Become A No Place For Hate® Community
Since it’s inception in 2001, No Place for Hate® has empowered communities across the region to promote respect for individual and group differences and challenge prejudice and bigotry. Over the years No Place for Hate® has developed into a well-structured program that aims to aid communities in combating bias and in preventing and responding to hate crimes. The result is a program that will impact the lives of people in a community in a way that can improve communication among diverse groups and change attitudes about how to live and work with each other.
How Can My Community Become Designated No Place for Hate®?
1. Establish a No Place for Hate® Committee comprised of representatives from the municipality, law enforcement, local schools and businesses and faith-based and community organizations.
Each community’s No Place for Hate® committee provides a useful foundation for developing infrastructures that are better equipped to handle community conflict and concerns. Too often these groups operate in isolation. No Place for Hate® provides a catalyst to share resources and start an ongoing dialogue about your community.
2. Adopt a proclamation, affirming a commitment to diversity and promoting respect for differences.
An elected municipal officer issues the ADL’s official No Place for Hate® proclamation. The proclamation asserts the community’s dedication to promoting respect and combating bigotry in all forms and to creating an inclusive environment, where an individual feels safe and comfortable coming forward if victimized by hate or discrimination. The message is communicated through local and regional media.
3. Complete at least three or more community-wide anti-bias projects during the course of the year.
Research has indicated that prejudice and discrimination can be reduced with anti-bias education and programs. Projects should educate the community about other cultures and faiths, celebrate diversity, promote respect for differences, initiate discussion among residents and evoke a sense of “community.” Choose from sample programs in the No Place for Hate® Resource Guide for Communities or think of your own.
4. Congratulations! You have completed the requirements to become certified as a No Place for Hate® community.
After completing three community-wide projects, you will be contacted by the ADL to set up No Place for Hate® certification. The municipality will receive a street sign to commemorate this milestone. Certification is a public event and local and regional media will be notified.
Since community building and eradicating bigotry are ongoing processes, communities must reapply each year for certification and are encouraged to repeat the process for multiple years.
