central indiana alliance against hate - fhcci

CIAAH | 3/23/17 FOCUS GROUP REPORT 1

Central Indiana Alliance Against Hate:

Community Focus Group: Follow up report

March 30, 2017

Purpose:

Approximately 30 members of the community gathered on Thursday, March 23, 2017 from 6-8pm, to

gain a wide-range of perspectives form those actively involved in issues to reduce hate to be used to

create a coordinated community response to incidents and prevention of hate crime and hate

incidents in Central Indiana. Open invitations for this focus group were disseminated broadly via

direct email and social media (Facebook, twitter) and the session was open to all members of the

community.

Attendees were given a brief overview of the purpose of the focus group and then asked to commit

to engaging in thoughtful, open, and respectful discussion to ensure inclusivity and collaboration

during the session. Attendees unanimously agreed. We asked all attendees to form groups of 5-6 to

answer several questions and as discussions progressed, all attendees had an opportunity to share

their thoughts and responses to these questions with the full group.

For a complete list of attendees please refer to the attendee sign-in sheets.

Summary:

The purpose of this report is to capture the outcomes of the structured exercises and open-ended

questions given to the group. This information should be used to inform decisions for defining

strategic priorities and outcomes for the Central Indiana Alliance Against Hate (CIAAH) in the first 6 –

12 months of operation. The work can also inform decision making for the CIAAH over the course of

its existence beyond the scope of this grant should the community-will exist.

Planningplus+

|PROFESSIONAL & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT|

This Planning Report has been prepared by Planning Plus, LLC. in conjunction with the Fair Housing Center of

Central Indiana. Information contained in this document is intended solely for use for the 2017 CIAAH as a

resource tool in making informed decisions over the course of this project. Further dissemination of this

information is determined by the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana as the grantee.


Small Group Discussion Question 1:

What do you identify as the 3-5 most critical issues we need to identify to adequately address hate-based

crimes or incidents in Central Indiana?

Group 1 Group 2

Clearly defined comprehensive and inclusive

Hate Crimes law.

Affected groups need to come together for

mutual support and to organize.

o Race, gender, disability, ethnicity,

sexual orientation, etc.

More opportunities for integration to build

understanding and dispel stereotypes.

Education of people about similarities,

differences, and extremism as well as how to

respond to radicalism in groups.

o Medial impact.

o Speakers.

“Selling the idea” of hate crimes to

conservatives.

Education (lack of) and economic inequality.

Access to resources.

Lack of representation.

Desire to change – be compassionate,

empathetic, and inclusive.

Group 3 Group 4

Inclusion of disability as a targeted group for

hate.

Recognition that HATE includes more than a

physical attack – verbal, terror, psychological

threats both tangible and intangible.

Early intervention to create a culture of

civility and sensitivity.

o Education, tools, alternatives.

Different is not bad!

Education.

Policy (reform or creation).

Race/demographics (what are the incidents

and statistics around these, pull data).

Cause (understanding the source).

Response “power of dialogue”.

Group 5

Identify why a Hate Crime Bill has not passed, including what pieces of it – words, ideologies - are

barriers towards getting it passed.

Work to understand key elements of these crimes and attitudes of hate to take educated action –

change the narrative. Understand we have inherent biases.

Create a database to track these incidents and crimes and use as an awareness tool/initiative so

people can take data-informed action.

Training programs to help victims, build allies, break barriers.

Intersectionality – use our circles to connect communities and build allies.

Common Themes

Data base of crimes and incidents.

Education and awareness tools, resources.

Gather support and information for Hate Crimes Law ahead of next session.

Continue dialogue in communities across Central Indiana to “change the narrative”, build allies and support.



What are the top 3 safety concerns we need to consider when addressing these critical issues and the safety

and/or inclusion of diverse populations facing hate crimes or incidents in Central Indiana?

Group 1

Underreporting crime due to various factors.

o Distrust of police/government.

o Fear of deportation.

o Language barriers.

o Cultural and religious differences.

o Fear of retaliation.

Police training and education.

Educating public on how to interact with police/government to properly report and address these

crimes and incidents – solve problems and find services.

Building connections to community to end isolation.

Group 2 Group 3

Safe and affordable transportation.

Isolationism, grouping with like

people/cultures.

Fear and how it is addresses.

The media and false messaging.

Protection for the people reporting the

crimes/incidents and the victims.

Lack of reporting to law enforcement or

other advocacy groups.

o Disability emphasis for people with

guardians or in institutions.

Confidence by person reporting that action

will occur and there will not be retaliation for

reporting.

Resources available for caretakers.

Establish safe ways to report hate.

Interventions to de-escalate groups.

Group 4 Group 5

Lack of rapid-response team when reporting.

Self-harm might occur after reporting.

Gun laws.

Coercing public disclosure for those that feel

“outside” the circle can often expose them

and makes them a bigger target for these

incidents.

o Being undocumented

o Trans individual.

Racial profiling – law enforcement vs.

immigrants, religious groups.

