Congratulations to Damiya Myers, Chicago’s Do the Write Thing 2026 Ambassador
More than 800 Chicago students submitted their written works to the 2026 Do the Write Thing challenge, and seventh grader Damiya Myers was selected to represent the city at the National Summit in Washington, D.C.
In July, Damiya will visit our nation’s capital, meet with legislators, and share her ideas on reducing violence. Her essay will be added to the Library of Congress, the country’s largest library.
After her announcement as 2026 ambassador, Damiya appeared on multiple news outlets to share her experience, including CBS, NBC, and WGN.
Top 10 Do the Write Thing Finalists
- Makhi Adams, St. Sabina Catholic Academy
- DeShyra Bush, Thomas Hoyne Fine Arts Elementary School
- Jasper Cen, Mark Sheridan Math & Science Academy
- Julissa Gomez, Columbia Explorers Academy
- Helen Medina, Rachel Carson Elementary School
- Damiya Myers, Johnnie Colemon Elementary Academy
- Kay'Leigh Patton, Mahalia Jackson Elementary School
- Helena Romero-Paine, Columbia Explorers Academy
- Mokshasri Tatineni, Jean Baptiste Beaubien Elementary School
- Caleb Waldren, Alexander Graham Elementary School
Top 100 Do the Write Thing Finalists
Cassie Adams
Makhi Adams
Eniola Adetola-Woody
Kimberly Alvarez
Sophia Rodriguez Arreola
Aliyah Arzate
Isabella Ballesteros
Nia Bey
Kamora Branch-Mull
Jazll Brown
Ethan Brundidge
DeShyra Bush
Julian Camargo
Makayla Carrera
Maria Castanon
Kennedy Cathey
Jasper Cen
Jasmine Chen
Jayden Chen
Phoenix Collins
Briana Cruz
Nicole Cruz
Taleaha Cruz
Olivia Dunaj
Danielle Espinoza
Mateo Eumana
Ruby Flores
Seferino Flores
Zoe Franco
Jasmin Garcia
Lucia Padilla Garcia
Sofia Garcia
Miranda Garibaldi
LeAnne Claire Golingay
Avery Gomez
Julissa Gomez
Andy Gonzalez
Hueston Goolsby
Jonathan Gudino-Cruz
Zain Hamsho
Natalia Hernandez
Gabriel Hernando
Carlos Herrera
Jaquelin Herrera
Taliyah Howard
Darius Jackson, Jr.
Asher Kazantsev-Kopp
Joy Lee
Dina Lela
Kimia Lomax
Denali Lopez
Flora Isabella Lopez
Nilsa Luciano
Kyle Mason
Jordan McGrone
Helen Medina
Jaime Mendoza
Sherman Miller
Janiyla Moore
Damiya Myers
Ailyn Nambo
Kanyah Nelson
Etta Nevius
Brooke Nichols
Jiya Patel
Maitri Patel
Manya Patel
Misha Patel
Nensi Patel
Kay’Leigh Patton
Aliana Perez
Sophia Pomian
Diego Ramirez
Carmen Reyes
Cristal Reyes
Nevaeh Rivera
Cayleigh Robinson
Arianna Rojo
David Romero
Helena Romero-Paine
Ethan Ruan
Jose Luis Rueda
Jackelyn Samano
Heidi Sandoval
Anna Santin
Victor Santoyo
Hope Simmons
Jennifer Situ
Nicholas Vi Ta
Mokshasri Tatineni
Mark Torres
Clarissa Vara
Israel Vargas
Mitchell Wages
Caleb Waldren
Kentrell Wallace
Kourtney Walls
Samiyah Washington
Shamika Wright
Aarón Zúñíga