CrewsMiddle School is part of No Place for Hate campaign

In 1999, following the Columbine High shootings in Colorado and an attack on a Jewish community center in California, the Anti-Defamation League designed a programtohelpbuildwelcoming and inclusive environments. In the last 20 years, the free No Place for Hate program has grown to include schools as a way to counteract bullying and abuse.

Crews Middle School in Lawrenceville has been part of the No Place forHate campaign for seven years, and its cornerstone of offffffffffffering students a safe place to have candid conversations is in need more now than ever, said seventh grade counselor Helen Cox.

“We’ve had some Zoom bombings where kids come in and say inappropriate things, socialmedia is pretty intense, and kids are aware that there’s tension and a lack of civility,” said Cox. “Students see that people don’t speak to each other with respect. No Place for Hate provides aplace for kids to talk about what they’re experiencing, and that can empower them.”

The prog ram at the 1,400-student school offffffffffffers that safe space in several ways. During the last school year, it included a No Place for Hate week with daily activities from“No One Eats Alone” day in the cafeteria with games and socializing. During the summer, group members and rising fifth graders attended an academy that focused on identity, respect and leadership skills. Those students then took the lead on organizing two monthly meetings.

Two weeks ago, Crews kids participated in a “Walk Against Hate” that started with a brief lesson on self-respect, identities and inclusion, as well as tactics for stopping an inappropriate joke or a mean-spirited comment. They thenwalked 3 miles with a buddy and changed partners throughout the hike to get to know other people better. Before election day, students will be invited to sign a resolution on respect.

“Students aremore open to talking about race and identities this year,” said Cox. “It’s resonating difffffffffffferently when students have struggled with losing family members to COVID and feeling isolated. These programs provide a safe space for them to be themselves, where they don’t have to censor themselves.”

Those activities keep the school’s No Place for Hate certification in place. The requirement is that participants host three events during the year that touch every student. Schools can tap into resources and programs provided by the League, including a 45-minute video offffffffffffering guidelines on how to implement the program and activities.

“We’re always trying to adapt and update No Place for Hate to ensure we’re having the greatest impacts in our schools,” said Erin Beacham, ADL’s deputy regional director based in Buckhead. “But it’s up to the individual schools to decide what activities they want to build on each year. If something is happening in their community, they can pivot to address that. That’swhy this program has been so successful: It has the ability to adapt toworkonwhat’smost impactful for them.”

ADL’s Southeast region of Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee has 254 participating schools, a number that has grown 15% in the last year.

COURTESY Students at Crews Middle School have their participation forms checked offff during a recent 3-milewalk to promote inclusiveness.