Be Proactive
Stand UP for your community!
The topics of hate and hate-based violence can feel overwhelming and scary.
However, all it takes is one brave upstander to make a difference. Each Upstander action that you take, no matter how small, contributes to a safer, kinder world.
Remember that hateful ideas can hide behind jokes, funny videos, memes, and comments about peopleโs identities. You might face peer pressure to laugh at or agree with something hateful. Itโs hard to disagree with your friends. However, a true friend will respect you for sharing your opinion. When you decide to stand up to hate, youโre making your community safer for everyone.
In addition to reacting to acts of hate, you can be proactive. If you create a more positive and welcoming community, you can stop hate before it even starts. Reach out to someone sitting alone at lunch or help a classmate who is struggling with a homework assignment. These small acts of kindness strengthen protective factors.
A protective factor protects someone from turning to violence. These protective factors are important for community safety and wellbeing.
Protective Factors
(but are not limited to):
- Friendships and social support
- Doing well in school
- Access to medical care and mental health services
- Having a faith community
- Living in a connected community
- Living in a community that doesnโt tolerate violence
- Connecting with safe adults
If someone doesnโt have all these protective factors in their life, that does not mean that they will become violent. Donโt assume that someone who seems lonely or makes bad grades is dangerous. Most people never turn to violence
These protective factors help someone to have a healthy, good life. Most importantly, remember that you have the power to help a peer who might be missing some of these protective factors!
WAYS YOU CAN STRENGTHEN EACH PROTECTIVE FACTOR
- Branch out and make new friends.
- Befriend someone who seems lonely.
- Stand up for someone being bullied orย cyberbullied.
- Consider becoming a tutor for another student.
- Talk to your teachers about how you can help struggling students.
- Start a study group.
- Encourage someone to see school counselor.
- Be curious about the beliefs of your classmate or coworkers.
- Offer to include your friends in your faith community.
- Talk to members of your faith community about the importance of welcoming new people.
- Attend school and community events; bring someone new with you to community events.
- Volunteer for community organizations.
- Bring your friends to volunteer days.
- Organize a trash clean up and invite your whole grade.
- Talk to your friends about upending hate and hate-based violence.
- Step in when someone is being bullied.
- Build relationships with teachers, coaches, counselors, or mentors.
- Encourage your friends to build similar relationships.
- Invite friends to your house to hangout.
This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, opportunity number DHS-23-GPD-067-00-01.
Eradicate Hate Global Summit
500 Grant Street, Suite 4500
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2514
info@eradicatehatesummit.org