'No Place for Hate Summit' at Capitol

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas State Capitol Auditorium is the site on Wednesday and Thursday for "The No Place for Hate Youth Summit."

The event brings together 400 middle school students and educators from 57 school in the Austin area to learn how to combat cyberbullying.

Participants will engage in interactive exercises designed to help them recognize bias and the harm it inflicts on individuals, explore the value of diversity and improve inter-group relations.

This year attendees are committed to using what they learn at the Summit to spread respect on their campuses and bring meaningful anti-bias programs to their schools.

A high school student ensemble group, Changing Lives Theater , perform at the opening session. Ensemble members work together to write and perform original plays that teach peers about issues like teen dating, healthy relationships, bullying and homophobia.

The summit is sponsored by the Austin Anti-Defamation League , the National Council of Jewish Women and the Jewish Federation of Greater Austin .