Dear Judge,
The entries you are judging are submission in the Hope/Justice/Monthly Prompt category. Entries in this category deal with a variety of topics including mental health, social justice and other complex topics that need to be addressed with compassion and knowledge. For this category we asked youth to communicate about what they are feeling, increase knowledge about an issue or take a stand against injustice, or share their perspective in a way that gives others a glimpse into their lives. While some youth submit entries share ideas for solutions to the issues of concern, others used this as an opportunity to process their feelings in a therapeutic way. We welcome all types of submissions. In our submission criteria, we remind youth that whatever message they choose, their submissions need to be thoughtful and respectful. We asked youth to be honest about their feelings, but to be sure their entries convey that they are coming from a place of cultural humility and has the intent to further understanding and constructive dialogue about social justice and change. So, as a judge please score each of these entries based on how well they conveyed their messages and followed these guidelines. At any point if you are experiencing technical difficulties with the website, or have questions regarding the category, please email Shanti@DirectingChange.org or call (619) 786-5622.
We encourage you to seek personal support if you become troubled by the content of this category. If you experience an emotional crisis, there are people available to help you at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
In advance, we appreciate your time.
