What would you do to fight discrimination? How will you combat hatred and intolerance to become an agent of change? How will you become part of the solution?
ESSAYS MUST ADDRESS THREE COMPONENTS:
HIGH SCHOOL ENTRIES (Grades 9-12):
- Describe an act of discrimination – have you or someone you know been subjected to discrimination or have you seen or heard of acts of hatred and intolerance that disturbed you?
- Reflect upon your response – why were you disturbed and what did you feel and/or do about what you experienced, saw or heard?
- Commit to a plan of action – Stop the Hate! Youth Speak Out! What have you done already and/or what will you commit to doing in the future to stop hatred and intolerance and affect change in you, your school and/or community? How will you implement your plan of action?
MIDDLE SCHOOL ENTRIES (Grades 6-8):
- Describe an act of discrimination - have you or someone you know been subjected to discrimination or have you seen or heard of acts of hatred and intolerance that disturbed you?
- Reflect upon your response - why were you disturbed and what did you feel and/or do about what you experienced, saw or heard?
- Make the world a better place – Stop the Hate! Youth Speak Out! What do you think you and other kids can do to change things for the better?
Discrimination is defined as any act of prejudice or intolerance perpetrated upon one individual by another; a group against an individual; or one group against another group. For example, essays may respond to acts of discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical/mental challenges, economic status and/or less specific criteria such as bullying, name-calling, malicious gossiping, or ostracizing someone for unspecified reasons