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Youth Join the Conversation Sparked by the Film AMERICAN CREED

An invitation to write.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David M. Kennedy come together from remarkably different backgrounds, life experiences, and points of view to explore the idea of a unifying American creed. Their spirited inquiry frames the stories of a range of citizen-activists striving to realize their own visions of America’s promise across deep divides. Launched in February 2018, you and your students are invited to add your stories to the conversation sparked by American Creed.

Bring the film to your classroom or learning center and support young people in responding on this website through writing, art, and media through these five invitations to respond.

Featured letters

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Homelessness in America

This piece of work explains homelessness in America. Many people do not know women have a harder time being homeless than man.

America: Our Current Problems and Future Solution

The essay that I've wriiten is about the major problem America is having with gun violence and why we as Americans need to find a way to stop this in order to live up to the expectation we have set for ourselves, that everyone in America is treated equally and respectfully.

Aspiring Americans

I'll be illustrating my American creed through my dzi dzi (grandpa in Polish) along with inspiring individuals who contributed to the documentary American Creed. My creed is a diamond whose facets are education, nature, and governmental awareness.

Our Forever Number One Fans

Family and community motivate us in life unlike any other person or factor in the world and help us become the best version of ourselves we can be. My parent's immigrant past filled with hard work and perseverance has shown me who I want to be and shapes my American Creed today.
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My American Creed

Exploring my family history through art in order to explain my American Creed
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No One is Illegal

I wrote this poem to express how I feel about immigration, as an immigrant.

What It Means to Be an American

My piece is about what it means to be an American in relation to "The Pledge of Allegiance" by George Thatcher Balch. My essay describes the loyalty, pride, and nationalism I, as an American, feel when reciting the Pledge.
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My American Creed

I think this image represents what the American Creed is for me.
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How does your family & community history connect to your American creed?

My piece is about how my family is connects to my American Creed. In this instance I wrote a photo story explaining how it does. I write about the journey my parents took from Afghanistan to Russia to The United States.
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Mass Incarceration in America

The issue of Mass Incarceration in America by Ayanna Samuels-Francis
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What Does it Mean to be Me? { An True American}

My poem is a letter to you all. Althoug it's pretty short it touches on several things in america. I used Repition in this poem because the rhyme and rhythm is important to me. I just think you'll feel it relatable and etc. I hope you enjoy!
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American Mentor

I chose an image of Oprah to represent the American Creed because she has been a very impactful person on America. The words I used were, Freedom, Equality, Service and Diversity.

Featuring 986 letters from 181 sites about tags such as...

creed 229 america 168 freedom 166 immigration 130 american 121 dream 119 family 112 education 83 opportunity 69 equality 66 diversity 63 community 60 unity 43 history 37 racism 33 identity 32 discrimination 29 culture 29 values 28 millitary 25 religion 24 future 24 change 23 equal opportunity 23 success 22
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The process of applying to migrate to America is a long and hard one.

noor a. from Michigan

Little did I know that the meaning of those words was as grand as the world, literally.

Simren S. from Oklahoma

America is built on immigration, and these people that move here all have their own stories, that's what America is all about.

Nick B. from Michigan

My family history connects to my American Creed by lessons from home that shaped me to who I am today.

Citlalli from Arizona

You accept your own responsibility as an American to stay informed of what is happening and know what you can do to help the societal/economical problems that may arise.

Shelby W. from Montana

As a kid, this line of the pledge made me think of the flag as blanket, surrounding and protecting us from harm.

Sarafina M. from Florida

I organized questions surrounding the topic on how today’s political climate has affected the American Dream and posed it to a diverse audience.

Sophia from Michigan

Writing Our Future: American Creed is part of the National Writing Project’s family of youth publishing projects, all gathered under the Writing Our Future initiative.

Writing Our Future projects are designed by educators for educators and the young people they work with. Intended for use in schools, libraries, and other educational settings. All projects are COPPA compliant and educator-managed. NWP is committed to supporting young people’s writing and civic participation by providing a safe and supportive environment for youth writing, media creation, sharing, and publishing.