February 29, 2024 – DHC was on hand at All Hallows High School in The Bronx last month to help establish The All Hallows History, Civics & Genocide Prevention Academy (HCGPA), an extracurricular initiative targeting 9th and 10th graders, which uses civics and world history, and continue the school’s 115-year legacy of fostering tolerance and inclusivity.

“This academy will guide students through exploring civics and history with a focus on conflict resolution and preventing genocide,” said Sean Crowley, partner in the Government Relations Group at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP. “By adapting their rigorous curriculum into an enriched extracurricular platform, with guest speakers, cultural exchange and travel, the academy seeks to promote student understanding and growth in combating all forms of hate and bigotry.”

Addressing the surge in hate crimes and intolerance across the US, the academy aims to counterbalance this trend. Notably, anti-Semitic incidents reached an all-time high in 2022, as reported by the Anti-Defamation League, reaching nearly 3,700 cases.  Covering a range of critical topics, the HCGPA curriculum includes discussions on fascism, respect for differences, the consequences of prejudice, democracy’s fragility, historical conflicts (World War I and II), the Holocaust, genocide, and global case studies on truth and reconciliation.

DHC Partner and Chair of the Healthcare Law practice, Derek Wolman, Secretary and Director at the Raymond and Gloria Naftali Foundation, expressed admiration for All Hallows’ commitment to inclusivity, tolerance, and leveraging history in education. He praised the school’s track record of educating over 10,000 young men, many from immigrant families.

“All Hallows encourages experiential learning modules, such as this vital pilot program funded by the Raymond and Gloria Naftali Foundation,” remarked Former Congressman Joe Crowley, a board member of All Hallows High School. He emphasized the importance of analyzing past societal failures to prepare informed leaders for the future.

The new HCGPA was created with funding from the Raymond and Gloria Naftali Foundation. Established in 2008, it is a forward-thinking, grant-making institution dedicated to supporting thoughtful, merit and community-based interventions throughout the New York region.

“Hate is a poison that destroys everything around it. As a society, we must work together to understand where hate festers and work to eliminate it so that no future generation has to deal with its disastrous consequences,” said Congressman Ritchie Torres from New York’s 15th Congressional District. “This program will be an important step in educating the next generation to embrace love and unity over hate and division.”

About All Hallows High School Since 1909, All Hallows has provided a high-quality Catholic education to over 10,000 young men. The institution prioritizes a safe, thoughtful, and inspiring academic environment, ensuring students’ success, exemplified by 100% of the Class of 2023 being accepted into four-year colleges.