Eradicate Hate Global Summit 2026
Student Summit
The annual Eradicate Hate Student Summit in Pittsburgh is a one-day event occurring concurrently with the annual Global Summit that brings together high school students and educators to catalyze youth-led efforts to prevent hate-fueled violence. Coordinated by Eradicate Hate, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU), the LIGHT Education Initiative, and Tree of Life, the Student Summit empowers students to eradicate hate in their schools and communities by connecting them with survivors, providing access to youth-serving organizations, and launching student-led, peer-to-peer projects that continue throughout the school year.
Notably, the Student Summit is the only event in southwestern PA that brings school districts together in collaboration, rather than in competition with one another.
2025 Student Summit
The September 2025 Student Summit included 450 attendees from 35 schools across Allegheny County, Westmoreland County, Butler County, Pittsburgh Public Schools, and a school from Pasadena, TX. The Grable Foundation and Benedum Foundation graciously provided $1,000 to each of the 34 southwestern PA schools to design and deliver impactful programming on their campuses.
Students who completed the 2025 Student Summit post-event survey reported the following:
- 96% reported feeling more empowered to act as an agent of change in their communities as a result of attending the Student Summit.
- 88% reported gaining skills and experiences through the Student Summit that they can use in the future.
In addition, 77% of the returning schools that attended the 2025 Student Summit reported improvements in their school climate as a result of their school’s previous participation in past Student Summits.
Student Summit Reconvening
Every spring, schools that participated in the most recent Student Summit are invited to gather together again. While the initial Student Summit focuses on inspiring, preparing, and empowering students to take action, the annual Reconvening event celebrates student-led initiatives to eradicate hate and connects students to resources and to one another to further boost the reach and impact of their work.
The next Reconvening will take place on March 9, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium.
Rapid Growth of the Student Summit
The Student Summit has grown exponentially since its inception in 2022, with a total of 950 student attendees over the past 3 years.
- 2023: 150 attendees from 14 schools across 13 AIU school districts
- 2024: 350 attendees from 29 schools, including all 14 schools returning from 2023
- 2025: 450 attendees from 35 schools, with the same 14 original schools returning plus 15 new districts across Allegheny County, Westmoreland County, Butler County, Pittsburgh Public Schools, and a school from Pasadena, TX
Partners
