MVCSD holds first ever District-wide No Place for Hate Day

On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, the Mount Vernon City School District celebrated its first No Place for Hate (NPFH) Day.  Families throughout the community walked with their children to school to take a stand against hate. Everyone was encouraged to wear a white, maroon or a NPFH shirt to show unity.  

Each school held activities to acknowledge the hard work, commitment, and dedication of students, teachers, staff, parents, and community leaders in support of acceptance, tolerance, allyship, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Schools have been participating in No Place for Hate activities throughout the year, and No Place for Hate Day served as the culminating event at all schools. 

“I think that this program is really good, especially for young kids,” said Arianna Mitchell, seventh grade student at Mount Vernon Honor Academy and one of the NPFH ambassadors at the school. “A lot of schools don’t teach the young kids this, so they grow up not knowing. We had a No Place for Hate ceremony in the middle of the school year, and we talked about the roots of No Place for Hate, what it's for, and how it is going to help us.” 

The Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) NPFH is a comprehensive program to build inclusive schools.  The program focuses on combating bias and bullying as a means to stop acts of hate and intolerance. Dr. Jamal Doggett, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Curriculum, Instruction & Administration, and School Social Worker Josephine Kirkland-Hudson first implemented the NPFH program at Rebecca Turner School in 2016 when Dr. Doggett was the principal.   

“This does make me feel supported by my school,” said Vera Wreh, eighth grade NPFH ambassador at MVHA. “It makes me feel like there’s more hope for people to change their ways from being hateful to being more friendly with each other without having to feel like they can’t do anything about it.” 

Last year, the program was expanded to all 16 schools and a District team was created under Dr. Doggett's leadership. In 2023, ADL named Mount Vernon the largest school District in Westchester County where every school received the designation as No Place for Hate.   

"Today's first NPFH Day signifies our school community continues to be energized throughout the District in a unified approach to improving school culture and climate,” said Ms. Kirkland-Hudson. 

Now in its second year of District-wide implementation, the District is the largest school District in Westchester County where every school achieved a Gold Star No Place for Hate designation. Schools receive the gold star designation when they have gone over and beyond to complete more than the required NPFH activities throughout the year. These activities focused on diversity, inclusion, acceptance and allyship.   

“This creates a safe space for our scholars to excel academically and socially,” said Dr. Doggett. “We look forward to making this a yearly celebration of building a positive learning community of respect and inclusivity." 

Mount Vernon students and staff at the No Place for Hate ceremony in New York: