Directing Change

Hope & Justice: Format Tips

 

Entry Format Tips

Click here for the Entry Form 

Tips for submitting your entry in the correct format

  • Visual Art (Painting, digital art, sketching, comic, or any other art form)
    • When uploading any artwork like drawings, paintings or others that can’t be automatically uploaded (such as a painting or drawing) use these tips and keep in mind that we’ll be sharing winning submissions on social media:
      • Please submit as a png or jpeg file.
      • Use a high-resolution camera or setting on your phone (5 megapixels or higher is best, however 2 megapixels at the highest resolution will also work).
      • Use indirect light to minimize glare.
      • Take the photo as straight on as possible to prevent distortion and hold as still as possible.
      • Check your image for blurriness and make sure it is clear.
  • Original music (3 minutes or less)
    • If you’re submitting an audio file it will need to be uploaded as an mp3 file and max size of 30MB.
    • Can also be submitted with a visual such as a music video, lyrics on screen, or recording of live performance. For video files, please submit as an mp4 or mov file.
  • Short video, animation, or TikTok (15-seconds or less)
    • Videos can be submitted as an mp4 file.
    • When creating these short videos, please consider that they will be posted on social media.
    • TikTok videos:
      • Download your TikTok video and submit the video file with your entry form.
      • Also, tag us @DirectingChange on your TikTok post and use #DirectingChangeChallenge.
  • Radio PSA (30-seconds)
    • A recorded audio file will need to be uploaded as an mp3 file and max size of 30MB.
    • A good 30-second PSA contains all the key messages and information laid out in a pleasing, yet succinct manner. Need some tips? Check this out, and remember to make sure your submission meets all content criteria for the topic you’re addressing.
  • Video PSA (60-seconds)
    • Upload your film as an mp4 file.
    • For these films, be sure to review the judging criteria and ensure your film includes a title slide (which can be downloaded here).
    • Your video must also include this end slate within the 60-second time limit.
    • All 60-second film entries received prior to March 1, 2022 will also compete against all 60-second films entered in the Hope and Justice category for a chance at a statewide prize.
  • Other submission formats
    • For blogs, poems, spoken word, essays, or other narratives, please save your document as an image file (jpg or png) as we cannot accept Word or PDF files.

If you are submitting an entry in another format not mentioned here and not sure how to submit, please contact us and we can help.

Resources for Teachers & Parents

2020 Census:

Unlike the upcoming presidential election, the 2020 census is one of the few political events where everyone, regardless of age, race, legal status, or income, can participate. Youth can get involved by can helping engage community members who may be low income, non-English speakers, homeless college students, and others who may feel marginalized or afraid to take part.

Voting

Racism, Justice, Tolerance and Social Change:

Diversity Story Time: Teaching diversity at home and in the classroom is an essential component of the social and emotional learning principle of social awareness. Teachers and parents are recommended to try to pick books about people of different cultures, race/ethnicities, religions and other backgrounds.

  • It’s Okay to Be Differentby Todd Parr
  • Chrysanthemumby Kevin Henkes
  • The Skin You Live Inby Michael Tyler & David Lee Csicsko
  • Families, Families, Families!by Suzanne Lang

Additional Suggestions for Younger Children : 

  • The Colors of Usby Karen Katz
  • Let’s Talk About Raceby Julius Lester
  • The Skin I’m In: A First Look at Racismby Pat Thomas
  • Sesame Street’s “We’re Different, We’re the Same”by Bobbi Jane Kates
  • Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injusticeby Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard
  • I Am Enoughby Grace Byers
  • Happy in Our Skinby Fran Manushkin and Lauren Tobia
  • Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movementby Carole Boston Weatherford and Ekua Holmes
  • Daddy Why Am I Brown?: A healthy conversation about skin color and familyby Bedford F. Palmer
  • A Terrible Thing Happenedby Margaret Holmes
  • Antiracist Babyby Ibram X. Kendi
  • Teach Your Dragon About Diversity: Train Your Dragon To Respect Diversityby Steve Herman

Additional Suggestions for Teens: 

  • The Hate U Giveby Angie Thomas
  • Harbor Meby Jacqueline Woodson
  • This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Workby Tiffany Jewell and Aurelia Durand
  • Brown Girl Dreamingby Jacqueline Woodson
  • Dear White Peopleby Justin Simien
  • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginningby Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

Additional Suggestions for Adults and Parents: 

  • Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust Americaby Jennifer Harvey
  • So You Want to Talk About Raceby Ijeoma Uluo
  • Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?by Beverly Daniel Tatum PH.D
  • Between the World and Meby Ta-Nehisis Coates
  • An African American and Latinx History of the United Statesby Paul Ortiz
  • An Indigenous People’s History of the United Stateby Rozanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Additional Resources:

Resources on 6 feet physical distancing and how to protect yourself from COVID-19:

Lesson Plans on Physical Distancing

If you are experiencing an emotional crisis, are thinking about suicide or are concerned about a friend call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline immediately: 1-800-273-8255This is a free 24-hour hotline.
Directing Change is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students. These initiatives are funded by counties through the Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) and administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities.
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