UPDATED: March 22, 2002

This list is a compilation of events, activities, and information that are related to the recent attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the backlash against Arabs and other Muslims. This information was sent to the Association for the Study and Development of Community from different sources across the country. We have organized it according to the major settings in which you can organize a response and any assistance, stories and articles that we received and are circulating via internet, and other facts and information. For more information, you can contact the resources listed directly. It is particularly important to target young people as part of the strategies. They are often the perpetrators and victims of backlash and retaliatory actions. Communication with young adult and teenage males is very important. If you would like to

VIEW INFORMATION FOR: Children Schools Government Media and Public Education Faith Institutions Community Foundations/Funders Counseling & Other Health Assistance Research Stories & Articles About the Aftermath of September 11th Other ALSO SEE INFORMATION ABOUT ARABS, AFGANS, AND OTHER MUSLIMS

Examples and Resources:

• The National Center for Children Exposed to Violence in New Haven Connecticut, 1-877-49-NCCEV, has information for parents on how to talk to their children about the event and death, a list of activities in which they are involved, and information regarding warning signs and primary care services.

• The America's Fund for Afghan Children, c/o The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20509-1600 was established to assist relief efforts for Afghan children.

Examples and Resources:

• An educator introduced her class of predominantly Jewish and Christian students to Islam during a visit to a mosque in Atlanta.
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• Educators for Social Responsibility has developed a free guide called "Talking to Children About Violence and Other Sensitive and Complex Issues in the World." (NOTE: At that site in the second paragraph is the phrase "free lessons". When you click on that go to "Suggested Lessons for Teachers Following the Attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.")
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• The Public Broadcasting System has the following lesson plans: "A World at Peace" (for grades 2-6); "Tolerance in Times of Trial" (for middle and high school students); "Taming Terrorism" (a lesson plan for high school students).
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• The New York Times has a lesson plan for grades 6-8, 9-12.
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• The American Jewish Committee maintains a diversity teaching/training program in schools called "Hands Across the Campus."
  CONTACT: Yael Keren at 561-994-7286 for further information.

• A children and terrorism fact sheet is available from the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
  GO TO SITE >

• The American Academy of Pediatrics provides advice on communicating with children about disasters.
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• The National Education Association has prepared a Crisis Guide to help communities cope with the national tragedy.
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• September 20 was National Student Day of Action For Peaceful Justice. Students on campus all over the country organized rallies, marches, teach-ins, etc.

Examples and Resources:

• "Understanding Stereotypes:" classroom activities to help students understand how assumptions about different cultures create stereotypes and how these biases affect our lives.
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• "Small Steps: A Tolerance Program" helps students examine how name-calling and stereotypes advance bigotry and led to violence.
  GO TO SITE >

• The National Association of School Psychologists has a manual entitled "Cultural Perspectives on Trauma and Critical Response" that explains how manifestations of trauma and distress differ among cultures and how commonalties can be found on which to build a foundation of communication and trust.
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• "Reactions and Guidelines for Children Following Trauma/Disaster"
  GO TO SITE >

• Local Arab and other Muslim leaders in San Diego convened the police department and school districts to develop a strategy for preventing violence in the schools.

• Elected officials, local public representatives, and other types of role models can visit schools to talk to children about their fears and to convey positive messages about reaching out and supporting each other.

Examples and Resources:

• The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies has a section entitled, "United States Immigration Law in a World of Terror" compiled by Margaret D. Stock.
  GO TO SITE >

• To urge Congress to assert that the Constitution and Bill of Rights must be fully respected, particularly in this time of crisis. The Move On organization urges you to join their petition.
  GO TO SITE >

• The Economic Recovery Act of 2001 (S.1493) proposes to create a one-year loan program to meet working capital needs of small enterprises experiencing economic hardships and provide tax relief.
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• The "Provide Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act" contains provisions that would permit indefinite detention of non-citizens in certain cases and much more.
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• Rules and regulations on how to display the American flag properly can be found on The Flag Code of the United States Public Law 94-344, July 7, 1976.

