TEAM Westport’s Teen Diversity Essay Contest has never shied away from important topics.
This year’s prompt is particularly important — and topical.
“Identity” is the topic of the 2025 contest, sponsored by the town’s multicultural organization.
The contest is open to students attending both public and private high school in Westport. Those who live in Westport and attend public or private high school elsewhere — or are home-schooled here — can also participate.
This year’s essay prompt says:
TEAM Westport is dedicated to addressing issues of bias and discrimination related to race, religion, ethnicity, and LGBTQIA+ identity that negatively impact our town’s goal of being a welcoming community for all who live and work here. The recent introduction of the Anti-Defamation League’s “No Place for Hate” initiative in Westport’s schools strives to create an environment where all students feel they belong and are free from bias, bullying, or hatred.
In our community, each person’s unique identity — shaped by their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other aspects of who they are — contributes to the character of Westport. In 1,000 words or less, we invite you to reflect on how your own identity shapes your perspective and the experiences you have in Westport. Please address the following considerations in your response:
- Which aspects of your identity feel most central to how you wish to be understood and accepted?
- How do aspects of your identity shape your daily school and community experiences, including both challenges and opportunities in expressing these parts of yourself?
- What specific changes could our community make to decrease identity-based bias, bullying and hate?
The entry deadline for the essay contest is 11:59 pm on March 10.
The Westport Library co-sponsors the event. They’ll host the winners at a special ceremony on April 28.
The prompt and contest entry rules are available online at teamwestport.org.
Subject to the volume and caliber of entries received, at the discretion of the judges, up to 3 cash prizes will be awarded. The first prize is $1,000; second place is $750, while third is $500.
“Our community conversation to uncover ways to ensure that there is ‘No Place for Hate’ is ongoing,” says TEAM Westport Chair Harold Bailey Jr. “As we launch our 12th year of the Essay Contest, nothing could be more current than the issue of personal identity. We invite our young people to share their experiences around identity to help shape a world in which everyone belongs with mutual respect.”
First Selectwoman Jen Tooker adds, “This community encourages constructive, respectful dialogue. As representatives of our talented and thoughtful population, the youth of Westport can be instrumental in sharing diverse ideas that ensure that everyone who lives, works, plays, and learns here feels welcomed and valued.”
Prior prompts have tackled topics from white privilege and Black Lives Matter to micro-aggressions and dialogue.
“We’re honored to co-sponsor and host the 2025 TEAM Westport Diversity Essay Contest,” says Westport Library executive director Bill Harmer.
“One of our goals as a Library is to foster inclusivity, understanding, and belonging, and to provide the tools for students learn and thrive. Personal identity is achieved through exploration and conversation, a product of introspection and community engagement — all core to the mission of the Library and representative of the remarkable students Westport engages.”
At the 2024 TEAM Westport Teen Essay Contest celebration (from left) First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, TEAM Westport chair Harold Bailey; winners Teya Ozgen, Sophia Lopez and Olivia Morgeson; Staples High School principal Stafford Thomas; Westport Library executive director Bill Harmer.
Way too heavy 💐
Tom. why and in what way? For me, these essays for years have educated me and informed my thinking for years to come. I look forward to more insights from these thoughtful, informed high schoolers. Bravo Team for continuing this tradition.