‘Your story matters’

Posted on: 5/8/25

Students from several middle schools across the district were recognized on Monday, May 5, for participating in the annual Mecklenburg County Do the Write Thing Essay Challenge. With more than 500 essays submitted, students wrote on topics around violence including bullying, community violence and gun violence.

The Do the Write Thing Essay Challenge is an initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence, a non-profit organization made up of businesses, community and government leaders. The group is committed to reducing youth violence and improving the health of our families and communities. 

During the ceremony, students heard from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill; Major Torri Tellis with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department; Monay Miller, youth and family advocate who delivered the keynote; and author and speaker Brandy Alexander. One by one, students came up to read portions of their essays and received certificates alongside their teachers.

“Keep speaking up and keep choosing kindness, respect and courage because you’re not just the future, you are now and the change needs to start with you,” said Miller. “If no one has told you today, let me be the first. Your story matters and you deserve to be heard.”

At the conclusion of the event, Haven Williams, a seventh grader at Northeast Middle, was announced as the student ambassador. Williams will travel to Washington, D.C. this summer for National Recognition Week and will have her essay published in the Library of Congress.

“My essay focused on mental abuse and sexual assault, and it gave me an opportunity to speak about things I’ve never talked about to anyone else,” she said. “I hope (my peers) know that they’re not alone and that there's going to be someone out there who will understand them.”

Participating middle schools include:

Walter G. Byers

Eastway Middle 

Governors’ Village STEM Academy 

Martin Luther King Jr. Middle 

James Martin Middle

Northeast Middle 

Northridge Middle

Randolph Middle

Ranson Middle

Renaissance West STEAM Academy

Sedgefield Middle 

Thomasboro Academy

Whitewater Middle

Wilson STEM Academy