Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

America is continually growing more diverse. Somewhere around the year 2050, no one race will be a majority in this country. Our diversity is our strength, enriching our businesses, our schools and universities, and our entire nation.

Our nation's future depends on finding new ways for the world's most diverse people to live and work together. But all we have to do is read newspapers, watch TV news, or surf the web to see that racism, prejudice, and discrimination are still very much alive in America.

In the aftermath of the September terrorist attacks, maintaining national unity is more important than ever. While we are not all where we need to be, together we can all get there. There is a role for everyone to play. Young people can be catalysts for change with older generations and serve as role models for the children in their lives. Parents, grandparents, teachers, and neighbors can work together to create schools and communities free of bigotry and bias. Together, we can continue to expand our horizons, grow, and enrich our lives.

Community leaders can leverage their influence to do something today to help end discrimination, prejudice, and bigotry. Because the health of our country and of the world depends upon our ability to engage the next generation, people who work with youth, such as teachers, play a particularly critical role.

• Teach from books that discuss the experiences of the various communities that make up America.
• Implement or appeal to schools to implement curricula
• Visit our Civil Rights Library of curricula and other resources from around the web.
• Visit our intergroup relations initiatives at www.community2000online.org and www.partnersagainsthate.org.

For more resources, please visit these web sites:

• Advice to Educators from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
• Anti-Defamation League
• American Psychological Association
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Talking to Our Children About Racism, Prejudice and Diversity
• All Together Now!
• No Place for Hate: 101 Ways You Can Beat Prejudice
• Hate Hurts: How Children Learn and Unlearn Prejudice
• Youth Noise
• CommUNITY 2000
• Hate Crime Prevention and Response Manual
• Selected Library Resources
• Selected Program Resources
• Partners Against Hate
• Suggested Strategies for Educators
• Anti-Hate Library
• Anti-Bias Curriculum
• Connect for Kids
• Talking to Kids About Terrorism
• Talking with Kids About Tough Issues - an initiative of the Kaiser Family Foundation and Children Now
• The National Mental Health Association
• Helping Children Understand the Terrorist Attacks - Department of Education
• Save The Children, USA

• Donate time to an organization committed to improving intergroup relations. Search our National Database of Civil Rights Organizations to find organizations that could use assistance.
• Organize exchanges, dialogues, and social activities with people of different races, ethnic origins, and religions. For ideas, visit http://www.jointcenter.org/nabre/.
• Visit our Career Center for other ideas.

• Write to elected officials and let them know why their leadership on improving intergroup relations is important.
• Organize a community-based rapid response team to support neighbors who are the targets of hate or bias.
• Write a letter to the editor denouncing bias-motivated incidents and promoting respect.
• Support initiatives that promote positive youth interaction and help break down stereotypes and prejudices.
• Visit our Action Center for more ideas.
• Visit these sites for more information on related advocacy efforts:
  www.unitedagainsthate.org
  www.equalityatwork.org.