Participate in the The Mayor’s Black History School Oratorical Showcase! This city-wide event celebrates African American history, civic engagement, and student excellence by providing a platform for students to showcase their voices through oratory and poetry.
Theme: Our voices matter, speaking up for what’s right!
Who Can Enter: Elementary (4th-5th), Middle, and High School students in Philadelphia Public and Charter Schools.
Event Date: Friday, February 28th, 2025
Location: Mayor’s Reception Room, City Hall RM 202
Select a Piece: Students will choose from a curated list of significant speeches or poems by influential Black figures, provided in the attached document.
List of Speeches and Poems
Prepare a Performance: Schools will host internal competitions to select one student representative.
Submit a Video: Students must submit a video recording of their performance using the provided submission form (attached).
Compete at the City Level: The top 21 submissions (7 from elementary, middle, and high school levels) will compete in the city-wide showcase.
Submission Deadlines:
- Submissions Open: January 14, 2025
- Submission Deadline: February 13, 2025
This showcase is brought to you by the Mayor’s Office of Education in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia’s Department of Social Studies. Submit your recorded performance for a chance to compete, win prizes, and share your voice in this prestigious celebration of academic excellence and cultural heritage!
If any questions, concerns, or issues email Ismael Jimenez at ijimenez@philasd.org
