“Equal Employment Opportunity-Make It Work In Missouri”

The Missouri Commission on Human Rights' (MCHR's) Poster and Journalism Contests promote a greater awareness of equal employment opportunity in students as they prepare to or begin to enter the workforce. Both contests are open to all students in grades 9 through 12. Students are encouraged to write a paper or design a poster around each year's theme.

The theme for the MCHR's fifth poster and journalism contest was: "Equal Employment Opportunity-Make It Work In Missouri." The concept is about the workplace and an acceptance of all people as people, and what it means to realize the dream of employment that is non-discriminatory, accessible and open to everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, or age (from 40-69). Everyone wants to feel they are a part of their communities. Being a working, contributing member of a community fosters this sense of inclusion. Unfortunately, in many instances people who are different from the majority do not feel included in the workplace. Hiring people who may be a different color, or whose first language might not be English or who have a disability, helps seize the opportunity to broaden our own understanding and gain insights into different cultures, different ideas, and different people. We all share a common humanity but our diversity helps make our lives fuller. We want to share the positive news that - YES!, Equal Employment Opportunity is an American Dream that works!

Think about it. How would you make people who are different from you feel comfortable in your workplace? How might you make a new co-worker feel welcome? Look around you. Do you see any barriers in attitudes that might make someone feel unwelcome in your school or workplace? How would you eliminate those barriers?

This was the fifth year of the MCHR's Poster and Journalism Contest. The contests are designed to promote a greater awareness of fair housing and equal employment opportunity issues among Missouri's youth. The MCHR believes that Equal Employment Opportunity is about people working together no matter how different they are and how a diverse workplace enriches everyone's lives. People aged 12-17 are preparing to or actually entering the workplace too, so both contests were open to students in grades 9 through 12.

Students were asked to write a 1-2 page essay or design a poster around the 2008 theme: Equal Employment Opportunity-Make It Work In Missouri. The essay and poster were to depict non-discriminatory employment for all people regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability or age (40-69). Students were asked to illustrate this year's theme in their essays or posters.

Hints on Style

"Equal Employment Opportunity-Make It Work In Missouri," is about people successfully interacting and working together without discrimination. It's about people working without discrimination due to their race or national origin, without being harassed due to their religion or having a disability reasonably accommodated. Discrimination can be a barrier to employment and hold people back from trying to live the American Dream. Equal employment opportunity helps to level the playing field, and allows people to compete on their own individual merit and not be judged based on stereotypes.

Poster Contest Rules

1. Paintings, drawings, photography, collages or any other two-dimensional medium or combination of media in color or black and white is acceptable. Entries must be prepared on a 12" X 16" sheet of poster board.
2. The entered poster MUST contain the theme words: “Equal Employment Opportunity-Make It Work IN Missouri” somewhere in the poster. Posters without these words will be disqualified.
3. Posters should be original. Computer generated art is acceptable, but the use of copyrighted photos is discouraged.
4. Selected artwork may be featured in the 2009 MCHR calendar.

Journalism Contest Rules

1. All essays must be typewritten, double spaced on white 8 1/2" X 11" paper, be in English, and not exceed three pages.
2. The essays MUST include the theme “Equal Employment Opportunity-Make It Work In Missouri” in more than the title. This theme should also be incorporated into the body of the essay.
3. Each essay must identify all quotes, either within the body of the report, or as a footnote.

Prizes

The winning student:
1^st Place- $500
2^nd Place- $250
3^rd Place- $100

The school with the winning students:
1^st Place-$250 School/$250 for the teacher/department
2^nd Place-$125 School/$125 for the teacher/department
3^rd Place-$50 School, $50 for the teacher/department

*All checks will be sent to the student's home address AFTER the Awards Luncheon.

Presentation of Awards

The contest winners, their parents, the principal and the teacher were guests of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights at an Awards Luncheon on May 9, 2008, in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Deadlines

The deadline for submitting the essay and poster was March 31, 2008. All entries had to be post-marked or hand-delivered by this date.

Entries were mailed to:
Missouri Commission on Human Rights
P.O. Box 1129
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1129

For shipping delivery:
3315 W. Truman Blvd., Suite 212
Jefferson City, MO 65109

For further information call: 573-522-1019.

PLEASE NOTE:

All entries become the property of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights

The official entry form is here

2008 Winning Posters and Essays