Youth and Education

Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes


Youth and Education

About Hate Crimes
Frequently Asked Questions
Information on Hate Symbols
Victim Support
Youth and Education
Reports and Statistics

About Hate Crimes

Frequently Asked Questions

Information on Hate Symbols

Victim Support

Youth and Education

Reports and Statistics


OPHC understands that hate is learned, but it can also be unlearned. By prioritizing education initiatives and the creation of curricular resources for youth, OPHC has engaged in long-term approaches to preventing hate crimes in New York City through:

HeARTwork Against Hate Contest

Heroes Against Hate

Youth Leadership Council Against Hate

HeARTwork Against Hate Contest

The HeARTwork Against Hate is a creative initiative for New York City youth launched by the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes in September 2020.

It is important to support young New Yorkers at a time of great stress resulting from the combination of a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, school changes, scapegoating, and issues of systemic racism that have come to the fore. HeARTwork Against Hate is an opportunity and a platform for young New Yorkers to use artistic expression as an outlet.

Learn more about HeARTwork Against Hate

Heroes Against Hate

The NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) in partnership with NYC-based comic book artist Michael O’Shea, created the Comic Book Project, and, in partnership with OPHC, focused the 2020 project on the theme, “Heroes Against Hate.”

The comic book tells the story of young New Yorkers joining forces with “Nurse Healthy” to battle the villain “Mr. No Mask” to bring New Yorkers together against hate, discrimination, and harassment.

View the “Heroes Against Hate” comic book

Youth Leadership Council Against Hate

The OPHC joined the NYC Youth Leadership Councils (YLCs) organized by NYC Service & Generation NYC to form its own Youth Leadership Council Against Hate (YLCAH). The YLCs are a network of youth groups focused on policy, practice, and advocacy to make local change happen—each YLC is a space to team up with others, share ideas, create solutions, and put those solutions into action with support from City agencies, schools, and community organizations.

Unfortunately, applications for OPHC's Youth Leadership Council Against Hate are currently closed. For other opportunities with YLCs across New York City, please visit this website.