by Fourth Graders in Ms. Schulte's Class at University Prep in Detroit

NEW MONUMENTS

Memorials That Matter

826 National’s Commitment to Inclusion

As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, 826 National and its chapters recognize the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order to build and maintain the safe, supportive 826 environment in which great leaps of learning occur, we commit to inclusion: We will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, nationality, marital status, English fluency, parental status, immigration status, military service, or disability.

Copyright © 2023 by 826michigan and Blotch Books.

All rights reserved by 826michigan, the many whims of Drs. T & G Blotch, and the authors.

The views expressed in this book are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of 826michigan. We believe in the power of youth voice and are thrilled that you picked up this book. No part of this book may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher, except for small excerpts for the purposes of review or scholarly study.

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About the Program

This book contains writing from 826michigan’s New Monuments field trip program. During this program, students explore what a monument is and can be, dreaming up new possibilities for local ways to honor heroes and specialties, from the playful (coney dogs and magical creatures) to the serious (activists and abolitionists). In collaboration with 826michigan volunteers, students envision and draw these new possibilities, and then write about why they think their new monuments should be built. This project is based on the work by student writers at our sister chapter 826 New Orleans and their publication Courageous, Eccentric, Diverse: New Monuments for New Orleans.

Monument to Chloe’s Best Friend Alivia by

Chloe

If you build the monument for Alivia you will get one hundred million dollars! We need this monument to make sure memories don’t get lost forever. We need it so we can always play Legos when we are bored. My friend Alivia is always a beautiful Queen! She always knows what to do. She is my best friend. The monument to Alivia will be made out of pencil and concrete and it will be in front of my house. We need this because she is a Queen! PERIOD.

Monument to Alivia’s Best Friend Chloe

By Alivia

If you look for a monument of Chloe Boyd, you will get 200 million dollars. #1: She is nice! #2: She is loving! #3: She loves TikTok! Because she is my bestie, she is a Queen. She is a beautiful Queen! My monument to my best friend Chloe will be made out of paint and concrete and it will be in my house in my room. She is a beautiful Queen. Period.

Monument to Malcolm X

By Makenna

Malcolm X is a very important person in Black history. He made an organization that helped African-Americans and he preached to Black people. He was Muslim and he and Muhammad Ali were tight. This monument to Malcolm X is very important because he made a difference in the Black community. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska. We need a monument to this very important person.

A Monument to Gabe’s Mom

By Gabe

My mom works hard for me and for my family. She makes everyone feel happy and good. This is why there needs to be a monument to my mom in downtown Detroit. It’s because she works so hard for her kids. She is a good person.

A Monument to Muhammad Ali

By Kevin

There should be a Muhammad Ali painting in Downtown. He was the greatest boxer of all time. I feel like I want to be a boxer because he inspired me. He looks like he is so strong and so big. He is the GOAT!

A Monument to Pizza

By Dakarai

Do you know what has pepperoni and cheese and is yummy? It’s pizza! #1: You can’t add pineapples! #2: You can’t add anchovies. #3: You can make it at home for dinner. It will make people happy and amazed and surprised. My monument to pizza will be a picture on a billboard. One slice of pizza, medium-sized, as big as a rocket. A painting! A pizza monument like this would make you feel full!

A Monument to Laila’s Family

By Laila

My family is fun and happy. My family is nice. My family is good. My family is happy. I feel so happy and grateful and proud to be one of them! And that’s why we need a monument to my family. A picture of them because they are amazing.

A Monument to Books and Reading

By Ruby

Look for a huge statue of a book! Everyone needs a book to read. Everyone needs to learn. Everyone needs to have fun. A monument to books is important because people use books to figure stuff out and learn, and without books it would be hard for people to learn. The monument is going to be a huge statue of a book made of stone in downtown Detroit. And it’s rainbow. Everyone loves books and they are awesome!

A Monument to Potatoes

By Reagan

Get your potatoes. There are so many kinds of potatoes. There’s over-cooked, moldy, mashed, small, big, lumpy, stuffy, undercooked, rich, raw, tall, sweet, hot, cold, baked, burnt, cool, fries, and lonely potatoes. If I can eat one food I would eat a potato. Because they are so good and I love them very much. That’s why! My monument is going to be a painting of a crispy, brown potato. And that’s why potatoes are good!

