by Donna Iadipaolo

ALMOST EVERY SCHOOL year in Ann Arbor, Haisley Elementary School Teacher Cedric York instructs students in his fifth-grade class to write to prominent leaders from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Mr. York and his students have a pretty good rate of return. Many famous people, such as President Barack Obama, United States Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., Poet Maya Angelou, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor have written back.

The people who respond each year changes, but the letters back are always thoughtful.

“Please accept this note in response to your letter, regarding my words,” wrote Maya Angelou to one 10-year-old in Mr. York’s class this year. “It is a wonderful feeling to know that my words have touched you. Thank you for your generous appreciation. Joy! Maya Angelou.”

Also, Attorney General  Eric H. Holder, Jr. wrote a three-paragraph letter to the same student. In part, it stated:

“It is important for young people to be informed and involved citizens,” wrote Mr. Holder. “Democracy cannot work effectively unless people like you take an active role in making sure your voice is heard. The future of our Nation will depend in large part on the commitment and actions of your generation.”

Mr. Holder also offered some good advice:

“As you know, you can make a difference by doing what is right, by respecting those around you, and by studying hard,” he wrote.

According to Mr. York, for the assignment, each student includes an introduction of him or herself, a few things they think are “awesome” about the recipient, and why their class wanted to receive a picture from them for the class’s room.

“The most memorable part of our assignment was—after our class brainstormed literally hundreds of influential minorities—who they picked,” said Mr. York. “Our gymnasts (in the classroom this year) wrote to Gabby Douglas and Natalie Beilstein, our aspiring attorney wrote to Eric H. Holder, Jr, and during March Madness, two of our girls wrote to Adreian Payne, and Jordan Morgan, from the Michigan State and University of Michigan Men’s Basketball teams. In other words, everyone in our class found a connection or a commonality to an influential minority in our society whether they looked like them or not.”

Mr. York said the assignment is a multi-faceted lesson with many cross-curricular outcomes with regards to being citizens in a classroom and in our world, writing persuasively, and tying into social studies.

“But, the major impact that I would like this project to have is for every child to feel that they have a place in our classroom and in our society, to see that they are destined for great things, and not the negative stereotypes and images that are portrayed in popular culture,” said Mr. York.

Cedric York has a master’s degree in applied economics and originally thought he would spend his life in the world of business and accounting. However, he decided to leave the corporate world to teach and was hired by the AAPS in 2010.

Mr. York said he has done this project many times, and in addition to students receiving responses from President Barack Obama and Justice Sotomayor in previous years, they have also received responses from Tyler Perry and Yo-Yo Ma.

Judge Sotomayor answered a question from one student: “We do not run for office. The President nominates us as judges and the Senate confirms us. Good luck in your project.”

Yo-Yo Ma wrote to a former fifth-grade trumpeter, “Blast away and enjoy!”

This assignment is also a good way to promote discussions surrounding race and stereotypes—sometimes a difficult topic for some.

“I believe that issues of race must be discussed to resolve them,” said Mr. York. “As our nation grows increasingly more diverse, it is important for us to realize that the needs of our students are changing as well and that we are meeting all of them.”

This year, fifth-grader Brady Noble said he wrote a letter to Poet Maya Angelou because “she’s a great writer” and United States Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. “because when I grow up I want to be a lawyer.”

“Maya Angelou said that it’s great that her words touched me,” said Noble.  “Eric Holder said it was an honor I picked him for my project. He was impressed with my letter.  He told me that it’s important for my voice to be heard and wished me good luck in school.”

Noble added that he learned a great deal from the project and “made some new friends.”

“I’m very proud of my letters and framed one in my room,” said Noble.