The “I Matter” poetry and art competition is a special program that was created by Isabella Hanson to provide a forum for youth to process the pain they felt after watching news coverage of the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. The top poems and art are made into a book that is distributed to schools and libraries across the country.

Updates from I Matter

June, 2021
I launched this idea to help process the pain I and other African Americans felt after watching the killing of George Floyd. On this journey, I was truly touched by the support from so many amazing people, artists and organizations. Thank you Firyal Alhossain, Antoine Phillips and Gregory Wright at Gucci, Joshua Murphy at Ideas FWD and AnnaLise Hoopes at The Changemakers Project for believing in my vision and for supporting Black Lives Matter. Your support has meant the world to me. Thank you to the contributing artists Cavin Jones, Machumu Freeman, Kelly Lattimore, Adrian Meadows, Krystal Quiles and Food Stamp for bringing the message of hope and equality through your medium of art.

A very special thanks to the three judges that selected the final winner - comedienne Torrei Hart (you inspire me), hip hop icon Kool Moe Dee and singer extraordinaire Tamara “ Taj” Johnson-George. There were so many amazing entries that made your task daunting. To my fellow students, I am humbled by your talent and the emotion behind your words. Please keep writing because your words have power!

Click here to view the full I Matter Book.