Blog
A Dream for the World — By Detroit Youth
For this year’s Thanksgiving parade float design contest, we asked Detroit 4th-8th graders to show us what their dream for the world looks like. On November 19, 2025, we celebrated six amazing young artists who are casting their visions for the future.
Fifth-grader Lyric Weathers’ float design, titled “Cultures are Around the World,” was chosen from hundreds of submissions, then handed off to Parade Company artists who transformed it into a full-scale float. Our honorable mention artists’ incredible work will also make their way down Woodward Ave, featured on an 80-foot panel that wraps around the base of the float.
The Parade Company hosted our young artists, their families, and their educators, along with Foundation staff, to reveal the long-awaited treasure.
Love. Thanks. Hope. Opportunity. Kindness. Growth. Peace. These were the words repeated around the room, from bright students to beaming grandmothers and proud principals. Joy radiated through the space, and the magic of the season began to sparkle—reminding us that youth brilliance has the unique power to bring people together, across differences, to work toward a brighter tomorrow.
A collection of words overheard:
My whole one hope for the future is that everyone can grow up and go together and I can be in that future for the people.
— Lyric Weathers, grand prize winner, aboard the full-scale float
For peace.
— Malia Vang, honorable mention, when asked what her dream for the world would be
My favorite part is probably the love, peace, and kindness, because there’s not enough in the world, and we need more.
— Austin Callahan, honorable mention, on his favorite part of his artwork
My dream is for the world is always be a community no matter what race or nothing.
— Robyn McKee, honorable mention
My dream for the world is everybody needs to be kind, kinder. Because a lot of people are not kind. But a lot of people are kind. Everybody should be kind.
— Axel Coyte, honorable mention
People have been like, hating on other people. So I just wanted people to be nice to each other again.
— Ava Wyatt, honorable mention, on what inspired her artwork
All my emotions just stopped right here, and a burst of happiness came out. I didn’t think it would turn out like this. It’s very beautiful.
— Lyric Weathers, grand prize winner, on the float unveiling
What makes this tradition special is the way it highlights the voices and visions of our young people. Their ideas and artistry remind us that the future isn’t something distant, it’s being shaped right now by their creativity and determination.
— Sarida Scott, vice president of program
So the picture I drew was about the whole world and the cultures around the world. And like the kids are building and like seeding the big flowers and they grow. Like us kids, we grow to doctors and anything you want to be.
— Lyric Weathers, grand prize winner, describing her artwork
I drew what was wrong in the world, which was like there was so much litter and then there was so much people not going to school, and there was not enough peace and love in the world. So I drew that and I did not want that. And then on the outside of my picture, I drew a better world. So I drew oceans with nice water and I drew people in unity and able to go to school.
— Austin Callahan, honorable mention, describing his artwork
Okay, so my drawing is basically, it’s like this. It’s like a white hand and a black hand holding the earth together. And basically, it’s like different types of cultures around the world protesting for the reasons we should be a team. And here is all of them together holding up a sign that says, “Dream Team!”
— Robyn McKee, honorable mention, describing her artwork
Because I love drawing a lot, and it’s like, it calms me down, and I get better every year at drawing.
— Ava Wyatt, honorable mention, on why she wants to be an artist
Be happy.
— Axel Coyte, honorable mention, on what words from his artwork mean the most to him
I drew this because I thought about my friends and how I wanted peace in the world. So I drew different races to show different cities, different continents, and stuff.
— Malia Vang, honorable mention, describing her artwork
This is an event that every year inspires and reminds all of us of the power of creativity and how it makes the world a better place and we try and live that every day at The Parade Company.
— Tony Michaels, president & CEO of The Parade Company
Thanksgiving is about gratitude. We are grateful for all of the wonderful staff at The Parade Company for their support and dedication. We are grateful to the float artists. They amaze us year after year. We are grateful for the teachers. They change lives and mold genius every single day. And we are grateful to the parents. They are raising artists—and artists see differently, create freely, and enhance the world around them.
The Skillman Foundation
The Skillman Foundation is a grantmaking organization established in 1960 by Rose Skillman. We have granted out more than $730 million and have served as a vocal advocate to strengthen K-12 education, afterschool programming, child-centered neighborhoods, youth and community leadership, and racial equity and justice.
We are in the process of developing a new strategic framework, co-designed with Detroit youth and their champions.