The League of Minnesota Cities recently announced that Charity Duran, a member of The Edge Christian Worship Center located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is one of three winners of a state-wide essay contest. Charity, a 9-year-old home schooled student, wrote on the assigned topic of what she would do if she were the mayor for a day.

Taking inspiration from the National Park Service’s Junior Ranger program, Charity thought it would be good if Brooklyn Park had a similar program which included age-appropriate activity books introducing students to the various departments of local government. Her essay was one of more than 600 submitted to the contest.

Charity was recently interviewed for an upcoming city newsletter and for a TV news spot. In addition, she will be honored in an upcoming City Council meeting, and meet one-on-one with the mayor. Charity will also receive $100 and a plaque from the League of Minnesota Cities. Charity plays the violin with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony, sings with the Music Association of Minnetonka, and is part of the Southview Pathfinder Club.

Vicki Duran is a member of The Edge Christian Worship Center in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.