BRATTLEBORO-When Daniel Guerra taught at the middle and high schools in Brattleboro, some of the most creative, and possibly restless, students would sketch him as he stood before the class.
"There were some that were pretty striking," he said. "Like, 'Whoa. You're really good.'"
And of course, the school hallways were adorned with students' paintings, photography, sculpture, and other creations.
"I'm probably a little biased," he said, "but I would just often come across really incredible works of art."
Now, as chair of the Education Committee for the Windham County chapter of the NAACP, Guerra encourages youth to tap into their talent while thinking about Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) individuals who have made a difference.
The local chapter is sponsoring the "My BIPOC Hero Writing & Art Contest," inviting middle and high school students in Windham County to submit an essay, poem, or work of visual art inspired by anyone they consider a BIPOC hero. The contest is open to students in grades seven through 12.
Guerra, of Brattleboro, said a similar contest took place in recent years, and that the local chapter revived it with the thought of honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and others who are less known.
"How can we encourage our youth to think about all the other incredible BIPOC folks who have worked in this country to make it a better place, a more just place?" he said.
A self-described "total book nerd" (he's currently the librarian at Vernon Elementary School), he suggests students think about figures they learn about in English and history class. He names writers, like Toni Morrison, or activists, like Cesar Chavez or Dolores Huerta.
Students are invited to submit written entries to Guerra via email at [email protected]. Entries should include the student's grade level, email address and teacher's name at the bottom.
Students should submit visual art entries to Rockingham Free Public Library in Bellows Falls, the Brattleboro Union High School office, or Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro. The student's grade level, email address and teacher's name can be on a separate, attached document.
The deadline is Friday, Feb. 7. All submissions will be judged anonymously. The date of an awards ceremony will be announced later.
This Arts item by Gen Louise Mangiaratti was written for The Commons.