Haverhill, MA (May 20, 2025) — More than 800 people, many of them K-12 students, submitted works to this year’s Peace Poetry Contest & Reading at Northern Essex Community College.

Fifth grader Mackenzie Tobin reads her poem

This is the 17th year for the contest, which solicits works of poetry and artwork from students and individuals affiliated with local schools. A committee of Northern Essex faculty and staff selected winners in each age group and invited those winners to a reading at NECC on May 20. Dozens of young authors shared their works on what peace means to them.

“We believe that children cannot learn to speak the language of possibility, or envision a culture of peace, if they do not have the opportunity to identify such moments and values within themselves, and their relationships,” says Elle Yarborough, professor of English at Northern Essex and coordinator of the Peace Poetry Contest & Reading. “Through this contest, we seek to help students find a way to embrace the concept of peace and to disavow violence and bullying in all forms.”

About 225 of the submissions were published in a bound book, which was distributed to each of the poems’ authors at the event.

The Peace Poetry Contest & Reading is a program offered under the Service Learning umbrella at NECC. This contest is sponsored by the Division of Liberal Arts, the English Department, and Service Learning Committee. Learn more by visiting the Peace Poetry webpage.