The Lawrence Juneteenth organization is now accepting submissions to its contest for young writers. Winners will be featured at the community event this summer.
The annual celebration brings to downtown Lawrence art and food vendors, community organizations, music and history lessons for folks to enjoy. Community members join to honor Juneteenth, a federal holiday observed on June 19 to commemorate the final group of enslaved Black people learning of their emancipation.
According to a flyer on the organization’s Facebook page, this year’s prompt is “How has your past strengthened you for your future?”
The contest is open to high school students, and submissions can be in the form of original essays, poems, songs or raps. Profanity isn’t allowed, the flyer says.
The top three winners selected will each receive $500.
Lawrence students Macyn Ramsay, Joshua Eason and Breahna Randall were awarded first, second and third places in 2025, respectively, under the theme “Standing as one … Love over fear.”
Email submissions to clucwhite@hotmail.com by Friday, March 6. Entries should be 500 to 1,000 words and include the writer’s name, grade, school and phone number.
There is no cost to participate.
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