HAMDEN – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recently acknowledged eight Connecticut schools for their commitment to promoting equitable and respectful learning environments by designating them a No Place for Hate (NPFH) schools. These are the first schools in the state to have participated and completed ADL’s NPFH program. In the coming year, ADL will be expanding the initiative into a greater number of communities across the region.  

No Place for Hate first launched in Connecticut in 2019-2020 with a pilot program at Hamden High School. Since the full launch of the program in the Fall of 2020, students, teachers, and administrators from each school completed a series of school-wide initiatives designed to build more inclusive and equitable communities. As part of their participation schools were required to form a committee, host a school-wide pledge signing, and hold several activities that involve active learningtfocusing on recognizing differences and promoting respect. To commemorate this achievement, each school will be awarded with a banner to mark their commitment to No Place for Hate. 

“At a time when the number of bias incidents in our schools and communities continues to proliferate, No Place for Hate provides schools with tools and resources to actively engage the school community and to affect positive social change,” said Steve Ginsburg, ADL Connecticut regional director. “ADL Connecticut applauds these eight schools and the students and staff who led the NPFH activities for their commitment to this proactive initiative.” 

The eight schools that have completed the program are: Hamden High School, Hamden Middle School, Hamden Hall Country Day School, Trumbull High School, Ridgefield High School; Greenwich High School, Gideon Welles School, and Fairfield College Preparatory School.  

To date, ADL’s No Place for Hate initiative has helped promote anti-bias education in more than 1,600 schools across the country, impacting over 1.4 million students and 100,000+ educators. 

“If every member of my generation sits back and does nothing to combat the issues we face, no positive change will ever occur,” said Ridgefield High School student Riley Courtney. “We all must choose to act.”  

To learn more about the ADL No Place for Hate program, visit adl.org/who-we-are/our-organization/signature-programs/no-place-for-hate.