HomeMy WebLinkAboutSept 7 2017- 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 www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Call for Entries for First Human Rights Essay Contest
Edina, Minn., Sept. 7, 2017 – Entries are being accepted for the first Human Rights & Relations
Commission (HRRC) Human Rights Essay Contest. Entries are due by Nov. 2 and should be submitted online
at EdinaMN.gov/HumanRightsEssay. Anyone who lives, works or studies in Edina is eligible to enter.
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 HRRC Member Ellen Kennedy. “This essay contest is a
small step towards encouraging us to think about human rights, and in particular this year the human rights of
women and girls.”
Essays should examine the following questions:
How does discrimination affect women and girls in our country, our state, and in our community
today? Do race, nationality, socio-economic status, ability, or educational level play a role, and if so,
how?
What action can you take or have you taken, and what can we do as a community?
Submissions will be accepted in two age groups: Junior Level for ages 13-17 and Senior Level for ages 18 and
above. 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 recognized at the Dec. 5 City Council Meeting.
“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 Nov. 2; winners will be notified by Nov. 30. Further guidelines and the submission
form can be found online at EdinaMN.gov/HumanRightsEssay. For more information, contact City
Management Fellow Chante Mitchell at 952-826-0429 or cmitchell@EdinaMN.gov.
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