Dear John,

Students all over the country are heading back to schools that are better places to learn because they participate in one of ADL’s most impactful education programs — No Place for Hate^®. You may know students who have benefitted from the transformative power of this program. No Place for Hate (NPFH) turns 20 this year, and we’re proud that it has not only touched the lives of millions of young people but has also created a generation of young adults who are more likely to embrace diversity and challenge bigotry and prejudice.

No Place for Hate rallies the entire school around the goal of creating a welcoming community committed to stopping all forms of bias and bullying. What’s unique about this program is that it’s led by students, who tailor it to the needs of their own schools. ADL provides the innovative and powerful framework to help students challenge anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry, but it’s these student leaders, with the support of administration, faculty and parents, who make it the success that it is.

It’s not uncommon for schools to reach out to ADL about No Place for Hate because they’ve experienced one or more alarming incidents of anti-Semitism and other forms of bias — for example, finding swastikas on campus.

Since each school is different, so are the opportunities to learn after these incidents. ADL provides models, resources and guidance and then the participants tailor the program to fit their needs and meet the No Place for Hate requirements. For example, one elementary school brought in Holocaust survivors to speak to 5th grade classes. They followed up with discussions about what happens when bystanders stay silent. A middle school invited ADL to address a schoolwide assembly, then worked with us to create discussion groups about hate symbols and their impact.

NPFH in Action Across the Country

No single incident motivated Kern Oduro, an assistant superintendent of one of California’s largest high school districts, to contact ADL. But during what he called “a challenging time,” a growing level of bigotry and bias was creating a harmful atmosphere within the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, so they reached out to ADL. Oduro reported to us that No Place to Hate has been changing the culture of Chaffey’s schools, sparking a respectful dialogue on race and bias. He said, “Every school should have ADL trainings so students and teachers learn how to stand up against hate.”

Across the country in Florida, Jesula, a refugee from Haiti, was being bullied mercilessly in her new school for her ‘weird’ accent and unfashionable clothes. She had just about given up her dreams for the future when No Place for Hate reached her school. It turned her life around. She became part of the NPFH team and helped transform her school.

A No Place for Hate tactic that Jesula and her team adopted involves performing random acts of kindness. “If we see a kid sitting at a table by themselves, we come talk to them. We embrace everybody, because I personally don’t want anybody to feel like they might be alone. Like they made me feel.”

At age 20, No Place for Hate is still teaching us new things. We just launched our first online course to train coordinators from across the nation in how to engage stakeholders and cultivate students as leaders. We’re getting incredible feedback, so we plan to expand this training and create an on-line community where coordinators can continue the conversation about best practices, challenges and activities.

Our key learning — from the time we started the program — is that promoting sustainable, positive change in school climates is a continual process, not a final destination. Each new school year brings new opportunities to empower students, faculty, administration and family members to take a stand against bias and bullying and build inclusive and safe communities where all students can thrive.

If your school isn’t yet part of No Place for Hate, learn more and then reach out to us. We’d like to welcome you to join the over 1,600 schools across the country that are already part of the NPFH movement.