Overview
The “Write to Your Representatives” program empowers high school students to engage directly in civic and political processes. By advocating for critical issues, students amplify their voices and drive impactful change locally and beyond. Participation in this initiative enhances crucial soft skills such as research, critical thinking, leadership, time management, communication, and advocacy. These skills are essential for cultivating effective leaders who can positively influence their communities.
Since its inception in 2022, the Civic Engagement & Leadership Program has garnered significant support from legislators. They have endorsed our program through letters and videos, encouraging youth participation. At the awards ceremony on November 18, 2023, 23 legislators and officials, including Senator Chris Van Hollen, Congressman David Trone, Congressman Jamie Raskin, Congressman Gerry Connolly, Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna K. Miller, and Secretary of State Susan Lee, signed 36 commendations and congratulatory letters for the students and the Yuan Foundation.
Goals
Students identify, research, analyze, and propose innovative solutions to address community and social challenges. This process not only enhances their social skills but also bolsters their civic and political engagement, laying a strong foundation for their future endeavors.
Contest Timeline
05/16–08/30 Registration
09/01 Deadline to submit
Please submit to info@yuan.foundation
09/18 Finalist Team Notifications
09/28 Final presentation
10/02 Announcement of winners
Golden Award, Silver Awards, Bronze Awards,Social Impact Award
11/16 Awards ceremony
Competition Rules
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Participants must be high school students in the United State.
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Team: each team may have no more than 5 members, and at least one of whom must be an Asian American.
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Any work submitted must be original, plagiarism is prohibited.
Judging committee
Introduction to Judging Committee
- The quality and effectiveness of the contestant’s proposals.
- The social responsibility of the letters.
- The likelihood of a successful launch.
Participants will have the opportunities to receive the following:
- Earn 20 SSL hours
- Understanding the logic of policymaking and how the national systems work
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Networking with community leaders and experts in various fields.
- Build relationships with peers
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Enrich your resume for a college application.
Support Videos from Legislators and elected officials
Delegate Chao Wu
Delegate Linda Foley
Congressman David Trone met with student representatives on Capitol Hill
Success Stories
The short videos of 2023 Awards winners , presenting their unique perspective, their experiences and what they gained from participating in the competition
2023 Annual Awards Ceremony
2022 Annual Awards Ceremony
Registration and Training Information
The total cost of the contest is $80 per participant, including registration fee and training fee. We would provide 3 hour video training for the applicants, including :
- Civic engagement
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Duties and rights of government
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Guide to research, analysis, policymaking and action
- Case studies
About us
Host: Yuan Foundation
Contact Email: info@yuan.foundation,
Address: 12358 Parklawn Dr, Suite 110, North Bethesda MD 20852
Sponsors
Partners
