-- ELEMENTARY SCHOOL --

FIRST PLACE         Khalil - Jesuit Middle School
Would you like to know what my dream is for my community? My dream for my community is to live in a smoke-free community. I also think that all human can be treated right. I think that we should be able to think your thoughts and say what’s on your mind and not get in trouble for it. I also think that solar cars are great ideas because they can save money and use solar energy instead of gas, which causes pollution. I think that paper should be reused and saved. I think that we should be trying to find a way to replant seeds to use seeds in the winter time. I also think that peoploe who are less fortunate can all be moved into a local homeless shelter. That is what I think that my community should be like in the future.

SECOND PLACE       Ebone - Lothrop Magnet Elementary, submitted through Girls, Inc.
In my community people keep on teasing other people about their skin color. Some people are black, white, mixed, brown. I want them to stop because it makes the people sad, mad and cry. People teased me at school because I was black and I did something about it - I told the teacher. When I told the teacher, that person stopped. Then the next morning that person did it again, then I talked to the school counselor. Then we had a meeting then the problem was fixed.

If people are still teasing you, tell them if you don’t have anything to say, don’t say it at all. People need to be nice because when you grow up and you’re still mean then you might go to jail. That is why you should not be mean and make fun of people’s skin color.

-- MIDDLE SCHOOL --

FIRST PLACE           Ronnie - Morton Magnet Middle School
I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and throughout my life, my community has shaped me and I have shaped my community. To me this city is one of the greatest places on earth. So it really interests me that for so many of the citizens of the great city of Omaha have not shared the same experiences that I have.

It is true that all over Nebraska and in my own community many young Americans are out of work, they live in homes with single parents and they live out on the streets and sidewalks of the city. It is a fact that Omaha has some of the highest poverty, drug and HIV rates in the entire country. In the city of Omaha many are still victims of discrimination based on age, race, gender, religion and sexual orientation. Although many of us may not notice it but, everyday in the very city I love so dearly, a child is lost to gang violence. I am a person who has faith in my community. I believe the city of Omaha has the potential to be one of the greatest cities in the world today. I expect better from my city. We are above gang violence, drugs and discrimination and although we have come far we must go further. This is my vision for my community.

I see a better future for my community. I see a society without violence and a school environment where every child can raise their hand and ask a question without the fear of appearing unintelligent. The vision I have is of a better Omaha. An Omaha that all of my community will have to fight for. One that we can all be proud of. No citizen could possibly do this all on their own. It would take all of Omaha’s citizens, men and women, Democrats and Republicans. If we won’t fight for it then who will? If we should procrastinate and put off our efforts for some other time and leave our issues for some other generation to solve we would be making the biggest possible mistake. That great mistake could cause a disaster for our future, as citizens of Omaha, Nebraska, the United States and the world.

I don’t just care about this community because I live here. It’s because I honestly do care about what happens to these people. I see the fantastic abilities of the young people and the tremendous sacrifices the elderly have made for them. It has always been my personal opinion that we should repay our elders for the many services they paid tward society. I also realize that possible more important than repaying them is making sure that their hard work didn’t go to waste. One way we can do this is by raising the children of today and filling them with hopes and ambitions that will last them the rest of their life. Our community must work on this because failing our young is simply not an option.

This is my one message to my community. No matter how many people may try to pull you down and no matter how hight the obstacle or how tough the boundaries we must persevere. If it takes us months, years or decades we have to break down the walls that keep us apart. The people who try to keep us apart don’t know the story of our community and they have no power unless we surrender. It has never been the American way to give up. That’s not the way Susan B. Anthony fought for women’s rights or the way Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. campaigned to defeat discrimination. So giving up and cracking under pressure like some want us to do is not the way we will go. We must fight our fears. This is the only way.

SECOND PLACE          Ally - Morton Magnet Middle School
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character” This quote is one that was said by Martin Luther King, Jr. during his remarkable “I Have a Dream” speech. I believe that if we look at each part of the quote, it will say the same important message; we should be treated equally, no matter what our skin may be.

In this day and age, although some people follow the rules of basic human rights, others do not. For example, we have racism, gang violence, and much more horrid things. My dream is that all of these things will one day cease to exist. First, I will comment on racism. I believe that it truly is a horrible thing. A world without people being judged by skin color is a world that we all hope to live in someday. I we were to live in a community where we all had peace, I think that we would all be much happier and that we would all find solace in this place.

