Community Matters used Stop the Hate funding to expand its Safe School Ambassadors Program, an evidence-based, year-round violence prevention model that empowers socially influential students to reduce violence, bullying and hate-based actions on school campuses.
The program equips students with practical, nonviolent communication and intervention skills so they can respond to mistreatment as it happens.
Through the grant, Community Matters trained with 33 school districts and 45 schools, reaching 2,370 students and 417 adults. Students reported using an average of 2.65 Ambassador actions per week, creating thousands of moments of intervention, support and inclusion across participating schools.
The program shows the power of investing in student leadership. Young people are often the first to witness mistreatment and may be aware of situations adults never see. By equipping them to intervene safely, Community Matters helps students become part of the solution and strengthens school communities from within.
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