IN Canon-Mac Spring 2020 | Page 46

The entire staff at Canon-McMillan High School wore their No Place for Hate shirts in support of this initiative. I No Place for Hate Initiative Begins at Canon-Mac t started with a mural, but it’s going to be so much more. A number of different students came together with Ms. Meg Pankiewicz because they were all troubled by “this intense drive of hate” that seems to have sprung up in our country and across the globe. Mrs. Grace Lani, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, first brought Ms. Pankiewicz in to teach Holocaust Education because that is Ms. Pankiewicz’s passion. Ms. Pankiewicz and a leadership team of students are leading this initiative. “Hate has become this dangerous wave that has not only swept over the city of Pittsburgh but in our nation and in other parts of the world. I have this intense drive to be an agent of 44 CANON-MAC change and do something.” says Ms. Pankiewicz. After a discussion with Mrs. Lani and a national conference on Hate, Antisemitism and Social Responsibility in honor of the year anniversary of the of the Tree of Life shooting was held in Pittsburgh, the No Place for Hate (NPFH) initiative began.. This is where the No Place for Hate (NPFH) Initiative began. In addition to the mural (painted by Mrs. Ashley Schepis, Visual Arts Teacher at the high school and the art club) they made T-Shirts that were designed by the students created by Sandy Cavanuagh, Natalie Johnson and the CM Store and worn by students, staff, and even the administrative office personnel. They also had a No Place for Hate week that started the Tuesday after Martin Luther King Jr. day in January. That Tuesday in January they asked students and staff to wear blue because it represents unity, peace and empathy. Wednesday was college sweatshirt day because education is a key factor in the fight against hate, prejudice and bigotry. Thursday they were asked to wear Pittsburgh Team Colors to continue the City of Pittsburgh’s “Stronger than Hate” campaign that began after the Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and Friday they wore the No Hate Just Love T-Shirts that were designed by the students (and pictured). The cafeteria department personnel also contributed by including