Hello to all Skraptacular followers! This is Gabi, a skraptacular intern here blogging. About a month ago, I won an essay contenst with a prize of 5000 dollars. I wrote a 1-page essay about who my favorite freedom sister was and why. I chose to write my essay about Septima Poinsette Clark. I compared her and how she educated people about racism to how skraptacular educates people about environmental awareness. I explained how skraptacular has changed the way that many people think of the planet just like Ms. Clark did with rights for blacks. Below, I've attached the essay that I wrote, I hope you can read it to learn more about skraptacular and Septima Poinsette Clark.

Freedom’s Sisters Essay

Septima Poinsette Clark

Gabriela Banda                                    330 Haven Ave. #4C                         New York, NY 10033                         212-928-5240

MS 54/ Booker T. Washington      Grade 7

Septima Poinsette Clark was an American educator and a civil rights activist who advanced the struggle for equality. Septima grew up in the early 20th century, as one of eight children and the daughter of a former slave. Although her family had limited resources, she continued her education to become a teacher. She married and had two children. Tragically, both her first baby and her husband died leaving her a widow at a young age. Trying to raise her son, she was not paid the same amount of money as other teachers because of her race. Septima began to fight for her rights as an African – American teacher and was very successful in her protests, although hard fought. She later joined the Charleston County School Board in South Carolina.  Septima had a major impact on the civil rights movement and changed people’s minds about racism and women. Septima Clark and the other Freedom Sisters taught me that you must stand up for what you believe. She was an optimist and was not deterred from trying to make the world a better place for women, African Americans and everyone who wanted an education.  She is now remembered as the “Grandmother of the American Civil – Rights movement.”

As a young girl in New York City, I can take the lessons of Septima Poinsette Clark and apply them to my concern that we are destroying our planet.  Kids breathe polluted, toxic air. Entire ecosystems are at risk. Our consumer culture creates more trash and energy consumption as glaciers melt. NYC has one of the worst recycling records in the nation.  Almost two years ago, I became an intern at Skraptacular, a Washington Heights based, non profit organization.  Skraptacular inspires environmental awareness by working with children to turn trash into art. The art that we make is 100% recycled from everyday trash. For example, after Hurricane Katrina, we created paper mache plastic bottle piggy banks as a fundraiser. We raised $2600 that was donated to an art therapy program working with displaced children living in FEMA trailers. We do workshops at schools, organize Eco fests and participate in efforts to make our city greener. Our goal is to educate kids and families about environmental sustainability.

I feel that fighting to save our planet is the most pressing cause of my generation. Without a clean environment, we will ALL be equally vulnerable. We all need to breathe clean air and drink clean water.   Just like Septima, I believe education can help make society more fair and our planet a better place to live. Septima wanted to educate people about civil rights; the purpose of Skraptacular is to educate people about environmental awareness. Septima said, “I have great belief in the fact that whenever there is chaos, it creates wonderful thinking. I consider chaos a gift.” Septima Clark’s protesting and fighting for many years paid off. She believed she could make a difference and this inspires me to believe in protecting our planet for future generations.