In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the City of Woodland invites local students to participate in the 2026 MLK Essay, Poetry, and Visual Art Contest. This year’s theme is “Unity in Action: Building a Better Tomorrow,” which encourages students to reflect on the values championed by Dr. King and explore ways to demonstrate those principles in our daily lives.
Students can submit original, student-created work in one of the following categories: visual arts, poetry, or essay. Visual art entries should be submitted as photographs or videos of the artwork. Poems may be written in any style and are limited to a maximum of 20 lines. Essays should be between 300 and 750 words in length. Entries will be judged in four grade divisions: K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12, and the contest is open to students who live in or attend school in Woodland.
Each first-place winner will receive a certificate and a $75 gift card. Additionally, the teacher of each winning student will be awarded a $30 gift card. The deadline for submitting entries is Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Entries may be submitted online at cityofwoodland.gov/MLK. Winners will be recognized at the Woodland City Council meeting on January 20, 2026.
For more information, please contact the Woodland Community Services Department at (530) 661-2000 or email WoodlandCSD@cityofwoodland.gov.