Appreciation to the distinguished judges who scored 24semi-finalist written essays to select the 2012 finalists.

Steven Dettelbach
US Attorney for Northern Ohio

Rick Jackson
Reporter and Program Host, Ideastream

Rabbi Sharon Young Marcus
Associate Rabbi, Park Synagogue/President, Greater Cleveland Board of Rabbis

Victor Ruiz
Executive Director, Esperanza

Debra Adams Simmons
Editor, Plain Dealer

Alexander Stojsavljevic
2011 Stop the Hate Grand Prize Winner

Paramjit Singh
Trustee, Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio

Cindy Yu
Associate Director, LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland