This week, student leaders took the stage to share how they lead the charge in eradicating hate from their school communities. Student from over 40 school districts convened at the 2026 Eradicate Hate Student Summit to connect with the survivors of tragedies, youth-serving organizations, and their peers to inspire one another in their efforts to combat hate-fueled violence.

Eight student panelists spoke in front of a crowd of over 600 attendees to talk about their experiences with hate and their efforts to combat it through awareness and action.

“At my school we bring students from different backgrounds together to collaborate and work with one another,” said Cayden Bristow, a student panelist from Woodland Hills. “If you remove those barriers of fear, you eliminate the pretense that creates these stereotypes.”

Another panelist, Asher Lardo of Northgate, shared how she created games to play with her peers that provoke discussions about privilege and disparity.

The event closed with a student networking session where students planned to connect in the future to compare their strategies and fight hate across the county.

The panelists connected on social media, with plans to stay in touch and continue collaborating. We’re excited to work together,” said Cayden. “It’s encouraging to see such a big crowd of students who care about stopping hate at the source.”

We thank Eradicate Hate and the LIGHT Initiative for their work in coordinating this impactful, student-led event.