As 
I write these words, our distinguished panel of community judges are winnowing down the top 25 Stop the Hate®: Youth Speak Out essays to determine the top 10. More than 1,000 Northeast Ohio juniors and seniors entered this year’s contest (an increase of 13% over 2015), sharing obstacles they or someone they know has faced in being accepted, what
qualities they feel it takes to break down barriers and what actions they have taken or will take to create a more inclusive society.
In my brief tenure with the Museum, I have quickly learned that during the upcoming Stop the Hate® awards ceremony, we as an audience will have the distinct privilege of hearing from our future leaders for the first time. These remarkable young people address matters of indifference and intolerance with passion. Their forward-thinking ideas challenge our own preconceived notions of diversity, fairness and inclusion.
Don’t just take my word for it. Join us for the Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 21 at the Cleveland Museum of Art and hear for yourself. Better yet, visit our website and inquire how you can become part of Stop the Hate® in the future.
—Jeffery Allen, Director, Education & Public Programs
