Communities & Municipalities

Challenges: How can we...

1. address the impact of national, regional, and local demographic trends?
2. connect to the outside world ?
3. address fear of change, and of things that are different ?
4. address the general intolerance of differences in many communities?
5. generate an interest in making changes?
6. address the challenges that people with disabilities face?

Recommendations:

As a community...

• Teach children not to interact with hate mongers, e.g. not to take their literature, and not to confront them.
• Make relevant parenting programs available to the community.
• Create public forums for discussion of change in demographics.
• Create a multi-cultural task force that: encourages representation of different groups and perspectives; plans multi-cultural events; is a resource to the community when questions arise or incidents occur; and is a voice for under-represented community members at meetings, etc.
• Launch a community-wide campaign of respect and acceptance
• Create programs and groups that bring people together surrounding shared interests and common goals e.g. improving public spaces, schools, quality of life improvements.
• Hold regular multi-cultural dinners/round tables where folks are encouraged to talk about community challenges.
• Invite speakers from under-represented groups to share their stories at town meetings
• Recognize that problems will grow, not disappear, if ignored.
• Recognize the conditions that feed hate and inter-group tensions. Is yours a community at risk?
• Remember that isolated incidents are often symptoms of larger problems.
• Be firm and clear when condemning hate, responding to discrimination and taking corrective action against offenders.
• Create partnerships on various projects: for example, plan human relations training programs with the police; work with the school board to create a multi-cultural diversity committee; advocate for an office to assist victims of hate crimes; co-sponsor a bias prevention forum.
• Hold the media accountable to deal with stories thoughtfully, comprehensively and responsibly.
• Persuade elected officials and government leaders to take a forceful, public stand against intolerance and equally strong stand in favor of unity/ and diversity.
• Encourage the school board to support a curriculum that enhances intergroup understanding, cultural awareness, conflict resolution, and relevant training for all staff.

As individuals...

• Make a conscious effort to get to know people of other races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, socio-economic groups, sexual orientation, etc.
• Raise your concerns about comments or actions that appear prejudicial, even if you are not the target of these actions.
• Support policies, institutions, and businesses that promote inclusion.
• Participate in a community project to reduce disparities in opportunity and well-being.
• Visit other areas of the city, region, or country that allow you to experience parts of other cultures, beyond their food.
• If you are a victim of a hate crime, report every incident. Speaking to the press might be effective also.
• Know your legal rights.
• Do not attend hate rallies. Instead, create alternatives such as unity rallies and community picnics.
• Do not debate white supremacist or other hate mongers on conflict-driven talk shows or public forums. Your presence lends them legitimacy and publicity.
• Lobby politicians, business and community leaders to take a stand against hate.

Recommendations for municipal officials:

• Make acceptance and inclusion of those who are different a visible cause in the community (advertising campaign).
• Encourage and support inclusive policy making.
• Provide financial and public support to community leaders and efforts that engage in the promotion of inclusion and acceptance.
• Provide diversity training to all municipal workers.
• Communicate with the public on diversity-related issues through hearings, advisory committees, newspaper columns, interviews, and one-on-one contacts.
• Communicate openly and frequently with the public. Make it a point to get to know your constituents personally.
• While in many circumstances hate speech is protected under the First Amendment, know that the best response to hate speech is your public declaration affirming equality, diversity and non-violence.
• Publicly recognize and reward institutions and businesses that model inclusion.