"Brown Middle School Essay Contest"

ATLANTA - Oct. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- CONTACT: Mother Mamie Moore

         MEDIA ADVISORY

The Festival of Lights Youth Essay Winners to be Introduced:

         3 PM Tuesday, October 8^th, at Brown Middle School

In an effort to entice elementary/secondary school students to passionately participate in The 5^th Annual Festival of Lights, which is hosted by the Historic Westside Cultural Arts Council, an essay contest was conceptualized.  Twenty-five talented students competed.  They were asked to write a 100-word essay on the subject: "What Does The Beloved Community Mean to Me?" or "How I Play in My Community".

“The cultural development of our young people is tied to their sense of self and empowerment,” opines Tracy Bates, President of the Historic Westside Cultural Arts Council.  “That is what the Festival of Lights is about – the social, cultural and educational development of our people. And, we want that to occur with our young people.  We have not seen that aspect of their development nurtured as much as it was during the ‘60’s and ‘70’s.”

WHO:  Ebone’ Harris and R’Daizjya Bell—The First and Second Place YOUTH ESSAY WINNERS   They will receive $100 and $50 gift certificates from Barnes & Noble for their essay expression on “the beloved community.”

WHAT:  The 5^th Annual Festival of Lights Youth Essay Conference News Conference

WHERE:  Brown Middle School, Parent Center in Room 107

WHEN:  Tuesday, October 8, 2013   3 pm

WHY:  “The Atlanta Public School system has been so battered by the cheating scandal it has clouded our capacity to find the find the light; the good within our students,” says Tracy Bates, President of the Historic Westside Cultural Arts Council.  “This Festival of Lights Essay Contest and news conference is an opportunity to salute, congratulate and showcase two of the talented children in our community.”

       The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate from Barnes & Noble