Do the Write Thing

Memphis, Tn - Students touched by violence write about it for a chance to win a trip to Washington D.C. The program is called "Do the Write Thing."

Hundreds of students across the county enter every year. University of Memphis criminology students judge the essays.

They're submitted by middle school students who have been touched by violence. Kids have written about family members being robbed and shot, being shot themselves, and witnessing gang violence.

The District Attorney General's Office sponsors the contest.

Amy Weirich says the students see the writing as therapy for live filled with violence, "We're helping young people, first of all to sit down and do something positive which is to write about violence. Whether it's effected them personally, whether you've been touched by it in your community or you just have some thoughts on it."

A boy and girl winner from each participating school goes on to a banquet at hope church. An overall boy and girl winner go on to the national contest in Washington D.C.