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What We Do
NCCJ works with established and emerging leaders from
a variety of spheres of influence to promote our vision through
public education and advocacy, conflict resolution, and leadership
development and training. We empower leaders with the skills and
values to oppose discrimination and open minds—their own and
others’.
NCCJ realizes:
· The
importance of environments where differences are respected and valued.
· That
prejudice, bias, and bigotry can lead to violent acts.
· Creating
opportunities to learn more about each other in a non-threatening
environment increases the likelihood that individuals will respect and
learn from each other.
· Individuals
who harbor hate and prejudice tend to try to bully or harass those who
do not share their views.
· Individuals
struggle every day to fight stereotypes in order to demonstrate their
individuality.
To thrive or in some cases even survive in today’s
diverse society—and in the workforces and communities of tomorrow—
people need values, skills, knowledge, and abilities that are not
necessarily part of the typical classroom curriculum or workforce
training process. Studies show that youth and adults tend to learn more
in environments that value their cultural differences and are
intentional about connecting their learning to real-life experiences.
To fully engage and develop our program participants, our
program philosophy takes into consideration a learning process that
allows room for social and emotional learning without judgment. We teach
people to interrupt patterns and practices that contribute to or
perpetuate exclusion, which we define as mistreatment and isolation of
others based on differences. NCCJ’s work begins with awareness and moves
individuals along a continuum towards action, and include the core
aspects of NCCJ’s philosophy:
· Awareness:
understanding that there are differences based on race, religion, size,
gender, sexual orientation, and ability. Participants begin to see
these differences are not merely in appearance, they are differences in
opportunity, experience, world view, and perception.
· Education:
providing information critical to shaping understanding of issues of
stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination,
and the “-isms” (sexism, racism, ableism, ethnocentrism, heterosexism,
ageism, and classism).
Participants
learn how prejudice can harm people, limit freedom,
hurt others, and even lead to violence.
· Conflict
Management:
learning how to communicate and interact when there are differences.
They learn that
shouting and punching solve nothing, and listening is the key to
resolution and managing opposing views.
· Advocacy:
taking a stand against the mistreatment of others and advocating for
equity and fairness.
This also involves speaking up and reaching out to mentor and create
greater access for those who are different.
· Leadership:
individual and collective responsibility in valuing differences. This
involves helping
others to understand and respect—in word and in action—people of all
races, religions, and cultures, and regardless of gender, sexual
orientation, or
ability.
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