Stop the Hate:Can't We All Just Get Along?

In a city-wide campaign to "Stop the Hate" in Cleveland neighborhoods, our club members came up with creative ways to combat the violence and crime that they see all around them. Each club presented their ideas at our annual board meeting last Wednesday to show that they are serious about "stopping the hate" in their lives. Here are some photos and a few of the poems that the students read.

"Stop The Violence"
Lives Lead On The Wrong Path

With Twist And Turns That A Create Horrible Aftermath

Families Broken Apart All Because You Wanted A Name

But In The End You Just Thrusting Yourself Into The Flames 

Lives Taken Away By Drugs And Violence

And Put Into An Eternal Silence 

Guns Fired Over Alleged Words

Just Stop The Violence And Let Your Voice Be Heard

-Brenda A. Brown

Broadway Club Member

“If the World was Blind”

      By Anna McBride

Why is the color on the outside of me so important to you?

Who would you like me to be? What would you like me to do?

Do you want everyone to act and look exactly the same?

All the hate and the fighting people like you are to blame.

Sometimes I wish that the whole world was blind

so you could only see people for what’s on the inside.

We would all look at the world through non-judgmental eyes

This hate is getting us no where can’t you just realize?

If only the world was blind…
-read by Karessa W. and Shylah S.
Broadway Club Members

“For the Boy”

By Erin

I cried for the boy who never knew me.

I cried for the boy because he was different.

I cried for the boy when they teased him.

I cried for the boy when they hurt him.

I cried for the boy when they took it too far.

I cried for the boy when he took his life into his own hands and left this world.

I cried for the boy because I saw this all happen.

I cried because I never said anything to stop it.

I cried because I laughed at their jokes.

I cried because he never hurt anyone.

I cried because he was alone.

I cried for his family.

I cried for not talking to him when I knew I could have been a friend.

I cried for the life he will never experience.

I cried for the boy I should have known.

                                                            -read by Kashjaona W. and DeSeana M.

                                                            Broadway Club members