity Essay Contest Focuses on Declaration of Independence

WESTPORT, CT — Westport high school students are invited to participate in the 13th Annual Teen Diversity Essay Contest, sponsored by TEAM Westport.

The contest focuses on the Declaration of Independence and its relevance to the town's commitment to diversity (see below). The deadline for essay submissions is Monday, March 16, at 11:59 p.m. The competition is open to students in grades 9-12 who are Westport residents or attend a Westport school, including public or private institutions.

TEAM Westport, a town-appointed committee, has worked for 23 years to foster a welcoming environment in Westport regarding race, ethnicity, religion, and LGBTQI-A inclusion. The contest aims to engage students in reflecting on topics that support the town’s publicly stated goal of "fostering a civic culture that provides equitable respect, belonging, and treatment of all citizens, students, employees and visitors by its populace, government, schools, businesses, and organizations."

"With this contest every year, we seek student input on important topics," said TEAM Westport Chair Harold Bailey. "However, at this time and on this subject, nothing could be more relevant for contemplation."

Added Bill Harmer, Executive Director of the Westport Library, "We’re honored to once again host the TEAM Westport Teen Diversity Essay Contest at the Library. At their core, libraries are democratic institutions that foster a lifelong love of learning and encourage dialogue and understanding. So, on this 250th anniversary year, we could not possibly think of a more apt topic, and we are excited to read the amazing essays that the students will produce."

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers. The first prize is $1,000, the second prize is $750, and the third prize is $500. The number of prizes may vary based on the caliber of entries received, at the discretion of the judges.

Winners will be honored at a special ceremony at The Westport Library. This event will take place in the Library’s Trefz Forum at 6 p.m. on April 28. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and hear the students read their winning essays. Essay applications, the prompt, and contest rules are available on the teamwestport.org website.

The prompt for this year’s contest is as follows:

This year, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a document which Abraham Lincoln called “a rebuke and a stumbling-block to tyranny and oppression.” The Declaration of Independence was a product of its time, drafted to rally the colonists to defy Great Britain, support the creation of an autonomous and independent nation and attract allies to its cause. Nonetheless, its claims have been universalized and imbued with fresh meaning by people here and around the world who have regarded it as an enduring beacon of hope in their own work to seek equal rights, freedom and self-determination. The famous words in the Declaration’s preamble proclaiming as a self-evident truth that all men are created equal and have inalienable rights endowed by their Creator, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness have been widely employed to assert the inherent dignity and fundamental human rights of each person.

The Declaration of Independence is a foundational document in American political and social life that also inspires TEAM Westport’s mission: to build a community where diversity is welcomed, and inclusion, respect, and belonging are actively extended to all who live, work, attend school, or visit in Westport — regardless of ethnicity, gender identity, race, religion, and sexual orientation.

In 1,000 words or less please comment on the following:

1) The relevance and value of the Declaration of Independence in your everyday life and your duties or obligations, if any, to uphold its principles for all people living within our democratic society;

AND…

2) Opportunities, if any, you believe town leaders (including fellow students, school officials, community members, and TEAM Westport) could create to act differently or additionally to reinforce the principles of the Declaration of Independence.