Making a Difference: Stop the Hate®

Michael “Seven” Richmond ’18 was one of 10 finalists in the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage’s Stop the Hate® Youth Speak Out essay contest. At the awards ceremony this week, the finalists shared their personal stories of discrimination and ways they plan to help encourage the end of bullying, intolerance and indifference in their community.

 

“What impressed me the most about Seven Richmond’s essay for the Stop the Hate contest was its honesty,” his English teacher Mr. James Garrett said. “Seven shared his deeply personal story of confronting prejudice and conditional love with the power of unconditional love.”  

 

Essays were judged on a true story, both personal and universal, told in a moving, dramatic and inspiring way that understands and reflects personal responsibility, and identifies change that can be implemented.

 

Seven has been an agent of change at US.  “I founded the Fellowship of Christians of University School (FOCUS) to help kids be proud of their faith, and not be afraid to express it at school,” Seven said. “I hope that through my actions to fight discrimination, I can make a difference in my community for my race and my religion.” Seven also volunteers in the REACH Program, US’s summer program for middle school African-American students.

 

Stop the Hate is designed to create an appreciation and understanding among people of differing religions, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. By challenging young people to consider the benefits of a more inclusive society, the consequences of intolerance and the role of personal responsibility in effecting change, the contest also reflects Jewish values of responsible citizenship and respect for all humanity. Each year, the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage gives out $100,000 in scholarships, awards and anti-bias education in recognition of 6-12th grade upstanders in a 12-county area.

Watch the VIDEO.