Hamden Hall Pledges That It’s A ‘No Place for Hate’ Environment

The Hamden Hall community will officially kick-off its commitment to being “No Place for Hate” with the Walk Against Hate on Sunday, October 16, at 11:30 a.m. Participants will meet at the Whitney Street Campus courtyard and walk to St. Thomas Church on Whitney Avenue. Students, faculty, families, and friends are all welcome – as are their pets!

Hamden Hall earned the official designation, “No Place for Hate,” in 2020 by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The community continues to stand up and together for equity, inclusion, and acceptance as exhibited by the school-wide pledge commitment and banner.

“Positive education promotes a flourishing community in which each person is valued and all cultures unite to become ‘us,’” said Director of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Dr. Lisa Hill. “We are proud to partner with ADL in our ongoing efforts to provide every student at Hamden Hall a welcoming and secure environment in which everyone has a place.”

Prior to the signing, Lower School students watched the video That’s Not My Name by Anoosha Syed, which emphasizes loving your name and the importance of finding your voice. In conjunction with the video, students worked on art projects in class where they colorfully decorated pieces of paper with their name. All the finished pictures were placed on display around the classroom.

Both Middle and Upper School hosted assemblies, in which the students and faculty learned more about the mission of ADL and what it means to take the pledge. ADL facilitator Derek Hall spoke with the Upper School community while Middle School students worked with their advisories.

“Recognizing differences and using that influence to create an inclusive environment for all is a step forward and benefits the whole community,” commented Mr. Hall. “Meaningful change takes a community-wide effort, and renewing the designation should serve as a reminder of the importance of this initiative.”

Specially designated “No Place for Hate” banners are hung up across Taylor Gymnasium with student signatures that mark their commitment to the initiative. On Friday, October 14, students including Peer Leaders, Student Government officers, Middle School Advocates, and athletic team captains will be participating in ADL training to help facilitate and design school-wide activities that combat bias and division.