The Maltz Museum, which builds bridges of tolerance and understanding by sharing Jewish heritage through various exhibits, programs, and other media, in April hosted its 2025 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out contest winners at the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) eastern campus.

Each year, the Beachwood museum awards $100,000 to Northeast Ohio middle and high school students, teachers, and schools who stand up to hate and discrimination through the competition.

Nearly 50,000 Northeast Ohio students have participated in the Stop the Hate program over the past 17 years to help uphold respect and understanding, and more than $1.7 million has been awarded to students and schools.

Youth Speak Out essay and poetry writing is open to Northeast Ohio students in grades six through 12 who are committed to creating a more accepting, inclusive society. This year, more than 4,400 students at more than 160 Northeast Ohio schools participated

Students created essays, poems, and songs reflecting on a quote from artist Marc Chagall: “Despite all the troubles of our world, in my heart I have never given up on the love in which I was brought up…In life, just as on the artist's palette, there is but one single colour that gives meaning to life and art–the colour of love."

FreshWater is sharing the winning works of six students: Jashmina Bista, Addison Captain, Adeline Chalker, Rebecca Ester, Cara Miller, and Lamaree DeShae White. We asked the winners to share their inspiration for their writings and will publish two essays or poems each day this week.

The entire collection of winning essays, poems, and songs can be read on the Maltz Museum website.