OUR STORY
IN THE SPRING OF 2007…
…one of the deadliest campus shootings in U.S. history occurred at Virginia Tech University.
1500 miles away, English teacher Ben Reed decided he’d seen enough. He asked his students for ideas on how they could make a real impact on these tragic events.
And Day Without Hate was born…
Since that day, the grassroots, student-led initiative has reached thousands of students all across the world. From our humble roots of Westminster, Colorado all the way to Germany, Day Without Hate helped students come together in unity, in peace, in understanding and in love.
In 2023, the movement won an Emmy Award from a short documentary that was filmed about the impact this idea has had.
Because of the film’s success, the movement has now grown into a nonprofit organization so that it may serve a broader audience and impact more lives.
We invite you to BE THE CHANGE. Get involved, become a Student Ambassador, share it with your school or the school of someone you know. Donate to our cause, or nominate someone to our advisory board. We believe that everyone has the power to make a difference, it starts with you.
BEN REED
Teacher Founder
Ben’s senior English classes at Standley Lake High School in Westminster, Colorado brainstormed the original idea back in 2007.
“I kind of just threw my lesson plans out the window and started talking,” Reed recalls about his response to the Virginia Tech shootings. As he and the students talked about the devastation, trying to make sense of why they were happening, an idea was born — a day where students could transcend the groups and cliques of high school and come together in support of peace and nonviolence.
Since then, he has spoken at elementary, middle, and high schools to promote the ideals of Day Without Hate – nonviolence, respect, and unity.
ADAM BACA
STUDENT CO-FOUNDER
Adam Baca is one of the 12 student-founders of Day Without Hate. In 2013, he won PeaceJam’s Nobel Peace Laureate’s “Global Call to Action Award” for his work as one of the original student founders.
Adam speaks and leads peace workshops across the United States and is a staff leader at the National Leadership Academy, an intensive four-day academy for high school students, focusing on developing compassionate leaders through education and service.
He believes we are all socially responsible to make the world a better place than we found it.
our mission
We believe that every individual deserves a safe and respectful environment, and we strive to create a culture of empathy, understanding, and unity.
OUR EMMY WINNING FILM
The Day Without Hate Documentary film highlights 15 years of students’ progress toward mental health advocacy, anti-bullying, and nonviolence initiatives. The film has won an Emmy Award, 2 Telly Awards, an Anthem Award, and a Davey Award and garnered acclaim at multiple U.S. and International film festivals, including winning the honor of “Best Social Justice Film.”
KEY MESSAGES
- We believe that every student deserves a safe and respectful environment.
- We believe that every student has the power to make a difference.
- We believe that promoting peace and nonviolence is crucial for creating a positive school culture.
- By implementing this program, we aim to create a culture of peace and nonviolence in our schools, promote respect, empathy, and understanding among students, and provide a safe and supportive environment for students to express themselves and share their concerns.
CORE VALUES
How can love change the world?
EMPOWERMENT
We believe that students should be empowered to take ownership of their actions and become leaders in promoting peace and nonviolence.
COMPASSION
We believe that compassion, empathy, and understanding are essential for creating a culture of peace and nonviolence.
INCLUSION
We believe that every individual deserves to be respected and included, regardless of their background or differences.
Sustainability
We believe that sustainable programs are essential for creating lasting change and impact
A TOP RANKED CHARITY
proud member of:
OUR MISSION
Day Without Hate is a student-led initiative promoting peace, nonviolence, unity, respect, and mental health awareness in our schools and communities. We believe that every individual deserves a safe and respectful environment, and we strive to create a culture of empathy, understanding, and unity through our student-led efforts.
Day Without Hate
600 17th Street
Suite 2800-South
Denver, CO 80202-5428
+1 720-257-9396
Copyright © 2024 • Day Without Hate is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tax ID 99-3484622