A call for equity and respect, with an audience of 1.3 million

ADL’s No Place for Hate^® event inspires youths at schools across the United States

After reading her poem The Hill We Climb at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, 23-year-old Amanda Gorman became a symbol of courage and hope for a brighter, more just and inclusive global community.

On Oct. 6, Gorman took her message of hope to more than 1.3 million students at 1,800 schools across the United States, speaking to them about how youth can make positive differences in the areas of inclusivity, respect and equity.

The online question-and-answer session kicked off this year’s No Place for Hate® program, as student leaders in Grades 4 through 12 from across the nation came together to explore allyship, identity and change-making—while reflecting on issues of equity and tolerance, and helping to create inclusive school communities.

No Place for Hate® is a signature program of the ADL, one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the United States, established in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry. Through its initiatives, the non-profit reaches millions of Americans each year, teaching people to stand up against hate and secure justice and fair treatment for everyone.

Enbridge has supported ADL’s important work since 2005. In 2021, we awarded No Place for Hate® a grant of $25,000 to help the organization expand its reach and programs to make all students feel safe and welcome in their learning environment.

Hearing from role models like Gorman amplifies student voices, says Dr. Chantel L. Henderson, Education Director for the ADL’s Southwest Region, who helped organize the Oct. 6 event.

“We want children to feel empowered to go back to their schools to build a learning community of inclusivity, respect and equity. If a child feels empowered to do that, then we've done our job,” she says.