The Dayton Literary Peace Prize is a unique opportunity that occurs every year in the Dayton area that allows authors to be recognized for their efforts to promote peace in their work.
According to their website, daytonliterarypeaceprize.org, this international award “is the first and only annual U.S. literary award recognizing the power of the written word to promote peace.”
The Holbrooke Award is named after American Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, who met with other leaders in Dayton, Ohio, to seek a solution to the ethnic cleansing occurring in Bosnia in 1995. For his and countless other’s efforts, he was awarded the first of what would become many Holbrooke Awards.
This year, the award will be given to fiction writer Josh Weil for “The Great Glass Sea,” and nonfiction writer Bryan Stevenson for “Just Mercy.” On November 1, the sold-out awards ceremony is being held at the Schuster Performing Arts Center, but there is still a chance to get seats—by participating in the Peace Prize contest here at Sinclair.
In conjunction with the Peace Prize, Sinclair Community College has given students the opportunity to write an essay prompted with the phrase “This, I Believe.” Students can reach out through their writing to promote peace, harmony, and seek to end conflict. Written between 350 and 500 words, this short essay is to be submitted by October 23. Three prizes are given out: first and second place are given seats to the awards banquet at the Schuster Center, and the third place winner will be rewarded a $100 scholarship.
English Professor Caroline Reynolds thought of the idea while listening to an NPR short on the radio.
“I wanted this to be a quick, easy shot,” she said.
Because of its adaptability, Reynolds knew it could be a class project, extra credit or just an incredible opportunity for students to pursue if they chose to do so.
“It has always been an incredibly experience,” Reynolds said.
This unique opportunity is for any 1101 or 1201 English student currently attending Sinclair Community College.
Ariel Parker
Reporter