Mount Vernon High School hosts No Place for Hate - A Walk Around the Globe

Students, teachers, and community members from countries around the world filled the cafeteria for Mount Vernon High School’s No Place for Hate - A Walk Around the Globe on Friday, January 20, 2023. The room was lined with flags from around the world, and tables were set up with displays detailing the cultures of each country. There was an assortment of food from several countries as well.  

With the assistance of student leadership, MVHS has worked to shift the school culture and climate this school year. The Walk Around the Globe was the first of three Anti-Defamation League (ADL)-approved No Place for Hate schoolwide events for the 2022-2023 school year.  

A Walk Around the Globe allowed students to explore global and local culture booths in order to broaden their cultural awareness. After the event, students participated in a lesson on implicit bias based on the cultural misconceptions they observed in themselves on their journey around the globe.   

“We are thrilled to empower MVHS students to flourish and lead at the A Walk Around the Globe No Place for Hate event, and to take a giant leap towards becoming global citizens who respect and value the many rich cultures represented in our diverse Mount Vernon community,” said Brian Simmons, Assistant Principal of School Culture and Climate at MVHS. 

With their newfound perspective, students will partake in a writing assignment that asks them to reflect on how their vision of cultures has shifted towards inclusion, respect, and understanding that will continue to improve the MVHS school culture and climate.  

Several organizations from Mount Vernon attended the event to share what they have to offer to the community of MVHS. SNUG Violence Prevention, Chase Bank, My Brother’s Keeper, The Afrikan Healing Circle, and the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau each had a table where they shared how they can help the scholars at MVHS. The Mount Vernon City School District Mental Health and Wellness Division, led by District Psychologist Fernanda Carvalho, also shared their services and initiatives with students at the event.  

The representatives for each country shared facts about the culture and customs of numerous different countries. Each country’s representative had unique clothing from their country. The presenters educated students about the differences and commonalities between their cultures and American culture.   

“The best way to combat hate is with knowledge,” said Adam Rappoport, Math and Science Department Chair at MVHS. “This event provides students with the ability to ask questions and gain the knowledge they need in order to avoid any further problems. So, I think that what we’re doing here is really fulfilling the No Place for Hate vision.”  

“Honestly, if you get to know people, you won’t judge them,” said Elena Pjetergjokaj, 11th-grade student at MVHS.  “So, there is no place for hate. I came to this school in September from Albania, and now that people get to know me, they ask me what I do in my country and what food we eat. They are more interested to get to know me as a person, so I’m making a lot of friends and so are others, so that’s a good thing.”  

Schools across the district have been launching their ADL-approved No Place for Hate events, and MVHS is the latest to join them.