Students will learn how to craft a message for an intended audience — in this case, the next leader of the United States.
Note for educators: We encourage students to write their message to the next President in any language. All too often, elected leaders overlook the voices of young people. This is especially true when young people speak in a language(s) that isn’t English. We aim to amplify the words and perspectives of all young people, and we welcome submissions in any language. English translations are encouraged, but not required.
Prompt from Javier Zamora:
Across the country, young people like you are showing their elected leaders that they do not need to vote to start creating a brighter future. Your voice is powerful today, and now’s your chance to have your voice heard. Imagine you had the opportunity to sit down with the next President of the United States. What would you most want them to hear?
Now, write that message. In your words, share what matters most to you and your community. Your writing can take on any form: a letter, poem, reflection, song, etc. Here are a few ideas to get started:
Find the prompt in Spanish here or download the PDF — see the attached materials below.
When you finish, share your writing for a chance to be published in 826 National’s 2024 student anthology!
Students and families, submit your work using the links below:
Educators, submit work from multiple students using the link below:
Javier Zamora is a Salvadoran poet and activist.
Javier Zamora was born in La Herradura, El Salvador in 1990. When he was a year old, his father fled El Salvador due to the US-funded Salvadoran Civil War. His mother followed her husband’s footsteps in 1995 when Javier was about to turn five. Zamora was left at the care of his grandparents who helped raise him until he migrated to the US when he was nine.
In his debut New York Times bestselling memoir, SOLITO (Hogarth, September 2022), Javier retells his nine-week odyssey across Guatemala, Mexico, and eventually through the Sonoran Desert.
Javier is an alumni of 826 Valencia, and is currently an Advisory Board member for the organization.
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