The Stronger Than Hate Challenge demonstrates the power of learning from the past and raising one’s voice to counter hate. The Challenge is presented by USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education (USC Shoah Foundation) and Discovery Education, the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. 

 “Student voices have the power to change the world. The Stronger Than Hate Challenge empowers students to raise their voices through the power of storytelling to not only counter hate, but promote empathy, understanding, and respect as well,” said Lesly Culp, USC Shoah Foundation’s Interim Director of Education. “We are eager to see the submissions this year and thank Discovery Education for their continued partnership. Together, we are building a more just and equitable society through education.” 

Previous finalists and winners submitted projects on a range of relevant and impactful topics that addressed hate in their communities. The 2021 winner – Madhalasa I. from Plano Senior High School of the Plano Independent School District in Texas – created the multi-media poem emphasizing the importance of standing up for what’s right in order to stop history from repeating itself. The Challenge, which can be self-guided or teacher led, provides students with a platform to address key issues in their communities by creating projects addressing the themes of identity, diversity, inclusion, and more. View all the previous winners here. 

The Stronger Than Hate Challenge builds upon Teaching with Testimony – USC Shoah Foundation and Discovery Education’s no-cost, standards-aligned educational initiative. This program provides educators with high-quality digital resources that empower students to create a better future by listening to and learning from the testimony of survivors and witnesses of genocide. 

“The Stronger Than Hate Challenge exemplifies the power of connecting students to social and emotional learning as a tool to improve the world,” said Lori McFarling, President of Social Impact at Discovery Education. “Since 2018, we’ve had the honor to collaborate with USC Shoah Foundation on this important initiative. Social and emotional wellness is critical for growth and confidence, and we are committed to empowering students with the resources they need to combat hate and build resilient empathy.” 

Learn more about the Challenge and the partnership at TeachingwithTestimony.com/challenge and within the Teaching Tolerance channel on Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform. 

For more information about Discovery Education’s digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn. 

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About USC Shoah Foundation
USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education develops empathy, understanding and respect through testimony, using its Visual History Archive of more than 55,000 video testimonies, award-winning IWitness education program, and the Center for Advanced Genocide Research. USC Shoah Foundation’s interactive programming, research and materials are accessed in museums and universities, cited by government leaders and NGOs, and taught in classrooms around the world. Now in its third decade, USC Shoah Foundation reaches millions of people on six continents from its home at the University of Southern California. 

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide EdTech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 140 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading EdTech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.  

Contacts
Ron Demeter | USC Shoah Foundation | uscsfpress@usc.edu 

Grace Maliska | Discovery Education | gmaliska@discoveryed.com 

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