Calling all Philadelphia students: Celebrate Black History Month and honor “Philadelphia’s Rosa Parks,” Caroline LeCount, through art and video!
Total prize money: $1,000
The Rename Taney Street Coalition is proud to announce the Caroline LeCount Legacy Contest, open to all 4th-12th grade students residing in Philadelphia. This contest is your chance to showcase your creativity and learn more about an inspiring Philadelphian who fought for racial equality.
Categories:
- Video Contest: Create a video (up to 5 minutes) that tells the story of Caroline LeCount’s life and impact. Use your imagination and storytelling skills to bring her legacy to life!
- Art Contest: Express your artistic vision through any visual format (painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, etc.) inspired by Caroline LeCount, her activism, or her connection to Philadelphia’s Black history.
Prizes:
We’ll be awarding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes for both middle school (in this contest 4th-8th grades) and high school (9th-12th grades) categories in both video and art. Show off your talent and win a prize! Total prize money (as of February 1): $1,000
Judging:
Submissions will be judged anonymously by a panel drawing from artists, educators, and community leaders. We’re looking for creativity, originality, and a clear connection to Caroline LeCount’s legacy. Also please note the rubrics for each contest listed below.
How to Enter:
Teachers should register via this form: https://forms.gle/PBkDSmsidP56mj3S7 Once you have registered, we will follow up with submission details
Timeline:
- Registration Open: February 2, 2024
- Teachers: Please register with us so that we can keep you informed!
- Registration Close:
February 23rdWe have extended until February 29
- Submissions Close:
February 23rd, 2024We have extended the deadline until February 29 - Winners Announced: March, 2024
Please also note our media release form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13lU7CXe20lxDhC2tUtekEjfN3zMhxVwpCNJMxVQp4Kk/edit?usp=sharing
Don’t miss this chance to learn, create, and be inspired by Caroline LeCount’s incredible story!
Additional Information:
- This contest is open to all Philadelphia students: public, private, charter, homeschooled, or parochial etc.
- Teachers are encouraged to share the contest information with their students.
- All entries must be original and respectful.
- By submitting your work, you grant the Rename Taney Coalition the right to use it for promotional purposes. Before the work will be shared with the public, we will ask for a “Media Release” form to be signed by a parent or guardian.
Let’s celebrate Black History Month together and honor the legacy of Caroline LeCount!
Spread the word! Share this post with your friends and classmates.
We can’t wait to see your amazing submissions!
Good luck to all the Philadelphia students who participate!
Some history: Caroline “Carrie” LeCount was born on February 26, 1846 to parents James and Sarah (née Beulah). At a time when most African Americans were prohibited from receiving an education, LeCount mastered geometry, trigonometry, Greek, and Latin at the Institute of Colored Youth. During the Civil War and Reconstruction, LeCount helped run the Ladies’ Union Association and sent supplies to the troops. Shortly after her graduation, she became a teacher and eventually a principal. Representing the greatest Philadelphia virtues – determination, passion, and academic strength – LeCount was a force to be reckoned with in the classroom as well as in society. In March 1867, LeCount became “Philadelphia’s Rosa Parks” when she confronted a trolley driver and personally enforced the integration of our public transportation. When her beloved fiancé Octavius Catto was gunned down while voting in 1871, LeCount wept bitterly over his loss and never married. Exasperated by racism, she had great faith in our American experiment of freedom and equality, declaring in an 1873 interview that “To be intelligent is to understand the laws of the land, and the great feature of our laws is that they make no distinction by reason of color ….”
Other recommended sources:
- Episode No. 3 – The Life and Times of Caroline R. Le Count: Part 1 – Found in Philadelphia Podcast about Caroline LeCount
- Falvey Library Exhibits :: Caroline LeCount Villanova University’s exhibit about the Institute for Colored Youth
- RenameTaney.com
- Books: They Carried Us (Baker-Rogers and Traylor), Army at Home (Giesberg), Vigilance (Diemer), Tasting Freedom (Biddle and Dubin)
- Rename Taney explains Caroline LeCount and their community effort to name a street after her on WURD radio
Click here for contest rules and more details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Y0HjikD-LO7mXgehojTHxlmvu6n7I-Y4glcV-1devI/edit?usp=sharing
If you would like to help us Rename Taney Street LeCount – please call Philadelphia’s Council President Johnson. President Johnson has the power (to introduce a bill) to change the name of the street.
Below we have included contact information as well as a suggested script that you could use:
Council President Johnson
Council President’s Office, City Hall, Room 494
District Office – City Hall, Room 494
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290
(215) 686-3412, (215) 686-3413
Please call and consider this script:
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Hello Council President Johnson, I am _______________________ (your name)
I live in (or work in) __________________ (a neighborhood), Philadelphia, and I am calling you concerning the effort to rename Taney street.
For a number of years, a grassroots effort has engaged our neighbors, knocked on countless doors, and surveyed residents in regard to renaming Taney Street. Overwhelmingly, Philadelphians want this street to be renamed. As you are aware, we desire that Taney Street should be renamed in honor of the civil rights activist and educator Caroline LeCount, I personally hope that you will bring a bill to city council as soon as possible. I support this effort because: (circle one below, or add your own)
- Unlike Roger Taney (and like Caroline LeCount), I believe that all Americans should be treated fairly and equally regardless of race.
- I believe that more African American women – particularly those from our city’s rich history – ought to be honored.
- I believe in the democratic process – such as the effort that has been led by the Rename Taney group. Living residents of Philadelphia ought to be allowed to select the names of their streets, and made their choice for LeCount Street official.
- I am a proud Philadelphian who wants our city to honor our own history and to be a place that is welcoming to women and persons of color.
- Or another reason of your choosing.
I eagerly anticipate that you will listen to your constituents and accomplish this symbolic but meaningful change to our city, but I will continue to call until this change occurs.
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THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE CALL!
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Are you a community organization, small business, or nonprofit and want to officially sign onto RENAME TANEY STREET? Send an email to info@renametaney.com and we will add your logo
This coalition has been organized by www.fitlersquareneighbors.org
