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AMERICANNewsline

18 MAY 10, 2024

NYC MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES

CURRICULUM ON HATE CRIMES AND THEIR

IMPACT FOR NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS

OUR BUREAU of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) Direc-
tor Deanna Logan. “This curricu-
NEW YORK, NY
lum ensures our students receive
ew York City Mayor Eric that additional comprehensive ed-
Adams has announced the ucation. We appreciate Mayor Ad-
Nrelease of ‘Teaching About ams’ leadership and support in the
Hate Crimes and their Impacts,’ a positive engagement of the young-
series of hate crimes lessons de- est New Yorkers to promote learn-
signed to teach students in New ing and understanding as essential
York City public schools about resources for public safety.”
hate crimes and bias incidents, as “With bigotry and hate on the
well as their impact on individuals rise across the globe, including right
and communities. As hate crimes here in our own community, it is
continue to rise around the nation, more important than ever that we
with a particular influence on young give teachers and students the tools
people, the New York City Office to discuss these difficult topics in
for the Prevention of Hate Crimes a thoughtful way,” said Pam Haas,
(OPHC), with support from the executive director, Facing History
New York City Department of Ed- & Ourselves. “Our experience with
ucation (DOE), partnered with Fac- developing curriculum to combat
ing History & Ourselves to develop bigotry and hate for nearly 50 years
the curriculum and provide training greatest city in the world because of and their Impacts’ is one of the has shown that as students develop
for educators. our extensive diversity. This curricu- OPHC’ initiatives that combats their knowledge and understanding,
‘Teaching About Hate Crimes lum builds on our ‘Breaking Bread, hate, bias, and discrimination. In they exhibit greater empathy and
and their Impacts’ includes five Building Bonds’ initiative and will early 2023, Mayor Adams launched choose to stand up.”
lessons that empower educators to help ensure that our school children ‘Breaking Bread, Building Bonds,’ As part of the MOCJ, the
enrich students’ understanding of are part of the solution to stamp out which aimed to bring 10,000 New OPHC takes a holistic approach to
diversity, sharpen critical thinking hate wherever it rears its ugly head.” Yorkers together to learn about preventing hate crimes, developing
skills, and foster a culture of in- The lessons are available to stu- common bonds, share cultures and and coordinating community-driv-
creased civic engagement — all of dents in grades 6-12 and are offered traditions, and break down silos. In en prevention strategies to address
which are crucial skills for instilling as a virtual resource to the public only 11 months, ‘Breaking Bread, biases fueling such crimes, and fos-
social responsibility. Students will on the OPHC and Facing History & Building Bonds’ surpassed the goal tering healing for victims and their
learn to identify motives and behav- Ourselves’ websites. of bringing 10,000 New Yorkers to- communities.
iors that cause hate crimes, examine Facing History & Ourselves has gether with the support of the May- Facing History & Ourselves
the impacts of current hate crime trained DOE’s educators on the or’s Community Affairs Unit, the uses the lessons of history to chal-
trends on communities, and design hate crime curriculum with more New York City Commission on Hu- lenge teachers and their students to
initiatives that promote inclusion training opportunities forthcoming man Rights, the New York City De- stand up to bigotry and hate. Fac-
and collective action. over the next year. partment of Youth and Community ing History & Ourselves’ classroom
“Our children are at a breaking The city legislatively mandates Development, and others. resources and professional devel-
point, and investing in programming the OPHC to produce a hate crime “Hate has no home in our opment offerings examine racism,
that fosters a greater understand- curriculum for schools. ‘Teaching schools, and we are proud to partner antisemitism, and prejudice at piv-
ing of diversity and the importance About Hate Crimes and their Im- with the OPHC in the fight against otal moments in history and helps
of inclusion is an important way to pacts’ satisfies that mandate and bigotry,” said DOE Chancellor students learn about the impact of
dam one of the many rivers that reaffirms the Adams administra- David C. Banks. “We are educat- choices made in the past and con-
feeds the sea of hate,” said Mayor tion’s commitment to combat the ing our youth about the dangers of nect them to the choices they will
Adams. “Despite the uptick in hate rising number of hate crimes across hate both to meet this challenging confront in their own lives. Facing
crimes we are seeing across the city the five boroughs. Facing History & moment in our world and to build a History & Ourselves believes under-
and nation — whether it be against Ourselves will regularly reexamine brighter future for us all.” standing shared history and how it
someone’s religion, culture, gender, these lessons with the OPHC to of- “Cross-cultural literacy is essen- informs attitudes and behaviors al-
sexual orientation, or anything else fer updates and keep them current. tial to counteract hate and reduce lows participants to choose a world
— we know that New York City is the ‘Teaching About Hate Crimes bias incidents,” said Mayor’s Office of equity and justice.

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