While the annual federal holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in America, Juneteenth, is still weeks away, members of non-profit The Uplift Project are calling for community youth involvement right now.

In doing so, they are sending out an invitation for those interested to participate in their Juneteenth Essay Contest.

“We need to bring writing back,” said Stephaine Graham, advocacy director of the Uplift Project, on why they’re sponsoring the contest. “For me, whenever I was a child, that was something that I really enjoyed doing. Because it, number one, had an incentive, but number two, I was able to use what I learned and actually put it to work. So I kind of wanted to bring that back to our community.”

The theme for this year’s prompt is a straightforward one, “What does Juneteenth mean to you?” With that simple question as the basis contestant are being tasked to construction and submit an essay that answers that very question from the writers perspective.

“We feel like this is a topic that people are still trying to discover, really, What is Juneteenth, so we’re starting with the youth and what they think,” Graham said. “So we want to let them tell us what they feel like Juneteenth is because they weren’t there during slavery times. I mean, they’re probably not even really learning about the emancipation. This is going to give them the opportunity to go and research what the word even stands for.”

The contest is open to all Clinton City and Sampson County school students and the only requires are contestants must be a middle or high school student (Grades 6-12) residing in the county. The other is that those entering an essay must submit one of 500 words or less.

If learning about Juneteenth wasn’t enough, the contest will also present cash prizes the top three winners, first is $100, second is $50 and third $25.

“I think a lot of kids don’t write essays because they’re scared to write,” Graham said. “So to the youth thinking of getting involved, I want them to know this: No matter how you feel, don’t be intimidated by the process of writing the essay. Instead, just dream and allow your mind to really go to another place and really explore this topic, which is important to our history.”

Winners of the essay contest will be announced at the upcoming 2nd Annual Juneteenth event in Downtown Clinton on Wednesday, June 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. Graham said the first place winner will get a special opportunity that day as well.

“I just want to reiterate that this is open for Sampson County and Clinton City school kids that are in middle and high school,” she said. “The first prize winner will be able to recite their essay at the actual event in Downtown Clinton. I also want to note that, yes, this is sponsored by The Uplift Project, but the financial piece of it is through community partnerships.”

Submissions can be sent to: wecare@theupliftproject.info. Deadline to submit is Friday, May 31.

Reach Michael B. Hardison at 910-249-4231. Follow us on Twitter at @SamsponInd, like us on Facebook, and check out our Instagram at @thesampsonindependent.