Graphic Story Contest Winners - 2022
Soha Faruqi, 15, NYC: Soha created a narrative about the endangered plover bird, showcasing the NYC Plover Project, an organization that trains volunteers to help secure and protect a safe nesting home for the endangered plovers on NYC beaches.
“I wanted to create something that made people ask themselves questions- and I wanted people to be more conscious of the decisions they have made and will continue to make, and to recognize how these decisions impact not only themselves and their communities, but the rest of the world as well.”
Katie Choo, 15, LA: Katie crafted a fictional narrative based on true facts about S.T.A.N.D LA, an organization that seeks to end neighborhood oil drilling in Los Angeles to protect and improve the health and safety of these urban frontline communities.
“This summer, I particularly enjoyed the learning process that came with developing a graphic short story. By depicting facts and real-world events in the form of a narrative, I was not only able to encourage awareness among readers, but also foster awareness of the issue within myself.”
Brian Hernadez, 16, NYC: Brian’s story about the organization Big Reuse, depicts their role in upcycling materials to help reduce our landfill waste and cut down on landfill gas emissions.
“I liked the process of crafting a social/environmental graphic short story because as I researched the story, I learned more about different environmental issues and how they have risen, and how they can be fixed. Learning about these things is interesting and exciting.”
Fiona Zhu, 16, NYC: Fiona wrote a narrative about Rescue Leftover Cuisine, a community organization that diverts restaurant food waste and directs it to community organizations tackling food insecurity and keeps food out of landfills, cutting down on harmful emissions.
“I really enjoyed being able to educate myself on an environmental issue while using my interest in art to create a short story sharing that knowledge!”
Evelyn Profit, 17, LA: Evelyn created a story that focuses on food waste and food insecurity. She highlights Farmlink Project, an organization that connects farmers to food banks, delivering millions of pounds of fresh food that would otherwise be wasted, to feed families in need while also diverting excess food waste from landfills which creates methane gas.
“I was given the opportunity to creatively express my gratitude for the life that earth has breathed into me while spreading awareness, and for that I am thankful.”
Samiha Ahmad, 15, NYC: Samiha narrated her story about waste and consumption from the perspective of a seagull, featuring the Big Reuse, an organization that reduces food waste through composting, retail waste by upcycling, and construction waste through salvaging and repurposing.
“I really like how preparing for the creation of this art made me go beyond the parameters of what I knew and expand my knowledge on environmental issues. This could not have been possible without the Rising Earth Team.”