The Tomorrow Project Awards and Honorable Mentions
The Tomorrow Project Awards and Honorable Mentions
This issue of The Voice marks the completion of the first phase of The Tomorrow Project – with sincere congratulations to the many writers and artists who contributed a record 430 submissions to the project! From this remarkable collection, we honor six writers and artists whose work reflects the spirit and intent of The Tomorrow Project. Each award winner will receive a $250 prize and publication in these pages. They are:
- Popcorn, 14, Vermont: "We (Are) The People," in response to the writing challenge, We the People
- writerfromva, 17, Virginia: "Who I Am," in response to the visual art challenge, Values: Kindness
- OverTheRainbow, 12, Vermont: "And What Must They Think of Our Golden Door Now?," in response to the writing challenge, Liberty
- Sopyus, 18, Florida: "Deforestation and Its Impact on Wildlife," in response to the visual art challenge, Climate and Our Earth
- IceGalaxy, 17, Virginia: "Sparkler," in response to the writing challenge, Declaration of Independence
- Swimspotter, 18, Vermont: "Kindness, Accidentally," in response to the writing challenge, Values: Kindness; and "Common Ground," in response to the visual art challenge, Community and Housing
In addition to the award winners, this issue of The Voice also includes 10 honorable mentions, five writers and five visual artists whose work deserves recognition. They are:
- shalev smokler, 14, New York: "Radical Youth," in response to the visual art challenge, No Kings-Oct. 18
- GhostSlayer, 14, Vermont: "A River of Tears," in response to the writing challenge, Democracy & Ethics
- Sayornis p., 16, Vermont: "The People Speak," No Kings Rally, Montpelier, VT, in response to the visual art challenge, No Kings-Oct. 18
- ninestars, 15, Maryland: "The Only King We Want," in response to the writing challenge, Martin Luther King
- Amelia_v, 19, Vermont: "Maine," in response to the visual art challenge, Travel America
- maelynslavik, 15, Vermont: "Love, Like Light, Like a Rose," in response to the writing challenge, Martin Luther King
- henniebear@kua, 16, New Hampshire: "Fractured," in response to the visual art challenge, Human Rights
- moonriseee, 14, Pennsylvania: "Unfinished," in response to the writing challenge, Founders
- AngryDuckReads, 13, California: "Clear Stream (Yellowstone National Park)," in response to the visual art challenge, Travel America
- wildcat, 16, Vermont: "What Does It Take to See?," in response to the writing challenge, Climate and Our Earth
THANK YOU, YWP WRITERS AND ARTISTS!
The outpouring of your powerful writing and art about the urgent issues we face today tells us that The Tomorrow Project must continue! The second phase of the project will run November until May, with monthly contests, new challenges, and opportunities for publication and exhibits. Watch The Tomorrow Project Challenges page for updates and join us!
The Voice
November 2025
The Tomorrow Project Awards and Honorable Mentions
This issue of The Voice marks the completion of the first phase of The Tomorrow Project – with sincere congratulations to the many writers and artists who contributed a record 430 submissions to the p...
Writing: We (Are) The People
This poem by Popcorn, 14, of Vermont, was written in response to the writing challenge, We the People: The Constitution belongs to "we the people," and collectively we can make it work for us, argues ...
Visual Art: Who I Am
A self-portrait painted by writerfromva, age 17, of Virginia, in response to the visual art challenge, Values: Kindness and empathy are powerful forces. Look around you. Where do you find kindness? In...
Writing: And What Must They Think of Our Golden Door Now?
This poem by OverTheRainbow, age 12, of Vermont, was written in response to the challenge, Liberty: The Statue of Liberty, originally called "Liberty Enlightening the World," has stood as a symbol of ...
Visual Art: Deforestation and Its Impact on Wildlife
Sopyus, 18, of Florida, painted this piece, "Deforestation and Its Impact on Wildlife," in response to the visual art challenge, Climate and Our Earth: Create art that explores the many impacts of the...
Writing: Sparkler
This poem by IceGalaxy, age 17, of Virginia, responds to the challenge, The Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed...
Writing and Visual Art: Kindness, Accidentally; and Common Ground
Swimspotter, 18, of Vermont is being doubly recognized for her poem, "Kindness, Accidentally," and for her illustration, "Common Ground." Her writing submission was in response to the challenge, Value...
A River of Tears
Every day when we stand for the pledge, I feel like a curtain has fallen over me, holding me down. I remember who is president for the next four years. And I want to cry. I want to sit down and cry a...
The Only King We Want
Restrain the roaring voices to prevent the foreseeable fights filled with rage and hatred that could permanently appall the people of this world. Lips must sculpt more smiles, for strangers to see and...
Love, Like Light, Like a Rose
Love Is like light Is like a rose Growing from the darkened depths Of a blackened bramble Climbing through the soil With shadowed claws, Defeated by Our love: Beautiful because Of its strength, Risin...
Unfinished
They gather in shadow beyond the monuments, no longer chiseled names, but men again, haunted by what they see, each bearing the weight of his vision now worn. Washington stands first, his hands once ...
What Does It Take to See?
What does it take to see the dandelions blooming in the spring, yellow manes bobbing in the wind?What does it take to see the sun slanting through the windows, to hear the tree frog's chorus in the ni...