Case Study: Allegheny County
Using the Film to Inspire Student Leadership
Students from 14 high schools in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania watched Repairing the World at the Eradicate Hate Global Summit and swiftly turned their attention to answering the question What can we do now?
150 high school students participated in a moving post-screening discussion with survivors from the Tree of Life attack and Not In Our Town leaders at the first ever Eradicate Hate Student Summit in 2023. Students then broke out into groups for design sprints, brainstorming concrete actions to bring the film’s message back to their schools. Inspired to push back against bigotry and discrimination and celebrate their different cultures, the school groups developed year-long programs that included community screenings of the film and the formation of an Eradicate Hate Club, among many other activities.
The Eradicate Hate Global Summit is documenting the students’ activities so leaders around the world will understand how students can take the lead in the fight against hate. In addition, a working group at the Summit is collaborating with six school districts to host community-school screenings of Repairing the World. More examples of these activities will be shared in this case study in 2024.
Watch an inspiring 3-minute video about South Allegheny's Eradicate Hate Club:
AIU Connections: Eradicate Hate (PDF)
Read more about the year-long, district-wide programming students are leading in Allegheny County.
How can your school use this example to empower students to take the lead in responding to hate and building inclusive environments?
NIOT is grateful to Film Pittsburgh’s Teen Screen program for initially presenting Repairing the World to students, and to the Eradicate Hate Global Summit, LIGHT Education Initiative, and the leaders and educators of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Learn more from Allegheny Schools about how the film was presented and students organized activities at the Eradicate Hate Student Summit.
Also in this section (For Schools):
Case Study: Allegheny County