North Hills' Do No Harm Student Conference focused on leadership, empathy, inclusion

Approximately 50 North Hills students in grades 7-12 participated in the first-ever Do No Harm Student Conference on Friday, Feb. 13, a day dedicated to reflection, meaningful conversation and student-led leadership aimed at shaping safer, more inclusive school communities.

The conference opened with remarks from Director of Student and Community Engagement LaMont Lyons, who grounded the day in themes of remembrance, responsibility and the important role young people play in shaping school culture.

Students then participated in a powerful panel discussion with Tree of Life shooting survivor Marty Gaynor and Peg Durachko, alongside moderator Ranisa Davidson. All three are members of the REACH Speakers Bureau, an initiative of the 10.27 Healing Partnership that brings survivors and family members impacted by the Oct. 27, 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting into schools and community spaces to share their stories and promote education, empathy and resilience. REACH stands for Remember, Educate and Combat Hate.

Eleven worshippers were killed in the 2018 attack in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.

During the panel, Gaynor and Durachko shared personal perspectives on resilience, community response and the responsibility we all carry to stand against hate. Students engaged thoughtfully, asking courageous questions that reflected empathy and a genuine desire to lead with integrity.

Gaynor emphasized resilience, sharing, “I refuse to let the haters win. I’m not going to let them win.”

Durachko, whose husband Richard Gottfried was killed in the shooting, encouraged students to lead with compassion. “I am here because of you,” she said. “I want to encourage you to remain good hearted and encourage others, and maybe we can eradicate hate.”

Before transitioning into formal training, students heard from a fellow classmate. Senior MBA Aseko shared his personal journey of coming to North Hills from Spain, describing the uncertainty and isolation he initially felt and how one intentional act of kindness changed his experience. That moment of inclusion helped him feel seen and valued, and this year he said he was able to “pay it back” by supporting a new student facing a similar transition. His story served as a powerful reminder that school culture is often shaped by one person choosing to act.

The morning continued with a Do No Harm student training led by Pittsburgh-area cultural competency consultant Dr. Donald Sheffield. Through interactive discussion and reflection activities, students explored how everyday choices — words, actions and even silence — can either cause harm or promote belonging. Dr. Sheffield challenged participants to consider their influence as leaders, teammates, classmates and community members.

As a culminating activity, students wrote down ways they plan to personally spread the Do No Harm message within their schools and beyond. Their responses focused on speaking up when harm occurs, modeling respect, including others and using their leadership platforms to create positive change.

Students concluded the conference with a shared commitment to make “Do No Harm” more than a slogan but a daily practice. The experience reinforced that school culture is shaped not only by policies, but by people, and that students themselves are powerful agents of change.

About Do No Harm

Introduced by the district in 2024, the Do No Harm initiative promotes kindness and inclusion and aligns with North Hills’ mission to foster a safe and welcoming school environment for all. At North Hills, we Do No Harm by our actions, words, and thoughts.

The initiative is inspired by lyrics from Pittsburgh-area cultural competency consultant Dr. Donald Sheffield and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his powerful words: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."