Year in Review: The Not in Our Town Network in 2014

As we reflect on another year of the Not in Our Town network’s transformative work to end hate, there are countless moments of courage, resilience, and problem solving. Here are highlights from 2014 from communities, schools, and law enforcement agencies.

Left: Kamal Saini, Amardeep Keleka, Officer Sam Lenda, and Harpreet Saini at Waking in Oak Creek premiere in March. Right: Teens leads vigil after Kansas City-area hate crimes in April.

In January, after many requests from elementary teachers looking for anti-bullying resources, we launched our first elementary Not In our School film, featuring students from Grimmer Elementary School as they explored the impact of bullying and ways to be an upstander.

In February, we showcased two upstanders for Black History Month. Meanwhile, college students across the country took action after racist acts.

In March, we returned to Oak Creek, WI to premiere our powerful new documentary, Waking In Oak Creek, about the 2012 hate crime which shattered lives - but not the resilience of the community. Since the March premiere, more than 800 communities, schools and law enforcement agencies have requested the film.

In April, we partnered with Kansas City Public Television to spread the inspiring community response to hate shootings at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, KS on the day before Passover.

Left: Leaders gather in Billings, MT for the National Leadership Gathering in June. Right: Michael Brown's death in Ferguson, MO in August sparked local and national conversation about race and police-community relations.

In May, Not In Our Town CEO Patrice O’Neill joined Cook County, IL Assistant State’s Attorney Joy Repella in a webinar titled, “Prosecuting Hate Crimes,” hosted by the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

In June, we hosted the National Leadership Gathering in Billings, MT, the city that sparked the Not In Our Town movement 20 years ago. The Gathering brought together leaders from 46 communities in 21 states, all committed to making their towns and schools safe for their children and their neighbors.

In July, Not In Our Town CEO Patrice O’Neill and Not In Our School Director Becki Cohn-Vargas shared five lessons from remarkable everyday heroes who have faced down hate, in response to the New York Times op-ed, “White, Bigoted, and Young: The Data of Hate.”

In August, unarmed teen Michael Brown was fatally shot by police officer in Ferguson, MO. In the wake of the tragedies in Ferguson and across the nation, we spotlighted conversations happening on the ground, focused on finding a way forward.

Left: Teen band Galvanized Souls partnered with Not In Our School for National Bullying Prevention Month in October. Right: Not In Our Town Bloomington spreads the word about safety and inclusion with a pledge and proclamation campaign in December.

In September, the Marshalltown, IA City Council voted unanimously in favor of supporting the local Not In Our Town group’s prevention work, a key commitment in their efforts to become a Not In Our Town Gold Star City. We also shared NIOT leader Paul Sheridan’s work supporting a Not In Our Town group in Slovakia.

In October, our Not In Our School program hosted a month of stories and resources for National Bullying Prevention Month, partnering with youth rock band, Galvanized Souls.

In November, we explored the Hate Crimes Reporting Gap on NIOT.org/COPS, and shared other key resources that will help bridge the gap between the hate crimes that occur and those that are reported.

In December, the Not In Our Town Bloomington group unveiled a pledge and proclamation campaign to erase bigotry and promote inclusion, including billboards in the Bloomington-Normal area.

Everyone can do something to stand up to hate. Help us continue to make a difference in 2015.