Case Study: Allegheny County

Three hundred students from 25 high schools in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania watched Repairing the World at the 2024 Eradicate Hate Global Summit and swiftly turned their attention to answering the question: What can we do now to address hate and bias?

Students participated in a moving post-screening discussion with survivors from the Tree of Life attack and Not In Our Town leader and film director Patrice O’Neill. 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.

Lessons from the Student Summit in Allegheny County

The success of the Student Summit and the engagement of students is a lesson in the value of collaboration and the positive power that can be released when school leaders and community leaders provide a framework for student learning and action. Here are some key factors that led to successful youth engagement to address hate in Allegheny County schools.

SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS

The guiding message of the Summit has been,” Let the students lead.” The first Eradicate Hate Club was formed at South Allegheny High School as students took the lessons from Repairing the World into their own lives; support from the school superintendent and teachers helped the students host their first-ever Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month and recognize LGBTQ clubs and events. Their actions inspired other schools to join.

CONVENING

The Eradicate Hate Global Summit provided a high-profile venue for convening, film screenings, and discussion for students.  Film Pittsburgh’s Teen Screen organized the first event and continues to support schools as they take Repairing the World back to classrooms and assemblies. Community leaders, philanthropists, and local education experts involved with the Eradicate Hate Global Summit helped open doors and support the Youth Summit. 

SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CIVIC LEADERSHIP

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit, which oversees education for the entire region, saw the success of the original convening in 2022 and the engagement at South Allegheny High. The AIU Director  Bob Scherer invited additional superintendents and principals to get their schools involved.  Fifteen schools joined in 2023, and 25 participated in 2024. 

PROGRAM

Repairing the World: Stories From the Tree of Life is a film created to spark community and youth action to address hate and promote belonging. The story of Pittsburgh’s response and the engagement of young people in the film encouraged students to see themselves as positive actors in their own communities. Survivors of the attack spoke at the Summit after the film, making the content authentic and personal for attendees.  Through the 10.27 Healing Partnership Project, REACH survivors have continued to engage students at events in schools across the region.

ONGOING SUPPORT FOR STUDENT ACTIVITIES

The LIGHT Initiative, supported by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, leads and convenes regional school events.  Educators and school leaders continue to help guide and support student activities.  Local funders have stepped up to support youth activities as Superintendents and principals are taking the discussion more broadly to their schools and communities. 

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.