“Safe spaces” are being infiltrated and

targeted for attack.

Harm against children.

Common Themes:

Fear when reporting that reports will go unanswered or will be retaliated against by police or perpetrators.

Ensure there are not only effective but safe ways to report incidents and crimes.

Isolationism is occurring out of self-protection further dividing communities.



What would you identify as three action steps to improve the safety and inclusion of those groups facing hate

crimes or incidents in the Indianapolis area?

Group 1

Don’t defund PBS and have a PSA developed.

Building trust and relationships between different communities, and communities and government.

Encourage cross-cultural exchanges to build understanding between groups.

Develop sound political strategies to change public policy.

Challenge peoples’ assumptions through positive engagement.

Train people on how to do by standing intervention safely.

Group 2 Group 3

Visibility: encourage people to share stories

and experiences.

o Reframe the narrative.

Building support networks and confidence.

Spreading facts and educating in safe places.

Breaking down silos of oppression.

Hate law.

Review and change policies that could

perpetrate hate.

Build education – have dialogues cultural

exchange.

Use media to spotlight hate.

Educate First Responders.

Group 4

Use the media to spread positive stories happening.

Preventative mental health endeavors.

Cultural awareness training/workshops.

Police training.

Group 5

Visibility: campaign presence to combat false narratives being pushed by media – presence with a

purpose.

School personnel/administration be required to publish anti-bullying policy and evidence to show that

action is begin taken to enforce it.

Law of the Land – Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948 U.N. Declaration).

Enforcement Value…Accountability.

Shift focus of discussions from civil rights to Human Rights.

Common Themes:

Building trust across communities.

Visible campaign to encourage cross-cultural communication and decrease feelings of isolation.

Work with law enforcement and other government agencies to engage in training and develop channels of

communication and breakdown barriers.

Break through with facts and data.

Partner with schools to educate early.



What resources (education, communication network, reporting mechanism/database, people, etc.) are needed

in the community to address hate crimes or hate related incidents?

Group 1

Speakers bureau to push message and do interactive exercises to build understanding.

Require that hate crime incidents be reported to develop a data base (Indianapolis Ordinance) and

promote to other cities – eventually take state-wide.

Address social media hate speech.

Build relationships with state legislators and other elected officials.

Group 2

Create a common language and understanding.

Money.

All viewpoints at the table and get corporate support.

Training to disarm and to engage opposing viewpoints – not everyone has the skillset.

Media attention and ad space - leverage social media.

Elevator speech.

Group 3

Data.

Political capital.

People willing to advocate and share – including former perpetrators.

Money.

Education about intersectionality, inclusion of all groups (like disability) using the CIAAH

Group 4

Positive media agencies

o YouTube, Netflix, where people are watching.

Better healthcare – esp. mental health focus.

Community organizers/leaders, elected representatives who have training on preventing and

addressing hate crimes.

Group 5

Database – use as a tool for changing legislation, responses, and minds.

Visibility – access to community (social just event, coalitions) #accessibility.

o Be part of the voices present.

Community agents.

Training opportunities for the perpetrators.

Law enforcement training (regarding the reporting of hate crime and next action steps).

Send local data base info to national database.

Common Themes:

Create data base to track hate crime occurrence.

Develop relationships with key thought leaders, local representatives and elected officials.

Training – for law enforcement, with law enforcement, school-based, and community based messaging.

Marketing materials with strategic messaging.



Of everything that has been said tonight, what are the top three “strategic issues” for our long-term responses to hate crimes or incidents in Indianapolis

that you would like the Alliance to address in the next 6 months? What do you see as the most significant barrier to working together to achieve these

goals?

Group 1: Top three in 6 months Barriers

Work with bill sponsors and stakeholders to get a summer study

committee and develop strategies to pass a hate crime law.

Develop promotional campaign with social media strategy, print

materials, PSAs, for awareness and support of issues.

o Use celebrity to endorse PSA.

o Pass bill in 2018.

Develop resources on safe spaces and work with other.

o Use similar slogan/pitch – “We welcome everyone/we serve

everyone”.

Develop methods to get prosecutors and other governmental

agencies to support movement.

Enforce strict policies and sentence for hate crimes

Reaching legislators and voters.

Get past the noise and get the right message to the right person to

bring on board.


Inclusive, broad-based bi-partisan focus through group and

community discussions.

Clear messaging using a common language.

Frame the narrative about hate and dismantling the hate.

Build on existing alliances and coalitions and share resources and

best practices to achieve goals.

Reluctance to change

Cutting through and quieting the noise.

Breaking through territorial strife.


Gathering data.

Gather stories.

Grow the Alliance.

Answer WHY it matters.

Encourage conversations in our networks – in a safe space.

Toolkit – curriculum, fact sheets, messaging, “How to” guides.

Where do we begin?

Where will we get the data?


Small Group Discussion Question 5 continued:


Counteracting negative/biased media.

Creating rapid-response strategy.

