Graphic Story Contest Winners - 2023
Emi Moses, 17, Los Angeles: Emi crafted an amazing story about the importance of planting more trees in urban areas through the eyes of a cat! Check it out––you’ll learn so much!
“While interning with Rising Earth’s Teen Production Council, I learned strategies for using my artistic skills to raise awareness from professional artists, activists, and journalists. By creating an informative graphic short of my own, I was able to employ these strategies and share some of the hope I found in my research and in the in-person meetingsー which is more important than ever with increasing amounts of eco-anxiety in most people.”
Kenneth Liu, 17, Brooklyn: Kenneth crafted an amazing narrative highlighting alternate methods of harvesting trees besides clear cutting. Alternative approaches that still keep some “mother Trees” standing help to create a healthier and more supportive community for new trees and the ecosystem at large. Take a look at this entertaining tale –and his use of color is really beautiful!
“While creating my environmental graphic short story, I loved how I was involved in all steps of the process from manuscript writing to graphic designs. I learned a lot about mother trees and hope to spread what I’ve learned through this creation to younger generations!”
Chloe Bauer, 17, Los Angeles: Chloe wrote and illustrated a beautiful story about the importance of fungal networks throughout the forest floor. To learn more about what these amazing networks do, and what is affected when they are disturbed–read her amazing story!
“The process of writing and illustrating my graphic short ‘Connect’ was illuminating and edifying. The short story became a vessel, a way for me to harness my climate anxiety into productive action with the potential to spread awareness about mycorrhizal networks and have a positive impact on young people. I believe we can all similarly strive to be vulnerable in our collective worries by communicating, educating and creating art.”
Mateo Santiago, 15, Los Angeles: Mateo crafted a Fun narrative about plastic pollution from the lens a a couple of crabs! The story highlights local organizations combating the issue.
“What I liked about making this book was creating the characters, Charley and Chuck, and making the drawing of Zuma Beach. What I learned while making this book was that about 100 million marine life animals die due to suffocation of plastic waste every year. “Every plastic waste we take out of the ocean, a marine life animals sees another day.”
Alyson Nasr, 17, Los Angeles: Alyson created a story about food waste and organizations like City Harvest which are working hard to combat food waste and make sure communities have fresh foods available to them. Check it out to see what you, too, can be doing to help food insecurity!
“I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to create something meaningful to today’s day and age. Since I was a child, art has been my way of life and giving. Growing up, adapting and welcoming changes for my art as well as my life have given me so many new perspectives on our little world. This competition was introduced to me by my older brother who encouraged me to try. During the process of making the graphic short story, I began to realize how many good people unify to do something remarkable, it is truly honorable and I am so pleased to have taken a small part in it.”
Edmond Dong, 17, Brookyln: Edmond crafted a story highlighting rooftop farming which is taking off in cities worldwide as people want to know where their food is coming from as well as sourcing their food locally! Learn how you, too, can take up rooftop farming!
“My favorite part of creating this graphic short story was being able to spread awareness of not only the environmental issues affecting our community, but also the impact we can make in changing these issues for the better.”
Kimberly Oritiz, 17, Los Angeles: Kimberly’s story brings awareness to the importance of traditional ecological knowledge used by the indigenous people of northern california and their relationship to fire management. She shares ways in which cultural burns tend and support our environment. Check it out– you will learn so much!
“I loved combining art with environmental awareness, especially regarding an issue that has impacted my area. I especially enjoyed researching and putting the story together with the help of Rising Earth!”
Sahzda Saifi, 16, Queens: Sahzda wrote and illustrated a beautiful story highlighting the importance of indigenous rights in the face of ongoing deforestation and other extractive practices in the Amazon. Read to learn more about the important roles indigenous people take on for all of our benefit, and why we should fight to protect their rights to live in their territories.
“Creating this story truly helped me learn a lot. I found myself in awe of how far back indigenous connection to nature goes. Indigenous people have cherished and protected nature for a long time, and seeing their passion and persistence in fighting for its preservation gives me hope for the world. Gaining insight on how rapid the destruction of the Amazon is taking place helped me open my mind to the seriousness of the situation. I believe there are steps everyone can take to make a change, whether big or small.”
Lila Jain-Myerson, 17, Brooklyn: Lila created a visually stunning narrative through the eyes of an ant addressing how the deforestation of our remaining forests are affecting weather patterns and so much more. Check out this beautifully written and illustrated story to better understand our collective investment in our world's last forests.
“I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to craft a graphic short story on an environmental issue I’m passionate about! I think the power of art as a tool for activism is often overlooked - but this program is a great way to start changing that. I enjoyed exploring how to use art and my passions for the greater good. I especially loved learning what the editing process is like in a professional environment.”
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.”