San Jose, CA -  Students from Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) programs participated in United Against Hate Week (UAH Week) for the first time on October 19–25, 2025. They joined other youth and educators throughout the county in a call to civic action to stand up against hate, bias, and injustice in schools and the community.

 

The UAH Week campaign was established in 2017 by Bay Area Cities to combat racism. The first convening was held in 2018 by Not in Our Town, an initiative led by Oakland-based nonprofit, The Working Group, aimed at taking action against hate.

 

SCCOE students from Blue Ridge High School, Opportunity Youth Academy, Osborne School, and Sunol and South County Community schools participated in a video campaign sharing why they stand united against hate.

 

"In the past, I've been bullied, and there are zero benefits for bullying people,” said Jeremiah from Sunol Community Sunol. “Bullying breeds hate, and that hate breeds violence. So let's stop the bullying!”

 

Students and school employees who joined SCCOE in participating in the campaign were eligible to receive a free United Against Hate Week shirt.

 

Students and staff from George Shirakawa Sr. Elementary School, Ida Jew Academy and Valle Vista Elementary School, Jackson Academy of Math and Music, Lairon College Preparatory Academy, Live Oak High School, and Morrill Middle School also joined the SCCOE’s local awareness efforts by implementing UAH activities that promoted student civic voice.

“I’m proud of how this campaign gained momentum across all levels of our schools, elementary, middle, and high, and how our students found their passion in standing up against hate,” said Kristina Ravo, Coordinator, History-Social Science and Civic Engagement. “Hearing SCCOE students share their stories with such honesty and vulnerability was incredibly powerful.”

 

The student videos can be found on the SCCOE Instagram page @santaclarasccoe.

 

In addition to publishing videos of SCCOE students on social media, participating schools that used the hashtag SCCUAH received spotlights on the organization's Instagram stories. 

 

The SCCOE’s social media campaign was included in the UAH Week 2025 Calendar of Events alongside other city, county, and nonprofit organizations. The featured activities included mural unveilings, food drives, concert discussions, unity workshops, and more.

 

Employees at the SCCOE also came together, displaying posters and wearing campaign shirts to build awareness from October 19-24.

“In the absence of hate, we create spaces in our schools and in our community where all of our children know they belong and that they can thrive,” said County Superintendent, Dr. David M. Toston, Sr. 

 

Resources for districts, schools, and educators regarding UAH Week are available at https://www.unitedagainsthateweek.org/​