ILLINOIS (25News Now) – Illinois officials announced this week that they are bringing a federal competition program to the state level in an effort to prevent hate in high schools.
Invent2Prevent is a national competition put on by the Department of Homeland Security. Illinois leaders liked what they saw in Washington, so they are teaming up with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and EdVenture Partners to create a statewide competition.
Each high school participating in Illinois Invent2Prevent will receive $1,000, which students will use to create a program designed to stop targeted hate and violence.
“They are not made by a bunch of adults sitting around telling students, ‘Here’s what your experience is, and here’s how we should tell you how to make things better.’ These are students expressing what their experiences are,” said Claire Moravec, a deputy director at the Illinois Office of Homeland Security.
The initial pilot program is for five high schools. Leaders say they are committed to having schools from throughout Illinois in the program. It will run from January to May next year. The second session beginning in Fall 2025 will expand to 20 schools.
During the project, students will be advised by experts on targeted hate and violence, but the project they create and implement will be their own.
“Myself and another professor will be available as coaches to provide some specialized insight, but we’re really just looking forward to seeing what students envision and design for themselves,” said Laurie Rice, a professor of Political Science at SIUE.
After students put their program in place, they will measure how effective it is. Then, schools can participate in a competition at SIUE in May. Selected teams may be chosen to compete at the national level.
The five slots are first come, first served. Schools interested can reach out to EdVenture Partners or the Illinois Office of Homeland Security.
Even though only five schools will be selected, leaders say that schools shouldn’t be discouraged from applying. They want students from different regions of the state to learn from each other in May.
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Source: Hate prevention competition brought from the national level to Illinois high schools
