For the 7th edition of the Global Voices Essay Contest, we’re turning the spotlight closer to home—to our own state of Michigan. We believe that global awareness begins with a deep understanding of our local communities. We invite young Michiganders to share their stories, reflections, and visions of community. Together, we hope to uncover the rich tapestry of experiences and ideas that shape our state and explore how those local realities connect to global challenges and opportunities. Let your voice be heard and join us in celebrating the stories that make Michigan a vital part of the global conversation!
Sponsors: MSU Extension, Center for Global Learning and Innovation
(Promotional PDF flyer: Essay Contest Poster 2025)
Step 1: Choose one sub-theme for your essay:
The essay contest will be split into five sub-themes which are outlined below. The examples given in each description are merely to inspire ideas; they are not exhaustive. Please select the category which most closely fits your story!
Michigan’s rich natural resources—its Great Lakes, forests, mineral deposits, productive agricultural land, and more—are central to the state’s identity and prosperity. Explore the significance of these resources in your community and in other communities who may share them. Who do these resources belong to and how are they used? Discuss efforts to preserve/protect them and how they have shaped your life and future.
Michigan is a mosaic of vibrant communities, each enriched by the heritage of those who call it home. There are Native American tribes who first inhabited this land, Arab communities of Dearborn, Finnish in the Upper Peninsula, the African American founders of Motown, and Dutch in West Michigan. There are also Michiganders from all corners of the globe including Afghanistan, Mexico, China, DRC, India, Mexico, Syria, Venezuela, and more. These legacies shape our state’s identity. This sub-theme invites stories about how heritage influences community, the traditions that connect past and present, or personal experiences of celebrating and their heritage in Michigan.
Community is more than shared geography—it’s about the connections we build across differences. Under this sub-theme, we welcome stories of finding common ground with someone outside your own “community,” whether defined by religion, age, political beliefs, physical ability, nationality, or other differences. These stories might explore moments of understanding, collaboration, or shared purpose that transcend barriers and demonstrate the power of unity.
Michigan’s communities have a rich history of resilience, evolving from past industries to embrace new opportunities. There was fur trade and logging, the rise of the automotive industry, embracing tourism, and today’s shifts toward technology, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. This sub-theme invites students to reflect on how their community has or should adapt to change. What opportunities do you see rising for your future? How has your community’s ability to adapt shaped its identity, and what lessons can be drawn for the future?
This sub-theme invites you to explore unique aspects of community that may not fit neatly into the other categories but are just as powerful and meaningful. It could include a story of resilience, a tradition unique to your neighborhood, a local project, a moment of collective action, or other experiences. This category welcomes diverse perspectives and narratives that define what community means to you.
Step 2: Write your essay. Be sure to review the Judging Criteria before you get started.
Step 3: Submit your essay:
There are two sets of awards. For both the 9th – 12th grade track and the 18+ track, the following awards are available:
The best essays within each sub-theme will be published online and/or in print. By submitting an essay, you must agree that it may be published online and/or in print. Note: Authors who are less than 18 years old will be required to gain parental/guardian consent to be eligible for publication and public recognition (if applicable).
Note: We want to hear your voice! Essays that were drafted using Artificial Intelligence are not eligible to receive points for Originality or Critical Insight. For this reason, the use of AI for content generation will result in a non-competitive essay and is highly discouraged.
Open for Submissions: Elevator Pitches due March 10
COIL Faculty Fellows Featured in News Article
2025 Global Voices Essay Contest - Michigan now open!
Attached to the Soil
Submission Page
