Breon Austin, 16, was shot and killed inside his family’s Northwest Washington home on April 19. (Family photo) “AS CHILDREN, we should be safe, especially in the nation’s capital right?

The essayists are in grades four through nine. The event took place at the Summer Museum in NW DC. The essay contest, called "Celebration of Youth," was open to all DCPS and DCPCS students.

Student ambassador Keziah Bacor was selected for her personal essay titled, “Why Violence?” The piece was written for a classroom assignment that asked students to reflect on how youth ...