YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recognized nine Youngstown City School District middle-school students Monday for their award-winning essays about ways to build safer communities to counter the violence they have experienced or witnessed.
“It is clear you’re making waves – keep pushing forward and speaking out for change,” Yost said in a video addressing the students, this year’s finalists in the Youngstown City School District’s Do the Write Thing program. “Writing about violence isn’t easy, … but your essays were powerful, thoughtful, eye-opening.”
The National Campaign to Stop Youth Violence created Do the Write Thing in 1994 to encourage young people to be a part of the solution to violence. The program asks seventh- and eighth-graders to reflect, heal, and lead through their writing.
Yost’s office began partnering with the nonprofit agency in 2021 to introduce Do the Write Thing to Ohio middle-schoolers. This year marks the third for YCSD’s participation. More than 200 essays were submitted by students from Chaney, East and Rayen Early College middle schools.