Some 26 Wisconsin children were recently honored as winners in the 2003 Wisconsin Fair Housing Poster and Essay Contest, held to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the 38th anniversary of the Wisconsin Open Housing Law. The poster contest was open to students in grades K-12 and special education students, and the essay contest was open to students in grades 4-12.

Regional Director Joe Galvan and Wisconsin First Lady Jessica Doyle are all smiles as a poster contest winner explains his poster.

This year's theme was "Fair Housing Superheroes Save the Day." The winners represented schools in Chippewa Falls, Dousman, Eagle River, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Greenfield, Milwaukee, Mt Calvary, New Berlin, Rhinelander, Waukesha and West Allis.

The winners received their awards in the Governor's Conference Room at the State Capitol in Madison on June 27. Midwest Regional Director Joe Galvan and Wisconsin First Lady Jessica Doyle presented the awards on behalf of the Fair Housing Network.

The Regional Director and the First Lady listen intently to one winner as she reads her essay.

The contest is designed to educate children about the concepts of freedom of choice and equal access in housing. All winners received framed certificates along with checks and 2004 fair housing calendars donated by the FHN, and fair housing pencils and bookmarks from HUD. The 2004 calendars featured posters and essays from previous contests, and the entries from this year's contest will appear in a 2005 calendar.

The FHN, a coalition that represents individuals, public agencies and private organizations, was created by HUD and the Wisconsin Realtors Association to educate and promote fair housing throughout the state. FHN annually sponsors a conference, awards to individuals and organizations for significant contributions to fair housing, and the poster and essay contest.