Stop the Hate Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Maltz Museum
Stop the Hate — Empowering Northeast Ohio Students and Teachers
Overview
Stop the Hate invites students in grades 6–12 across Northeast Ohio to use creative work to confront mistreatment and promote respect. The program runs two distinct contests: Youth Speak Out (open to any eligible student) and Youth Sing Out (a songwriting competition available only to classrooms that participate in our complimentary songwriting workshops). We provide free writing and songwriting instruction for middle school, high school, and homeschool groups of 15 or more located in the following counties: Ashland, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne.
Contests and Deadlines
- Youth Speak Out (Essay & Poetry): Open to all eligible students. Poetry submissions are due Thursday, January 22, 2026. Essay submissions are due Thursday, January 15, 2026. Students submit entries through the online student entry portal.
- Youth Sing Out (Songwriting): Available only to classrooms that take part in our free songwriting workshops. The contest includes awards, educational grants, and other opportunities (see workshop details for how to participate).
Why Participate
Stop the Hate is designed to do more than award prizes — it gives young people tools to respond to injustice with empathy and action:
1. Teach students to spot and respond to hate, bullying, and mistreatment through reflective storytelling.
2. Foster empathy by encouraging writing and songs that share diverse perspectives and build mutual understanding.
3. Strengthen creative, literacy, and communication skills while boosting student confidence.
4. Offer public platforms for youth voices, including recognition, performances, scholarships, and awards.
5. Inspire civic engagement and leadership by equipping students with tools for positive community action.
Youth Speak Out — Writing Options
The Youth Speak Out program centers on creative writing as a vehicle for expression and change. Teachers and students can participate at different levels to suit classroom needs:
- Independent student entry: Present the program to learners and let them submit work on their own.
- Curriculum integration: Use Stop the Hate prompts and materials as assignments (personal narratives or poems) for the class.
- Free workshops: Host Lake Erie Ink teaching artists to guide students through a structured workshop series that culminates in contest submissions.
Writing Workshops (Lake Erie Ink)
Lake Erie Ink leads a six-session workshop in which young people examine real-life examples of bullying and mistreatment—whether something they’ve experienced personally, observed, or read about. Through discussion, exercises, and writing practice, students explore empathy, respect, allyship, and ways to imagine a more welcoming community. Each participant creates a final written piece (poem or personal narrative) that is submitted to the Youth Speak Out contest and may be considered for recognition and educational scholarships.
How to Take Part
1. Complete the Maltz Museum’s Workshop Interest Form to express interest in a Lake Erie Ink workshop.
2. Coordinate scheduling with a Lake Erie Ink staff member so workshop sessions can be planned.
3. Before the first workshop session, students must finish the Maltz Museum’s digital Stop the Hate lesson. (Optional: arrange a complimentary in-person visit to the Maltz Museum to complement the workshop experience—visits may occur before, during, or after the workshop.)
4. During the workshop series, students will:
- Reflect on their learning and personal experiences.
- Discuss themes of hate, mistreatment, and how these issues affect individuals and communities.
- Develop language and ideas to express themselves.
- Write a personal narrative or poem that advocates for positive change and submit it to the Youth Speak Out contest.
5. After the program, complete a short program evaluation and a student reflection activity.
Contact and Support
For more information about workshops, contest rules, submission portals, or scheduling a museum visit, complete the Maltz Museum Workshop Interest Form or contact Lake Erie Ink to arrange sessions and get classroom materials.