Jokesgiving
my family has claimed thanksgiving.
it's our holiday, you know,
the one we do the best,
and so it must be ours. we're joking,
mostly, but it's true we do thanksgiving very well
probably overdo but it's better
my family has claimed thanksgiving.
it's our holiday, you know,
the one we do the best,
and so it must be ours. we're joking,
mostly, but it's true we do thanksgiving very well
probably overdo but it's better
in my heart, hope is a quiet thing
a pulse beneath rubble
soft as breath against marble dust.
it doesn't sing
it lingers.
it waits in the cracks where sunlight pools
on mornings the mist forgets to rise.
Today, I watched boys climbing a log stuck vertically in the sand
And girls kicking at leaves just for the fun of it,
And oh, when did our youth slip through the backdoor unnoticed,
The first phase of The Tomorrow Project is complete and we're delighted to honor the writers and artists whose work captures the spirit of the project – to explore the issues of today with hope for tomorrow. Phase 2 runs November 2025 to May 2026!
Visual Art
Deadline
Create the most beautiful tree you can imagine in any medium. Or photograph a solo tree, a woodlot, a forest floor, or canopy of leaves. Celebrate trees!
Writing
Deadline
Choose a time period that interests you and write a story about the way you would live in that time. What would your life be like?
Writing
Deadline
If you celebrate Thanksgiving, or you don't, write about this holiday's meaning to you.
Writing
Deadline
Vermont high school students: Write an essay about the state of the union for the Congressional Record.
Visual Art
Contrasting colors, shapes, designs can make dramatic art. In photography or another artistic medium, illustrate a sense of contrast.
Writing
"Little, nameless, unremembered, acts of kindness and of love." Can you think of a time, person, or place that brings William Wordsworth's words to life for you?
Donations allow us to provide all programs free of charge. Thank you for investing in our creative community!
YWP Photographers: Capture your hometown for a New York Times Contest! Go to YWP's Resources Page for more information. Deadline: Jan. 14, 2026.
YWP's Tomorrow Project continues with monthly contests, exhibits, and publication!