Annual Contest Accepting Submissions
- Poetry, Art, Film, Spoken Word Categories -
The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Poetry Contest was established by
The Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation and The MY HERO Project
in honor of Mattie Stepanek.
Mattie was a poet and peace activist who encouraged
everyone to sing the song in their heart in their lifetime.
Introduction
“Courage is being brave
when there is something to fear…
we need to be brave in our
commitment to planning peace.”
– Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Those are the words of the late Mattie J.T. Stepanek, the 13-year-old author of Just Peace: A Message of Hope and six volumes of Heartsongs poetry.
Mattie courageously shared his poems about peace and living with purpose while battling a rare form of muscular dystrophy. The disease would cut short his young life, but not before his Heartsongs captured the world’s attention.
Oprah Winfrey introduced the world to Mattie’s Heartsongs. Former President Jimmy Carter became Mattie’s friend and wrote the foreword for two of his books and offered the eulogy at his funeral, calling Mattie “the most remarkable person” he had ever known.
“A heartsong doesn’t have to be a song.
It can be your message, your feeling –
some people might even call it a conscience,
even though that’s not really what it is.
It’s what you feel you need to do.”
– Mattie J.T. Stepanek
The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Poetry Contest seeks Heartsongs that express your thoughts and feelings about courage and how it can be a tool for peace.
Theme & Categories
Participants are invite to focus on the them of courage,
and how courage can be a tool for peace.
Categories for submissions include:
- Original Written Poem
- Film
- Audio
- Artwork
Complete submission guidelines
are on the My Hero website
(CLICK HERE…)
Recognition
All finalists will receive a certificate of participation.
Winning entries will be shared on The MY HERO Project and Mattie’s Peace Foundation websites.
Mattie believed a Heartsong is a gift, something to be offered and accepted for the good of humanity. Share your Heartsong today.
Inspiration