A Monument to Shrimp

By Eleazar

Everything about shrimp is amazing. There are many different kinds of shrimp like popcorn shrimp and fried shrimp. There are so many more types of shrimp. You should try it (unless you’re allergic)! And you can put many things with shrimp. My feelings about shrimp are happy, mouth-watering, delicious, amazing, and great. These are my feelings about shrimp. My monument to shrimp will be in a restaurant. And it’s going to be all about shrimp!

A Monument to Family and Animals

By Chandler

Family and animals are stronger when united. Families give you confidence and experience and love and support. When we are united we are stronger than ever. The monument will be located in the water and will rise up at sunrise in many different colors. If families come together, we can do things we never did before.

A Monument to Sireneity’s Family

By Sireneity

I would like to memorialize my family. I am making a monument to my family because my family does everything for me. They listen to me and they treat me well and me and my dad have traditions together. My family is so important because they take care of me and make sure I eat. My monument to my family will be located at a hotel where me and my family will go and eat. I think this is an important monument because I love them.

A Monument to Deion “Primetime” Sanders!

By Amari

Deion “Primetime” Sanders is an Atlanta Falcons Hall-of-Fame cornerback. He is the best cornerback in history! I wanted to start playing football because of him. This is why there needs to be a monument to him and why it needs to be in downtown Atlanta. Deion “Primetime” Sanders is the best.

A Monument to Brooke’s Two Puppies

By Brooke

My two puppies are Dash and Bella. Look for two huge puppies in a painting and that is my monument to them. This monument is made because everyone needs to see what they look like, everyone needs to see who they are, everyone needs to know the kind of memories that they make. This monument will make you feel loved, happy, and joyful. In the painting my two puppies are sleeping. They are really cute and tiny.

A Monument to Londyn’s Dad

By Londyn

I will say he is the best Dad and needs a monument. My Dad is really cool and loves the color green. He’s important to me because he cares about me and shares his love with me. His monument will be a statue with a green fluffy cloud and my Dad playing basketball. Even though he’s really bad at cartwheels, my Dad is the best!

A Monument to Josh’s Mom

By Josh

Hey, look! It’s a monument and it’s of my mom and she looks beautiful. This monument supports my mom. She is the best . My mom works so hard. She never gives up on her dreams. This monument is important because she is important and she inspires me to go on to the fifth grade. It will be located in Downtown Detroit. My mom is an amazing mother!

A Monument to Cats

By Arianna

Cats are a cute pet. You can carry and even walk them. I love cats. They are so cute and fluffy. This monument to cats would be located inside of my home. The monument would be a picture of a really fluffy cat and it would be colored black. Cats are really cute and fluffy. I love cats because they are so cute.

A Monument to Basketball

By George

I love basketball because I play matches all the time. When you play basketball you have to cross the halfcourt line in a matter of seconds. You are put in a rotation and you can’t step out of bounds and you have to shoot the ball in 24 seconds. I love basketball because it is great and you can make a lot of money off of playing it and lots of legends have played it. My monument to basketball will be a sculpture of a basketball that is bigger than a building and and it will be inside of a museum and it will be made out of stone. Basketball is the best sport.

A Monument to Jesus

By Desmond

My monument will be to Jesus because he is Jesus and he deserves everything. PERIOD. I love and care about Jesus. My monument to Jesus will be located at a church. Everybody, you will have to come and see my monument about Jesus! He is the king of kings.

A Monument to Detroit Families

By Sy’aire, Lawrence, Londyn

People are stronger together. Without family, there’s nothing we can’t get through. We are better together than alone. Families are there to give us confidence and to teach us what we do not know about. There’s nothing you can’t do with your family! We can grow from weakness to become helpful and respectful people. This monument is going to be a very colorful statue!

826michigan inspires school-aged students to write with skill and confidence in collaboration with adult volunteers in their communities.

Find out more at 826michigan.org