Art Activism | Inspired by books, kids print messages to change the world
about the project
Reading has the power to change the world, but only when we bring the words alive with our actions.
When 350 students in grades 2-12 read books about young characters who took a stand and made a difference, they gained role models who showed them they too have a voice that matters.
Art proved to be a powerful platform. Each student hand-carved their message to create a relief print and then produced multiple editions — one was stitched into a collaborative protest banner and another glued to the front of a postcard they wrote to an elected official.
Here, you will find their calls to action that we hope will inspire you to join them in standing up for peace and justice.
Welcome to The Future Is Us: Listening to our Hearts as a Catalyst for Change,
a Words Alive exhibit amplifying the voices of underrepresented youth who demand a better tomorrow.
A closer look
about printmaking
Printmaking has been used for tens of thousands of years by humans hoping to leave an imprint on the world. It is the most democratic artform — cheap, easy to understand and quick to reproduce. Some examples of printmaking are products from the printing press, engravings on prehistoric cave walls and modern guerilla art! Although it’s simple, printmaking has a powerful history in documenting life events, recording injustice and calling for change.
make your own relief print!
Books that inspired us
“I was tired of hoping for justice.
When my moment came, I was ready.”
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
by Phillip Hoose
The story of Claudette Colvin, a teenager who played an integral role in the Montgomery bus strike, once by refusing to give up a bus seat, and again, by becoming a plaintiff in the landmark civil rights case against the bus company.
“We didn’t know it at the time, but we were making history.
You have a voice too, and with determination,
you can be a history maker just like me.”
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom
by Lynda Blackmon Lowery
As the youngest marcher in the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Albama, Lynda Blackmon Lowery proved that young adults can be heroes. Jailed eleven times before her fifteenth birthday, Lowery fought alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. for the rights of African-Americans.
“It began with a dream of one person
— just one —
who laced up her shoes and then led the way.”
Sofia Valdez, Future Prez
written by Andrea Beaty
& illustrated by David Roberts
Every morning, Abuelo walks Sofia to school . . . until one day, when Abuelo hurts his ankle at a local landfill. Sofia gets an idea — the town can turn the slimy mess into a park! Sofia sets out to prove that even one kid’s voice can make a difference!
Civic Engagement Made Lit
There is more than one way to be an activist! While reading the books carefully selected for this unit, students discussed the protagonists’ emotions and grappled with their own — anger, fear, hope. Feelings fuel action; when we listen to our hearts, we find a catalyst for change. Here, written on postcards addressed to elected officials and community leaders, you’ll find students’ calls to action. Many pleaded for affordable housing, others suggested less plastic waste and one high school senior asked for free daycare at college. Others demanded gun control and some called for tastier school food.
| hover to flip the postcard over & click to zoom in |
write your own postcard!
Clearly state the issue or problem you want fixed and why you want change.
Suggest solutions and explain how you want the problem fixed.
Find your representative’s contact information here. Get a stamp and mail your postcard!
Get out the Vote!
Voting is often called the most fundamental part of democracy. Be sure your voice is counted in the upcoming election.
This gallery is made possible with community support, with a special thanks to:
