Stop The Hate: Youth Sing Out
Racism, bullying, bigotry and violence remain a challenge for our communities – and our youth have something to say about it.
Thanks to a groundbreaking program partnership between Roots of American Music, the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, youth have a unique opportunity to speak out against hate. We want your school to be part of it.
Stop the Hate: Youth Sing Out allows youth in area middle schools and high schools to engage in this difficult topic, learn more about how hate affects us all, and become a voice for tolerance in their communities. Participating students will not only have a powerful cultural and educational experience, but will also learn to be advocates, to express themselves and to become agents of change.
Our program begins with a very special visit to the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, where expert staff provide a Stop the Hate tour, giving insight into the context of hate and racism in our culture. Taking this knowledge back to their classrooms, students reflect on issues of diversity and tolerance, and work with the expert artistic staff from Roots of American Music to create their own original compositions on these themes. All of the participating schools come together at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, where students take the stage to present their work to each other, to share and learn with and from their peers. One winning middle school performance and one high school performance will be awarded cash prizes and invited to perform again at the Maltz Museum’s annual gala event.
Last year, more than 1,400 students from area schools participated, including Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District, East Cleveland and Lakewood City Schools and schools in Lorain County. This year, we want your school to be one of them!
To find out how your school can qualify for this unique program, including trips to the Maltz Museum, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an arts residency with Roots of American Music and even free busing, please contact Mr. Tam Sivertson at tam@rootsofamericanmusic.org or at the office #(216) 321 9350.
This Fall, Stop the Hate: Youth Sing Out is going virtual! ROAM will begin an online version of Stop the Hate: Youth Sing Out in September 2020.
Stop The Hate 2023-2024 Winners & Runner-ups HS and MS
First Place High School: “The Sad Truth” Max S. Hayes High School, Period 3, Combined 11th & 12th-grade classes. Classroom Teachers: Mrs. Laverne McLain and Mrs. Barthelma Adams. ROAM Teaching Artist: Sam Hooper.
Runner-Up High School: “One Voice For Harmony” Max S. Hayes High School, Period 2, Combined 10th & 12th-grade classes. Classroom Teachers: Mrs. Laverne McLain & Mrs. Barthelma Adams. ROAM Teaching Artist: Sam Hooper.
First Place Middle School: “Break It, Break It, Break It”. Harding Middle School, Period 1, 6th Grade Choir. Classroom Teacher: Mrs. Lisa Blasko. ROAM Teaching Artist: Charlie Mosbrook.
Runner-Up Middle School: “Reclaim Our Fate”. Harding Middle School, Period 2, 8th Grade Choir. Classroom Teacher: Mrs. Lisa Blasko. ROAM Teaching Artist: Charlie Mosbrook.
Stop The Hate 2022-2023 Winners & Runner-ups HS and MS:
First Place High School Mayfield High School, “Where Does the Fault Lie?” Written by Kari Beery’s 6th Period Class with Roots of American Music Teaching Artist Taylor Lamborn
Runner-up High School Midview High School, “Life is Full of Color” Written by William Lawton’s 1st Period Class with Roots of American Music Teaching Artist Ray Flanagan
First Place Middle School Milkovich Middle School, “Harmony” Written by Mary Matisak’s 5th Period, 3rd Quarter Class with Roots of American Music Teaching Artist Esther Fitz
Runner-up Middle School Newton D. Baker School of Arts, “Respect is a Two-Way Street” Tamara Blair’s 7th Grade, 1st Period Class with Roots of American Music Teaching Artist Bethany Svoboda
Stop The Hate 2021-2022 Winners & Runner-ups HS and MS:
Middle School Category
1st place, Garfield Middle School, for their song: “Tell Me (My Life Matters)”
Runner Up,Clark Elementary School for their song: “Revenge Is Not The Way”
High School Category
1st Place, Beachwood High School, for their song: “Speak Out”
Runner Up, Glenville High School, for their song: “Skittles”
Stop The Hate 2020-2021 Winners & Runner-ups HS and MS:
Middle School Category
1st place: “Stand Up and Talk About It” written by Andrea Soncina 7th grade class at Harding Middle School.
High School Category
1st place: “Daybreak” written by Kari Berry’s 8th period HS class at Mayfield High School
Stop The Hate 2019-2020 Winners & Runner-ups HS and MS:
Middle School Category
1st place, Wade Park School, for their song: “Yours N Mines”
Runner Up, is Newton D. Baker School of Arts for their song: “Fight The Hate, Don’t Discriminate”
High School Category
Winner: Cleveland Heights High School had two co-winning songs:
"We Can Change The World” and “ETAH”.
Second Place Midview # 1 for the song: “Unjustifiable”.
2019-2020 Stop The Hate - Participating Middle Schools
2019-2020 Stop The Hate - Participating High Schools
Stop The Hate 2018-2019 Winners & Runner-ups HS and MS:
Middle School Category
1st place, Garfield Middle School, two classes tied for their songs, "Guns Down" and "Turn Around"
High School Category
1st place tie, Midview High School, for their song "New America" and Shaw High School, for their song "Win"
- Read the lyrics for these songs on the Maltz Museum website -