Wed 9/11 @ 4:30PM
Sadly, it seems like every year, the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage’s Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out scholarship content for 6th-12th graders becomes more and more relevant. The contest, entering its 12th year, promotes diversity and inclusion at a time when it sometimes feels like those are things we don’t value in this country anymore. But it does a mitzvah in getting young people to contemplate what’s going on in the world and what role they can play in making things better.
Each year the museum gives out $100,000 in scholarships and anti-bias education grants as part of the contest. It’s given out more than a million dollars in 11 years.
The theme of this year’s contest is inspired by the Maltz Museum’s upcoming exhibit Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music. Students are asked to reflect in 500 words or less on an act of injustice, racism, bigotry, or discrimination they’ve observed, how it affected them, and how they responded to make positive change. Essays from 6-10th grades are due 1/8/20; essays or grades 11 & 12 are due 1/20/20.
Essays for grades 6-10 are due January 8, 2020 ; Essays for grades 11 & 12 are due January 20, 2020. The awards ceremony takes place 4/2/20.
This year, the contest will feature a new event: the Stop the Hate Summit, open to any student who submits an essay. It’s a one-day conference offering training in being a leader in diversity and inclusion. It will be held on April 26, 2020, in conjunction with Cuyahoga Community College.
The Maltz Museum will officially launch this year’s contest with an event at the museum where one of last year’s finalist, Kennon Waltz from University School will read his essay and talk about what it was like to be part of the contest. Students will have the chance to learn about the contest rules, get hints for organizing their thoughts into an effective essay, and ask the program staff any questions they may have. Afterwards, guests can tour the museum’s core exhibit, An American Story, which looks at how Jewish immigrants came to Cleveland, and what they went through in order to thrive.
The event is free and open to all eligible students, their parents and educators. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Beachwood, OH 44122