Congratulations to every student who submitted an original oratory or declamation speech to our 5th Annual NYCUDL Black History Month Speech Contest. The thoughtfulness, courage, and care reflected in this year’s submissions made our adjudication process both inspiring and incredibly difficult.
We are proud to announce this year’s finalists:
• Danny Alvarez, Corona Arts and Science Academy
• Daylan Balbi, Mott Hall Science and Technology Academy
• Olivia Gledhill Hernandez, MS 104 Simon Baruch Middle School
• Dibbo Mukherjee, Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School
• Juliette Seda, PS 184M Shuang Wen School
• Aliss Ventura, Bronx Community Charter School
Danny Alvarez, On confronting racism and taking action
Daylan Balbi, “Same City, Same Struggle”
Olivia Gledhill Hernandez, On remembering the fight behind Black history
Dibbo Mukherjee, “Our God is Marching On” by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Juliette Seda, “Kool-Aid is Not Just a Drink”
Aliss Ventura, “Keeping the Dream Alive”
The finalist speeches are now open for public voting. We encourage you to take the time to watch all of the videos before casting your vote — each speech offers a meaningful and unique perspective.
Public Voting Window: February 22–26
Winners Announced: February 28