Students confront their own biases, grow empathy at No Place for Hate Youth Summit

Students from seven Dallas ISD middle schools attended the No Place for Hate Youth Summit that encouraged them to confront their own biases and empathize with students from very different backgrounds.

The Dallas ISD Racial Equity Office arranged for the students to attend the one-day workshop hosted by the Anti-Defamation League on Oct. 4 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

“This is a great opportunity to allow the students to know what it looks like to be an ally and choose civility,” said Racial Equity Office Director Michelle Prudhomme-Coleman. “Students get to expand their capacity by receiving the tools to become peer advocates on their campuses.”

Eighteen Dallas ISD schools have registered as No Place for Hate sites, which means they are taking the lead on improving and maintaining a strong school climate where all students can thrive. The Racial Equity Office will also facilitate the No Place for Hate training for members of the Dallas ISD Teen Board and campus staff members.

Racial Equity Office Deputy Chief Leslie Williams said along with his office’s focus on growing student and staff awareness around implicit bias, the No Place for Hate initiative and Youth Summit will help address school bullying.

The Dallas ISD schools that attended the Youth Summit were:

• E.B. Comstock Middle School
• O.W. Holmes Humanities/Communications Academy
• Kennedy-Curry Middle School
• Spence Middle School
• Stockard Middle School.
• Sam Tasby Middle School
• Young Men’s Leadership Academy at Fred F. Florence Middle School

Learn more about the Racial Equity Office here and learn more about No Place for Hate here.