Jean-Marc Bastien, 18, DASH student who participated in the contest, stands next to his masterpiece.
The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is often seen as one that is hard to parallel. King’s life was all about peacefully creating change for people across the world. In efforts to continue to promote his dream, Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, District 2, Miami-Dade County school board member, recently held the second annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. peace poster contest at the Little Haiti Cultural Center.
“We constantly teach our children about peace in the community but do we really listen to what children say peace is to them?” Bendross-Mindingall asked. “What better way for us to see what they are thinking than to have them draw their thoughts?”
Amari Wyche, 17, an 11th grader at Young Men’s Preparatory Academy who participated in the contest. —Miami Times photos/Randy Grice
About a dozen students from varying high schools participated in the contest. Students created art pieces ranging from clocks and paintings to drawings. The event was co-hosted by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime, District 2, who also served as a judge for the contest. Prizes were given to first, second, and third place finishers; all finalists received a certificate.
“Love, peace and happiness inspired me; it’s what I believe in,” said Amari Wyche, 17, an 11th grader at Young Men’s Preparatory Academy who participated in the contest. “I hope one day the world will believe in the same thing that I believe in or at least resemble it.”
One Design and Architecture Senior High School (DASH) student that participated in the contest said he chose his piece because of the legacy that Dr. King left behind.
“I chose to draw this pose of Dr. King because of the strength that he exhibited,” said 18-year-old Jean-Marc Bastien. “I also chose the words ‘my dreams are your dreams’ because I believe that his legacy has been passed on to us. In the future I want to be an industrial designer.”
By Randy Grice
rgrice@miamitimesonline.com
Beth Goldstein
March 12, 2012 at 1:23 pm
To whom it may concern!
As the teacher of the student who won this contest I am wondering why his name and school were not at least mentioned within this artical? It is ashame that he will not be able to include this artical in his portfolio along with the work since there was no reference made to or about his winning work.
Peter Arthur
April 23, 2012 at 9:27 am
Congratulations, all who participated, and especially to the winner of the contest (unmentioned for no apparent reason – I agree that this must be disappointing for the student who worked so hard).
Best regards,
Peter Arthur
…
(PS. Ms. Goldstein, I recommend that as a high school teacher, you improve upon your grammar and spelling if you care to comment on a potential portfolio piece.)