Wading through Political Waters by Writing
At 826 MSP, we strive to ensure our programs are responsive to the world our students live in. Last winter, as 2020 was primed to be a momentous political year, the theme for the writing projects in our After-School Writing Lab program was “writing as civic engagement.” Back when we were still holding programs at our center, the semester started with students trying out persuasive writing about subjects such as lowering the voting age, or who they would nominate for president and why. Ramla, grade 6, gave a strong argument for why she is fit for the role of leading our country: “I would make a good president because I think I could make a change in the USA. I could probably stop racism and make equality for all.”
And then in March, writing about the political moment in our programs took on a different meaning. While we always work diligently to craft curriculum for our students that breaks down the walls between the classroom and the outside world, the reality is that those walls came crashing down when the pandemic hit. Suddenly, our students, and our world, were having a collective experience of living through a global health crisis and watching our leaders navigate these unprecedented times. In response, students wrote about what they believed made a good leader. Amira, grade 6, wrote that “everyone is a leader but might not know it”. Maryama, grade 2, wrote “you need ice cream to be a leader. You need 1,000 gallons of coffee.” Mohamad, grade 4 wrote, “If I was a leader, I would be responsible.” This summer, our students put their persuasive writing skills to use and wrote letters to local leaders about issues important to them.
This fall, in light of the upcoming election, our students are once again using writing to wade through political waters. In Young Authors’ Council, our new youth leadership program, students are contemplating place, and thinking about the multiple narratives and contradictions that make up our country. By studying the work of Michelle Obama, Donald Glover, and Jason Reynolds, they are asking- “what is America?” And “who writes America?” In our Writers’ Room program at South High, we are uplifting the question of, “who votes in America?” by sharing resources related to the fight for voting rights in our country, and who has often been left out of that story.
Across our country and across the 826 network, our partner chapters are also responding to the upcoming election in beautiful and inspiring ways. In San Francisco, our friends at 826 Valencia are sharing letters from students to help motivate voters. And 826 National board member and Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman has created a video poem to encourage everyone to #Vote4theFuture.
If you are still wondering about the best way to follow Amanda’s words and #Vote4theFuture, here are some resources to make a voting plan:
If you plan to vote by mail, we recommend dropping off your ballot in an official dropbox or at your county elections office by 3 PM on Election Day.
If you plan to vote early in person, find your location and make a plan to go!
If you plan to vote on Election Day (November 3rd), find your polling place and remember that in Minnesota, employees have a right to take time off work to vote without losing pay, personal leave or vacation time.
Next week, as election season comes to an end, if you’re looking to replace your candidate yard signs with other messages, we still have some lawn signs amplifying out students’ words. Sign up today to get a free sign dropped off at your door.
And remember to #Vote4theFuture.
