Stop The Hate - Fall 2026
The 2026-27 school year is fast approaching, and with that, we are thrilled to announce that we are welcoming interest forms for Classroom teachers interested in Stop the Hate: Youth Sing Out songwriting workshops in their middle and high school classrooms. Our songwriting workshops are a flagship programs here at ROOTS, and a phenomenal tool to facilitate a shared experience in your classroom through meaningful conversation, songwriting, and recording. Made possible through the generosity of the Maltz Museum, this experience is available at no cost to 45 classrooms in Cleveland and surrounding Northeast Ohio counties during fall 2026.
Last year Stop the Hate Teaching Artists—Mikey Silas, Sam Hooper, Jul Green, Charlie Mosbrook, Kennedy Nagel, Esther Fitz, and Matt “Cutty” Banner—collectively wrote songs with 43 classes and 851 students!
Check out the winning High School song below. Rhodes School of Environmental Studies led by Matt “Cutty” Banner wrote the song “You Don’t Know Me” during their fall songwriting workshop. This classroom of passionate students then took their song to the next level, making band shirts and a full music video! Watch it below.
An information session on all Stop there Hate programing, including the essay writing and poetry competition, will take place next Monday, August 10, 2026. Any interested teachers or school administrators are welcome to register and attend for presentations by Maltz Staff, community partners from Lake Erie Ink, and ROOTS Executive Director, Taylor Lamborn.
Maltz Museum 2929 Richmond Rd, Beachwood, OH 44122
Lunch & Learn with Stop the Hate & Peace Literacy Institute
August 10, 2026, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | $25
Lunch provided, registration required
Join the Maltz Museum and the Peace Literacy Institute for an afternoon of learning, connection, and practical classroom inspiration. Whether you are new to the Stop the Hate program or looking to deepen student engagement, discover how our flexible enrichment opportunities can be customized and combined to support your classroom goals.
Throughout the afternoon, you’ll connect with fellow educators, museum staff, and community partners while discovering new ways to engage students.
Learn about the 2026-27 Stop the Hate Scholarship Competition, including this year’s prompt, deadlines, and classroom engagement opportunities.
Explore the Peace Literacy Institute’s curriculum and strategies for teaching about dehumanization, rehumanization, and empathy.
Experience the Past in Progress: A Maltz Museum Stop the Hate Tourand the resource available to support classroom learning.
Discover free writing and songwriting workshops from Lake Erie Ink and ROOTS of American Music that help students creatively engage with Stop the Hate themes
Leave with ready-to-use resources that connect museum experiences to meaningful reflection, creative expression, and student learning.
Additionally, teachers and school administrators interested in bringing Stop the Hate Workshops to their classrooms can sign up here: Sign Up
Any songwriters interested in joining our teaching artist team, email programs@rootsofamericanmusic.org