The 2023 Gordon Parks Museum Poetry Contest 
Sponsored by Poet, Helen Townsend and Trabar & Associates

                         THEME: “Family, Home and Roots”

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Winners of the Gordon Parks Celebration “Family, Home and Roots” poetry contest, sponsored by Helen Townsend and Trabar Associates, have been chosen. Fifteen entries were received and the winner of First Place was Zian Butler Perez, Manassas, VA

with the poem titled “An Ode to White Rice, Ketchup, and Heuvo Frito.” Second Place was by Kelly Hams Pearson, Parkville, MO  with the poem “Tea Time.” Third Place was Andrew Hall, Shawnee, KS with the poem, “I am You, Kansas.”

There were three Honorable Mentions named: “Circle.” by Kristin Chambers, Waverly, KS,  “Breaking” by Lynne Schmidt, Norway, ME and Hanamo, Flo Au, (Hong Kong)

 

First, Second, and Third place winners received cash prizes of $200, $75, and $50 respectively.

The contest was open to any non-professional photographer and was inspired by Gordon Parks and his love for his family and upbringing

Poets were invited to capture the essence of the theme.

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Judges for the photo contest was Kansas Poet Laureate, Traci Brimhall, Poet and Author, Annette Hope-Billings and Poet, Cash Hollistah. The poetry exhibit will be on display on the Gordon Parks Museum facebook page facebook.com/fsccgpmuseum/ and the museum’s website gordonparkscenter.org