HomeMy WebLinkAboutDec 22 2016- HRRC Essay Contest
City of Edina 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Krystal Caron, Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-826-0347 kcaron@EdinaMN.gov EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Calls for Entries for First Human Rights Essay Contest
Edina, Minn., Dec. 22, 2016 – Entries are being accepted for the first Human Rights & Relations
Commission (HRRC) Human Rights Essay Contest. Entries are due by Feb. 1 and should be submitted
online at EdinaMN.gov/Human_Rights_Essay.
The goal of the Human Rights Essay Contest is to raise awareness about human rights challenges and
opportunities among those who live, work and study in the City of Edina and acknowledge and recognize
those who are giving thoughtful consideration to issues of human rights.
“For most people, we don’t think about what human rights really mean because most of us have not had
our rights taken away or challenged. And yet, every day in communities like Edina and communities all
over the world, people’s human rights are being trampled,” said Commissioner Ellen Kennedy. “This essay
contest is a small step toward encouraging us to think about human rights, and in particular this year the
human rights of women and girls. For example, in Minnesota in 2015, there were an estimated 6,900
rapes, yet there were only 53 convictions. One of the most essential human rights in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights is the right for the security of our persons or, put more simply, the right not
have our bodies be attacked.”
Essays should examine how discrimination affects women and girls in our country, our state and in our
community today; whether race, nationality, social status or education level play a role; where
discrimination has been seen or experienced personally; and what action can be taken personally or as a
community.
“I think there is this need for community members, anywhere from high school students to senior citizens
and everything in between, to be heard on the issue of human rights,” said Commissioner Heather
Edelson. “I was really excited about this idea of being able to actively engage the community on human
rights topics. This is going to be a great way to do it.”
Submissions will be accepted in two age groups: Junior Level for ages 13-17 and Senior Level for ages 18
and older. Essays should be no longer than 800 words and 1,200 words, respectively. The Junior Level
winner will receive a gift card from Barnes & Noble for $50 and the Senior Level winner will receive a
$100 gift card. Both winners will be asked to read the essay at the City's Celebration of Human Rights on
March 20 and will receive a certificate of recognition from the HRRC and the Mayor.
City of Edina 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424
“We’ve designed the essay competition to be open to people
in a wide range of ages because the struggle to protect
human rights is a struggle that should confront us all as we
stand up for those whose rights are taken away,” explained
Kennedy.
Essays must be received by Feb. 1; winners will be notified by March 1. The Human Rights submission
form can be found online at EdinaMN.gov/Human_Rights_Essay. For more information, contact City
Management Fellow Kelly Dumais at 952-826-0429 or KDumais@EdinaMN.gov.
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