ONGOING
FIELD TRIP • SEPT - JUNE
Jackie’s Legacy, Your Leadership
Grades 2-12 • 90 Min
Explore Jackie Robinson’s core leadership traits and how he used them on and off the baseball field in this interactive, inquiry-based program.
Speak Out! 2026 Poster Exhibit Now Open!
Now in its second year, the Speak Out! Poster Contest invites fifth graders to put their Speak Out! commitments into action after their Jackie Robinson Museum field trip by designing posters about the issues that matter to them today. Winning posters will be exhibited at the Jackie Robinson Museum during the following school year.
2026-2027 Contest Guidelines Now Available Below
About the Contest
The Speak Out! Poster Contest invites fifth graders to follow up on the Jackie’s Legacy, Your Leadership field trip experience by putting their Speak Out! commitments into action through posters about the issues that matter most. The objective of the contest is to showcase student-designed posters that highlight the issues that matter to students today and how young leaders are having a positive impact on that issue. Selected posters will be exhibited at the Jackie Robinson Museum.
Key Dates for 2026-2027; Deadline to Submit: May 7, 2027
Exact dates may be subject to change, but we’ll plan to stick to this timeline.
- October 2026 – April 2027 – Eligible field trips take place and poster submissions accepted following your visit. Book your field trip here!
- May 7, 2027 – Poster submission deadline
- May 2027 – Winning entries notified
- June 2027 – Student poster unveiling at the Museum
INFO SESSION
View the Museum’s 2026 Info Session presentation for more information on the poster contest and how your students can participate. Take note of the dates for the 2027 contest on this page.
If you have questions that are not addressed here, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
VIEW INFO SESSIONContest Guidelines
- Eligibility – Open to all fifth graders who have visited for the Jackie’s Legacy, Your Leadership field trip program at the Jackie Robinson Museum. Teachers, if your class visited the museum for a different program or experience but are still interested in the poster contest, let us know.
- Teachers, we’re looking at you! (primarily) – We encourage teachers to serve as the primary point of contact for submissions, though parents may submit if teachers assign the contest as an extracurricular activity.
- How to Submit – Posters can be submitted by mail or dropped off at the Museum.
- Before sending the posters: Each poster must be clearly labeled with the student name(s), teacher name, school name, and poster description (see below). Ideally, posters from the same class will be clipped together or in an envelope if size allows.
- To mail: Address in one box or envelope to: Jackie Robinson Museum Education Department / 75 Varick Street 2nd floor / New York, NY 10013
- To drop off: Bring to the Jackie Robinson Museum Visitor Services Desk, Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 11am-6pm (Address: 75 Varick Street, New York, NY)
- What to Expect from the Contest – The Jackie Robinson Museum will have the option to select entries for either semi-permanent physical display; digital and/or temporary display; or non-display.
- Number of Entries – There is no limit on number of entries per class or school, but we will endeavor to represent multiple schools and communities in the posters selected for the exhibit.
- After the Contest – We will hold onto all submissions until June 30 of the contest year and allow pick up of posters (that are not on display) by appointment. After that date, we cannot guarantee that posters can be returned and we will not be mailing any entries back to the school or students.
Poster Requirements
- Student work: Posters may be created by individual students or by small groups (up to 3 students).
- Size: Posters must be at least 8.5 x 11in. and no larger than 12 x 18in.
- Materials: Posters should be original artwork produced by the student (not AI). Any 2D art materials are allowed. Posters must be flat enough to be displayed in a standard frame.
- Content: Posters should clearly address the Speak Out! theme by communicating a topic or issue and call to action through words and/or imagery.
- Description: Each poster must be submitted with a brief description (up to a paragraph) describing the meaning of the poster and how it connects to the Jackie Robinson Museum visit. Descriptions can either be typed and entered into the online form or attached to the posters and submitted in hard copy.
Classroom Resources
Check out our curriculum guide with suggested resources on analyzing and designing posters. Plus, use our resource packet of protest posters and our collection on Jackie Robinson’s use of posters to get started.
What should the poster description include?
The poster description (up to a paragraph) is part of how we will evaluate each student’s Speak Out! commitment and the connection they see between this goal and their Jackie Robinson Museum visit experience. The following prompts are not required, but might help get your students thinking…
The words and pictures in my poster represent…
When people see my poster, I want them to…
The topic that is important to me is ______ because….
At the Jackie Robinson Museum, I got the idea to…
Visiting the Jackie Robinson Museum inspired me….
My poster is a way for me to speak out about my idea to….
Questions or feedback?
We are excited to see the poster contest grow in future years. If you have questions or feedback, or if you don’t fall within the current eligibility, let us know so we can learn more about interest in this initiative!
Are your fifth graders visiting after the contest closes? Let us know if you would be interested in submitting posters to be considered for the following year’s contest.