Now, I will consult the problem of gang violence and other malicious acts of violence. People are getting killed and injured on a daily basis, sometimes because of gangs, racism, and even because of their sexual orientation. I cannot stress the fact that this is wrong. People do not get to choose their race, gender, etc. before they are born, so why do we judge them by these things? If I was granted one wish, and I could get rid of anything in this world, I would choose to banish violence and hatred.

What would the world be like if everyone was the same? I can say that if we were all the same, it would be a boring world indeed. However, even though a world with variety is probably better, it tends to be quite cruel. I think that if we all come together, we can make a difference, and we can demolish these feelings of hatred and inequality. Together, it is possible to do anything, and if we do the right things, and make wise choices, we can make this world a better place.

-- HIGH SCHOOL --

FIRST PLACE           Ciera - Omaha Northwest, submitted through Girls, Inc.
There are thousands of communities through the world, some good and some bad, some big and some small, but the major issue I find in my community is that children do not have enough positive role models. Children see their elders struggling in negative ways and sometimes not have a bright head on their shoulders. These childred (ages 2-18) should have somebody positive to look up to. What I see is adults making up random excuses about why they didn’t finish school or why they aren’t doing to help themselves out. Then they have the nerve to yell at the youth today because they are getting into fights about useless stuff or going to jail because of a color that the other kid was wearing across the street in the wrong “hood.” I think it’s because these kids have no one to look up to so they decide to take things into their own hands.

I think to create better and positive role models would be to take advantage of groups and organizations such as Girls Inc., Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters Program, etc. Those groups can help get adults active in the community and assist the children and teens. I would love to see my brothers and sisters in the community get the help they need.

I know that if we have more positive role models we would prevent a lot of gang violence, useless negative things happening in the world and lower the crime rate. That would help me too. If I see positive, then I would most definitely do positive. I would need essentials to be the best role model for my younger siblings so when they are my age they don’t have to sit and dream the same things I’m dreaming. This world is in turmoil and in need and we need to do something about it before it is way too late. I would love to see that in my community, but change is hard to do at a rapid pace. People have to be committed and willing to lend a hand to teenagers and kids. One day I dream that this dream would come true and spread and see the change.

SECOND PLACE           Alyssa - James Madison School
I have a dream that one day we will all be free.

I have a dream that people no matter what ethnicity, gender, religion, social status, political viewpoint, age or of any minority or majority will respect one another. That we as a nation will have a sense of community and a sense of unity. That we will all respect one another.

I have a dream that one day people all over will reach out and help one another. That we will build each other up instead of tearing one another down. That we will not wait for another tragedy to come together. We come together and help one another after bombings, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other disasters big and small, but why wait for a disaster?

I have a dream that our nation’s apathy will end and that we will not watch idly as people around us suffer.

I believe that for America to be strong we need to join together as one. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about freedom. He spoke about change. A lot has changed. We have had many changes for the better, but also there have been many changes for the worse. We claim to be free, but we are far from it. Yes we have many privileges and rights which are not available to so many other countries, but we also handicap ourselves in many ways.

Everyone no matter how weak or strong, no matter how rich or poor is created equal. Our Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal. Many laws have been passed to help us all legally to have the same rights However we cripple ourselves and our communities by choosing to discriminate and pick each other apart. We all have the right to opinions and views. My vision though is that we will all respect each other. My dream is that we will get to know people for who they are without judging or stereotyping them.

All people have talents and abilities. If we disrespect and discriminate then we lose all the benefits different groups have to offer. We lose the wisdom of many, we lose their help, their guidance, their love… Over the last couple of years I have learned to reach out and talk to and befriend people without judging them first. I have met prostitutes, drug addicts, senators, pastors, teachers, children, lawyers and many other interesting individuals.

My dream and vision for my community is that we will break down walls built between us and that we come together as a community. That we will listen and learn from one another without profiling or stereotyping. I believe that our community can achieve this goal and vision by talking to someone new, by refusing to let stereotypes and prejudices define who we are an who we will be, by venturing outside our comfort zones and learning about other cultures, other groups, other people. If we give change, this change, a chance then we can have unity, we can be a community. Let’s break down barriers and be a voice for change. Martin Luther King, Jr. helped bring us this far; let’s finish his dream and make freedom a reality.