By Cheril Lee
Omaha, NE – Almost 300 children and teens submitted essays for the United Way of the Midlands' annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Essay Contest.
Kathy O'Hara, with the United Way of the Midlands, says the four first place winners will read their essays out loud on Monday in front of family and friends. She says the contest offers kids some recognition for speaking publicly about their dreams for our community.
O'Hara says the contest invites kids to lift their voice and advocate for things they would like to see in the community.
"The first place essays are being published in a little booklet that's going to be on a traveling Martin Luther King Memorial Bus that will go around the city the 16th, 17th and 18th to different MLK events so that people will also get the opportunity to see the essays there. We are really proud of the kids and thankful that the volunteers spent the time that they did."
O'Hara says the essays will also be posted online on Monday at uwmidlands.org.