Santa Monica United Against Hate
Sunday, October 19th, kicked off United Against Hate Week activities. United Against Hate Week began in 2017. Partnering with LA vs Hate, a county-wide initiative launched in response to rising hate crimes, and Not In Our Town in Berkeley, which produces films and educational resources to confront racism and bigotry, the campaign empowers residents to recognize, report, and resist hate through education, art, and community action.
Parent-leaders such as Erika Bell, Executive Vice President of the Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs, learned about the movement in 2022. She joined the LA vs Hate Education Work Group with the intention to bring USC’s Theatre of the Oppressed—a powerful program using drama to challenge injustice—to Santa Monica High School students with “the intention of bringing more awareness about the campaign to the SMMUSD community,” Erika explains.
To grow the movement, it made sense to start with elementary schools. A week of chalk art, kindness campaigns, and theme days focused on unity and compassion incorporated seamlessly into the TK-5 curriculum, pioneered by Danielle Litak, Roosevelt PTA VP of Community Concerns and the SMMPTA Council Legislation Chair. Erika and Delana Gbenekama, then Acting Communications and Public Information Manager as well as the current Equity and Communications Program Manager, proposed the first United Against Hate resolution to the city in 2023.
In order to involve secondary school students this year, Erika joined Claudia Batista, President of the Santa Monica CTA (Classroom Teachers Association), April Anderson, the VP of Organization at SAMO, and other SMMUSD/community leaders. Over several meetings, they added poetry—historically an anti-hate medium—to the mix. Students were invited to submit original poems aligned with the theme “I Belong” for both United Against Hate and the national PTA Reflections contest. SMMUSD delivered their first resolution supporting the week as well.
At the city council meeting this past Tuesday, October 14th, the City of Santa Monica formally issued the third consecutive proclamation. Erika worked closely with Delana Gbenekama, Senior Program Manager, HR and Communications at the City. They both presented on the week’s activities after Mayor Lana Negrete read the proclamation aloud. With the words of the proclamation echoing in our hearts, Santa Monica Poet Laureate, Anne Carmack, introduced Indigo Khosa, a SAMO freshman, who read her standout poem to a room full-to-standing, including scores of teens. We all couldn’t help clapping. Luckily, the mayor encouraged us to break protocol!
On Sunday, the community gathered on the Promenade for a full afternoon of programming spearheaded by a committed coalition of parents, educators, the Fire Department, and city leaders. All share a vision of a safety powered by inclusiveness, equity, and belonging.
On Sunday afternoon on the Promenade, this vision turned literal under the tutelage of local artist Jill Jurenka. Known for her vibrant sidewalk chalk art, Jill first used her talents to uplift her Grant Elementary school community and to thank district employees during lockdown. Her art blossomed into a powerful community movement of solidarity, creativity, and hope, of which were on display, adorning the once-bare street.
Local artist Tamra Raven brought a collaborative coloring poster for families to complete together. Her husband’s band, Captain Danger, rocked out. The live music closed with an inspiring rendition of Come Together.
To voice their support, residents and businesses can pick up free Signs of Solidarity yard signs and posters, available in English and Spanish, at City Hall and Virginia Avenue Park.
The Fire Department offered hands-on CPR demonstrations. Equipping residents with tools to safely respond to hate incidents, Erika and others demonstrated bystander intervention techniques, which will be expanded upon in the city-sponsored bystander training on Oct 23rd at the library, and encouraged community members to report incidents of hate to 211 so that these can be tracked and addressed.
For the first time, Bahala joins the city as a partner in United Against Hate. Inspired by the theme, I’ll be facilitating a short writing workshop at Coffee & Connections this coming Friday. It’s amazing what can be expressed when we write in community for even a few minutes. I look forward to unfolding the magic with you, as we cap off United Against Hate Week.
Above all, this week is a reminder that Santa Monica neighbors stand united against hate. Through poetry, sidewalk chalk art, music, practical safety skills, and enjoying being together, our community is choosing courage, kindness, and connection. We all belong here—and we all have a responsibility in making sure everyone else knows they do, too.
Jessica Cole