Westport, CT - The Westport Library, the Westport Center for Senior Activities, and Meryl Moss Media Group are honored to announce the inaugural Jackie Robinson Essay Contest, open to area residents age 60 and over.
The essay contest, organized by the Library’s Common Ground Initiative, asks its submitters to answer the following question in 800 words or less: “Jackie Robinson stands as an icon of equality and civil rights. What does that say about the power of his legacy, of the place of sports in our culture, and about our modern-day society?”
Essays can be submitted to our online portal — click here to submit — with a deadline of Monday, March 24. A panel will review the essays and announce the winners on Jackie Robinson Day, April 15.
In addition, the submitted essays will be collected into a book — and an accompanying ebook — distributed by Meryl Moss Media. The winners will also receive Jackie Robinson memorabilia, a chance to be featured by theJackie Robinson Museum, and tickets to a New York Mets home game in late April/early May — the Mets’ stadium, Citi Field, is home to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda — to further celebrate Robinson’s legacy and their contributions.
“Jackie Robinson was a trailblazer, a groundbreaker, and an icon both for Major League Baseball and the civil rights movement,” said Bill Harmer, Westport Library executive director. “All of which makes him the ideal focus for this new essay contest, to engage our community in a way that is meaningful, and as a library that prizes reading, writing, community, and the exploration of ideas, most fitting. We are grateful to all our wonderful partners for helping make this contest a reality, and we can’t wait to read the incoming submissions.”
“We are thrilled to work with The Westport Library on this important new program to showcase essays from talented new voices,” said Meryl Moss, CEO, Meryl Moss Media Group.
Playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947, becoming the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era. He went on to enjoy a Hall of Fame career that included more than 1,500 hits, 137 home runs, and 197 stolen bases.
Robinson later became the first African American to hold an officer-level position at a major corporation, served as an advisor to top politicians, actively promoted economic empowerment by co-founding a bank and a housing development company, and was a key figure in advancing equal justice and first-class citizenship from the 1950s until his death in 1972. (Information courtesy the Jackie Robinson Museum.)
Contest participants are encouraged to explore how Robinson’s baseball career fits into his lifelong commitment to advancing equality at the Jackie Robinson Museum, which is located in lower Manhattan and provides resources online at jackierobinsonmuseum.org.
Contest Details:
Inaugural Jackie Robinson Essay Contest
Prompt: Jackie Robinson stands as an icon of equality and civil rights. What does that say about the power of his legacy, of the place of sports in our culture, and about our modern-day society?
Word count: 800 words
Deadline: Monday, March 24
Announcement: Tuesday, April 15
Submission page: https://booktrib.com/jackie-robinson-essay-competition/
The Jackie Robinson Diversity Essay Contest, organized by The Westport Library’s Common Ground Initiative in partnership with the Westport Center for Senior Activities, Meryl Moss Media Group, BookTrib, and the New York Mets, invites older adults (60+) from Westport and Fairfield County to share personal stories reflecting on diversity and breaking barriers. This contest honors Jackie Robinson’s legacy of resilience, diversity, and inclusion.
About The Westport Library
Founded in 1886, built in 1908, and transformed in 2019, The Westport Library is one of the most active and innovative public libraries in the nation, devoted to enriching the intellectual and creative lives of the community. Among its many highlights are a full collection of books for children, teens, and adults; an engaging and colorful Children’s Library; a MakerSpace; a Library of Things; a Seed Library; a robust café and store; and professional art installations that rotate throughout the year. The Westport Library is also home to Verso Studios, replete with an SSL hybrid analog sound studio and broadcast control suite featuring a state-of-the-art console and six robotic cameras, and the Trefz Forum, an open, flexible space that can accommodate up to 600 patrons and features an 18-foot video wall, 35-foot stage, state-of-the-art sound, and theatrical lighting. Situated in the heart of downtown Westport overlooking the scenic Saugatuck River, The Westport Library annually hosts StoryFest, the largest literary festival in Connecticut, and VersoFest, its multi-day music and media festival. Above all, the Library strives to serve the whole community as a vibrant gathering spot where people of all ages come to seek information, gain knowledge, exchange ideas, and share experiences. For more information, visit westportlibrary.org.
About the Westport Center for Senior Activities
The Westport Center for Senior Activities is a vibrant center serving the dynamic and energetic senior community of Westport and neighboring towns. The beautiful facility is a 15,375-square-foot building located in a tranquil 22.4-acre park, known as the Baron's Park South. Originally built in 2004, the WCSA underwent an enhancement and expansion project in 2019 that added an additional 4,330 square feet of programmable space. Within this beautiful center, there is a café and a large restaurant-style kitchen, two art rooms, a full fitness center with an extra dance studio, multiple classrooms for different room configurations, a game room with pool table, fireplace, and a warm and welcoming lobby. The WCSA is fortunate to have the support of Westport's Department of Public Works to maintain our facility and Westport's Parks and Recreation to maintain the grounds. The Center strives to be a home away from home — a warm, welcoming place, open to everyone 60 years of age and older, from Westport and neighboring towns. For more information, visit westportcsa.org.
About Meryl Moss Media Group
For over three decades, Meryl Moss and her team have been dedicated to promoting authors through tailored media, marketing, and social media strategies. Their work extends beyond traditional publicity to embrace the digital landscape, where they have pioneered new media approaches to author promotion. Meryl created BookTrib.com to cultivate a vibrant community for book lovers and the platform exemplifies the company’s innovative spirit and its unwavering drive to push the boundaries of book publicity and marketing. For more information, visit merylmossmedia.com.