Putting pressure on representative to get bill passed against hate

crimes.

Getting community leaders on the same page.


Focus on awareness, information, and public relations campaign –

hate crime alert, marketing materials.

Identifying community stakeholders, organizations, and groups

(gate keepers) to assist with communication and long-term strategy.

Training programs (law enforcement, allies) with action steps.

Community/support network for survivors of hate crimes.

Develop strategic plan for stability and maintaining established

database.


Next Steps and Recommendations:

Based on the input provided from the March 23, 2017 focus group we recommend the Alliance focus on (4)

Strategic Priority Areas over the next 6 months. We have also recommended the (3) work groups and aligned

goals to achieve the outcomes desired. You may find that you need to realign goals under a different work

group or change work group titles.

1. STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREA 1: POLICY AND ENGAGEMENT WORK GROUP

CONDUCT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT WITH KEY PARTIES TO ENSURE PASSAGE OF HATE CRIME LAW

IN 2018.

2. STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREA 2: COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING WORK GROUP

GARNER SUPPORT FOR AND BUILD THE NETWORK OF THE CENTRAL INDIANA ALLIANCE AGAINST HATE.

3. STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREA 3: EDUCATION AND AWARENESS WORK GROUP

CONDUCT COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO REDUCE AND ADDRESS HATE CRIMES AND

HATE-BASED INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN CENTRAL INDIANA.

4. STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREA 4: EDUCATION AND AWARENESS WORK GROUP (DATABASE SPECIFIC)

BROADEN CONTRIBUTION OF DATA TO A CENTRAL DATABASE TO CAPTURE ALL HATE CRIME AND

INCIDENTS OF HATE REPORTED.


STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREA 1: CONDUCT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT WITH KEY PARTIES TO ENSURE PASSAGE OF HATE CRIME LAW IN 2018.

Work Group: Policy and Engagement Work Group

GOALS/ACTION PLANS TIMELINES METRICS LEAD

RESPONSIBILITY

Work with the Pass a Hate Crime Law Coalition and any other existing groups and coalitions to

garner additional support of a Hate Crimes Law.

Identify current local/state policies that are contributing to the perpetration of hate.

Hold community round tables and/or panel discussions in at least (3) of the (11) MSA counties

to bring additional support and close the gap for those “sitting outside” the table.

Conduct “Lobbying 101” training for non-profit members of Alliance to demystify regulations

surrounding lobbying efforts.

Identify any additional lobbyist needs to pursue additional hate crimes bill co-sponsors and

supporters.

Identify additional key leaders to pursue passage of Hate Crime Law during the 2018 legislative

session.


STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2: GARNER SUPPORT FOR AND BUILD THE NETWORK OF THE CENTRAL INDIANA ALLIANCE AGAINST HATE.

Work Group: Communications and Marketing Work Group


RESPONSIBILITY

Partner with public affairs and communication firms to:

Develop a case statement to garner support for CIAAH and its mission.

Develop communication strategy linked with social media.

Design promotional campaign and print materials.

Capture earned media and PSAs.

Identify a “local face” of the strategy and key messaging.

Identifying community stakeholders, organizations, and groups to assist with communication and long-term strategy

Develop white papers and case studies to support messaging and appeal to future donors and

key philanthropic leaders for ongoing support.


STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3: CONDUCT COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO REDUCE AND ADDRESS HATE CRIMES AND HATE-BASED INCIDENTS

OCCURRING IN CENTRAL INDIANA.

Work Group: Community Education and Awareness


RESPONSIBILITY

Partner with law enforcement to build on current training programs used to address hate

crimes, cultural diversity, and de-escalation with action steps and rapid response strategies.

Develop community-based training programs used to address hate crimes, cultural diversity,

and de-escalation with action steps and rapid response strategies.

Develop youth tool kits comprised of curriculum, fact sheets, messaging, “How to” guides for

schools experiencing incidents of hate or hate crimes or that want to proactively address hate

crimes and incidents of hate.

Work with school personnel/administration to understand current anti-bullying policies and what additional needs schools have.

Conduct community round tables and/or panel discussions to bring additional support to bring

in additional voices and understand individual community needs on the issue.

Gather stories for anecdotal data to be used in marketing and legislative testimony.


STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4: BROADEN CONTRIBUTION OF DATA TO A CENTRAL DATABASE THAT CAPTURES ALL HATE CRIME AND INCIDENTS OF HATE REPORTED.

Work Group: Community Education and Awareness


RESPONSIBILITY

Develop partnership with area Police Depts to gather all pertinent and accessible data.

Identify additional groups within the Alliance that current have access to/track data and gather for database.

Identify additional organizations outside of the Alliance that currently track this information and build what has already been done.

Engage local higher education institutions to develop “white papers” and/or research to be used for Alliance.

Advance communication of database to ensure broad community use and input by those that witness and are victims of hate crimes and those that experience incidents of hate.

central indiana alliance against hate - fhcci

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