Day Without Hate is a student-led initiative promoting peace, nonviolence, unity, respect, and mental health awareness in our schools and communities. Through events, activities, education, and activism, Day Without Hate creates inclusive environments where students are supported and safe. Learn more here!
How did Day Without Hate come to be?
We started in Colorado at Standley Lake High School in 2007, after one of the deadliest campus shootings in US history occurred at Virginia Tech University. English teacher Ben Reed asked his students for ideas on how they could make a real impact on these tragic events, and Day Without Hate was born. What started as a grassroots movement is now in 35 states and 7 countries and continues to expand globally, impacting thousands of students each year. In 2023, we won an Emmy Award for a documentary short about the movement and the impact we’ve had on students.
What programs do you offer?
We believe that every individual deserves a safe and respectful environment, and we strive to create a culture of empathy, understanding, and unity through free student-led efforts. Our student ambassadors are leaders who are passionate about change, peace, inclusion, and making a difference in their communities. We also have a community ambassador program, an annual global t-shirt design contest, and various in-school programming opportunities. There have been over 2,000 school shootings since 1970, and we exist in order to slow and stop this number from increasing.
Can you tell me about your film?
The Day Without Hate documentary highlights 15 years of students’ progress toward respect, unity, mental health awareness, anti-bullying, and nonviolence initiatives. The film garnered acclaim at multiple US and international film festivals, won an Emmy and two Telly Awards, and helped spread our mission around the world. Day Without Hate promotes a message of positivity, but the documentary also features footage and news clips that touch on difficult subjects, like school shootings and mental health. The film is available to view on our website for free.
How can individuals get involved in your work?
Whether you’re a student, teacher, community member, or passionate philanthropist, there are so many ways to get involved. We rely on our community members to fund our programs and get the world out to our students to be champions for our program in their schools. Applications for our K-12 student ambassador program are available on our website, where you can also download a free kit for your school. You can make a direct donation or can partner with us to help further our mission.
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