No Place For Hate hosted an event during Wolverine+ for students on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Every student reported to their third period class and watched a video with their teachers. The No Place For Hate event started at 10:20 a.m. and ended at 11 a.m.
During Wolverine+ time, teachers were provided with a set of instructions, colorful strips of paper and a shared slideshow.
Teachers went through the slide show which defines a list of key terms. The listed words include identity, ethnicity, race, ability, gender, sexual/affectional orientation and national origin.
A TED Talk video by America Ferrera, “Your identity is your superpower” was then shown shortly after the teacher went through the key terms. Instructions for the craft activity were given after the students watched the TED Talk video.
Students were instructed to choose at least three strips of colored paper; the colors provided are pink, purple, blue, green, yellow and orange. On each strip of paper, the students wrote down one aspect of their identity, then linked together the paper strips in a chain formation.
Mrs. Hosseini, one of the assistant principals at Aliso Niguel, said, “Today’s activity is helping to bring those qualities to light and show how we are connected with one another. We are all connected by some of our shared values, and the chain is a visual representation of those values.”
The chain activity requires students to write out core elements and aspects that make them who they are on strips of paper and piece them together in a chain formation. This activity is meant to bring awareness to the fact that students are all composed of very different, yet very similar experiences and that it can connect them as people while simultaneously widening their perspective.
No Place For Hate is a student-led organization that aims to promote inclusivity and break down barriers amongst the student body at school.
Mr. Hatcher, the principal at Aliso Niguel, said, “Our mission statement is to provide a safe and inclusive environment here for all of our students at Aliso Niguel.”
The No Place For Hate organization strives for inclusivity, non-discrimination and school unity against hate. Aliso Niguel High School has been designated a No Place For Hate school because it has met a certain criteria, and part of that criteria is doing three school-wide activities that encourage conversation. Previously, the school had the pledge signing activity during Wolverine+ which was the first activity, and now the paper chain activity is the second one so far.
Taylor Clark (12), president of the No Place For Hate club, said, “We work with administration, teachers, staff and parents to create a community and school culture where people feel safe and included. One of our goals for No Place For Hate is to create an actual club that has an ongoing presence on campus for years to come. We want to create a community where voices are heard, for people to have a space to be advocates for different groups on campus and to achieve a campus that is inclusive and respectful and honors the different cultural heritage and identities of our students.”
Every student at Aliso Niguel is allowed to join the No Place For Hate club, participate in the events and work towards creating a safe and inclusive campus.
