NIOT.org, the digital home of Not In Our Town's films and resources as well as our community, school and law enforcement programs, just got a new look!
Not In Our Town
Young community leaders gather for a photo at the 2006 Not In Our Town National Gathering. Photo by Jackson Hill.
Standing up to build hate-free communities is challenging work. The Not In Our Town National Leadership Gathering is an opportunity for community members and leaders to learn the concrete steps to build a diverse, thriving town.
In this session, you will learn solutions needed in all communities:
Turn apathy and complacency into energy
Keep coalitions proactive
Pass on the knowledge of veteran leaders turn them into mentors for youth
Get civic and business leaders to join in community-based efforts
Bring school boards on board to change school climate
Understand and communicate the impact of hate incidents and bullying
Turn your police department into hate-prevention leaders
Redding honors community leader Eddie McAllister
The president of the Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect (SCCAR)—a Not In Our Town group—was honored by Leadership Redding with its Alumnus of the Year Award. Eddie McAllister was selected for his outstanding community involvement, according to the Redding Record-Searchlight.
McAllister’s community involvement includes serving on the advisory board for the Salvation Army, working with PlusOne Mentors and the Youth Violence Prevention Council. He’s also helped organize the Local National Night Out, the Multicultural Celebration and the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. In 2013, McAllister helped organize Redding’s Global March for Peace and Unity, making his city one of 16 California cities that participated in the March. He is the recipient of the Redding Mayor’s Proclamation for his work in a program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called See the Vision Live the Dream Day. As a Vietnam veteran, Eddie McAllister also helps organize programs to serve the veteran community.
"Dr. King said, ‘Life's most urgent and persistent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” McAllister said after receiving his award, “And this is something I picked up on."
Caroline Tu Farley is a founding member of the Ft. Collins Not In Our Town Alliance (NIOTA). Since the founding in 2005 she has worked in several capacities with the organization, continuing to promote diversity and inclusion in the Ft. Collins community. She started the NIOTA book club in 2009, which is a monthly community group that reads and discusses books from a diversity angle. Caroline serves on the NIOTA Council as Prevention Team Leader and was instrumental in the selection of NIOTA as the best nonprofit in Colorado working with diversity from the Colorado Gay & Lesbian Fund.
Chris Seifert, director of educational services for Montana PBS, teaches students how to conduct an interview during a class at the Billings Public Library. The students will interview people involved in the Not In Our Town movement. Photo Credit: Billings Gazette
Billings, MT students engage in a project to tell stories about Not In Our Town through video and other media, including their town’s successful efforts to stand up to white supremacist hate crimes, according to the Billings Gazette.
West High School students from a combined English and American History class began meeting twice a week in January to learn about Not In Our Town events from local activists. The students also received a crash course in journalism practices to apply to their projects.
Source: Time.Com, Kristallnacht in Words and Photographs
By Becki Cohn-Vargas, Not In Our School Director
If you ever wondered what one person can do, meet Susan Guess. After her 8-year old daughter was bullied two years ago, she moved into action together with her daughter to raise awareness and get her whole community involved in anti-bullying activities.
Bowling Green Community Stands Together Against Racist Tweets, Again
There's been exciting things afoot at the Not In Our Town project headquarters. We're expanding our programs, developing new resources to help you on the ground, and making new films that showcase the amazing power of communities who stand together.
We would like to know more about you—changemakers in the movement to stop hate—and how we can help you.
Please take three minutes to answer a few short questions. It would help us tremendously.
Why now?
On June 10, George Zimmerman will stand trial on second-degree murder charges for shooting unarmed Florida teen Trayvon Martin. The 2012 shooting sparked a national conversation about racial profiling and the need to address it both in our cities and in our classrooms.
Last year, our Not In Our School program joined the NAACP, the National Educators Association, Facing History and Ourselves, Teaching Tolerance, the American Federation of Teachers, and other groups to distribute resources and materials on standing up to racial profiling.
As this case re-enters the national spotlight, let's find ways to talk about racial profiling and how can we can create environments that are safe and inclusive for all.
Click here to find Racial Profiling Curriculum & Resources