Mobilizing Communities and Building Hate and Bias Action Teams

Locations:  The program will include five cities or towns to be determined in conjunction with the Bureau of Justice Assistance.  Jurisdictions expressing interest include Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Bloomington-Normal (IL), and Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties (CA).  Target beneficiaries include all residents of an area, with an emphasis on all underserved/hate-targeted communities.

Funds Requested:  $300,000

Other Federal Funds:  None at present. In some locations NIOT will seek to partner with law enforcement agencies receiving federal hate crimes funding.

Data Plan for Hate Crimes Reporting:  Local NIOT-trained teams will develop a network of trusted individuals and safe spaces through which vulnerable residents can report hate and bias incidents.  Data from this alternative reporting system will used to detect patterns or trends, and shared with law enforcement. Community support actions can respond to specific (or clusters of) incidents to raise vigilance and help prevent future attacks.  Data will be reported to BJA at agreed intervals and in a final report.

Issues, Objectives and Activities:
 

NIOT will assist five communities in raising public awareness about hate crimes and bias incidents and in the formation of diverse Hate and Bias Action Teams in each community.  HBATs work to prevent hate crimes by pinpointing problems before they escalate, promoting community communication and cohesion, building trust between law enforcement and vulnerable community groups, and organizing community support for victims. Activities include community screenings of real-world films to raise awareness; HBAT and LE trainings; establishing alternative HC reporting methods through a web of trusted individuals and safe spaces; bridging the police-community gap through structured interactions; holding ongoing events that encourage cross-community interaction and dialogue; mobilizing community-wide action in the face of significant the acts; and modifying community norms to discourage behaviors and attitudes that lead to acts of hate.

Priority Considerations:  Both 1(A) and 2.

1(A):  Participation of underserved and vulnerable populations is critical to all objectives and activities in this program. Specifics are found in pages 6 through 12.

2:  NIOT has long experience with LE, including development of awareness, guidance and training materials in conjunction with DOJ COPS.  While NIOT has not teamed with an LE institution for this proposal, it seeks BJA input in identifying willing LE partners at program locales.  LE program elements can be found on pages 7 through 13.