• The Governor of Virginia offers a simple way to help relief efforts on-line by providing a link to LibertyUnites.org from Virginia's web site.
  GO TO SITE >

The media plays a powerful role in giving hope and delivering the message that we should not encourage more violent incidents among ourselves. Media campaigns will reach the largest audience in the least amount of time. The local media should have coverage on the Arab and Muslim community in the local region and the positive outreach that Americans are demonstrating to each other and to their Arab and Muslim friends. It is critical to have a multi-faceted media campaign that includes radio, TV, and print media. Promote positive images of Arabs and Muslims, address misconceptions (e.g. that violence and dying are considered "holy" acts). Discuss what liberty and justice for all really means. Here are some suggestions for addressing this:

• Organize a media response team for the metropolitan area to coordinate the effort (e.g., contact a reporter to cover a story, reach out to media sources that are not addressing these issues) and to contact public figures and immigrant ethnic leaders to speak out.

• Contact a media campaign strategist to assist you in the planning. People with experience with political campaigns know how to get the messages out quick.

• Have contacts in the newspapers, radio, etc. that reach the metropolitan and suburban areas and that can be reached immediately to cover a positive event or story (e.g., a vigil, a contribution to a local mosque, etc).

• Have contacts in the radio stations targeted at youth (especially the male 16-21 age group) and put out messages by leaders, public figures, local celebrities, etc. Find a local role model or public figure to help deliver the messages.

• Compile the positive stories and "buy" spots in these papers to publish stories under the theme "Liberty and Justice For All" to show that the Arabs, Muslims, and other Middle Easterners are a part of all of us.

• Ask the papers to publish a series of articles about the Middle Eastern community in the metropolitan area and in the U.S. (e.g., the meaning of jihad; the traditions of the Middle Eastern community). Encourage them to profile individual members of the Muslim community and the impact the World Trade Center has had on them (i.e., loss of relatives, primary or secondary loss of business, etc.) This will sustain the momentum and messages and not let it be a one-time event in the media.

• Mary Beth Sheridan wrote an article in The Washington Post, March 4, 2000 entitled, "Backlash Changes Form, Not Function: Sept. 11 Aftereffects Include Quiet Sting Of Bigotry, Some Say." This article discusses the spate of violent hate crimes against Muslims, Arabs and Sikhs reported in the weeks after Sept. 11 has largely ended, but officials and advocates are now concerned about a surge in other, less-publicized kinds of discrimination. Tallies compiled by U.S. government offices and nonprofit groups suggest that the backlash against Arabs, Muslims and Sikhs following Sept. 11 is not over.
  GO TO ARTICLE >

• The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC) has a section on its website devoted to the impact of September 11th and the rise in anti-Asian violence.
  GO TO SITE >

• Gather information on who to contact regarding hate crimes.
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• The National Crime Prevention Council has a list of publications that deal with hate.
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• American Friends Service Committee launched a "No More Victims" campaign. CONTACT AFSC at 215-241-7000 for further information. To contribute to the campaign, call 1-888-588-2372, ext. 1.

• WBCN's Boston Sunday Review interviewed Merrie Nejamy of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee on September 16.

• Resources for addressing violence in the workplace
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• Contact information for radio stations and other media outlets
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• Kidsnet.org describes upcoming programs on public, commercial and cable television networks for children, families and educators referenced by air date, curriculum areas, grade levels, supplemental materials, related multimedia, off-air taping rights, and sources for more information. Selected programming is targeted to children ages preschool through high school.
  GO TO SITE >

Examples:

• The Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church Virginia has undertaken The Peaceful Inter-Community Project (PIP). PIP's main objective is to improve the relationships of Culmore Area community members across lines of race, ethnicity, class and age through workshops, a youth forum, guest exchange speeches, and a continuous mentoring program. This undertaking is particularly important in the aftermath of September 11 as the Culmore area is home to substantial numbers of families of Middle Eastern, African, and Asian background who do not yet enjoy extensive opportunities for communication with each other and with their Euro-American neighbors. For more information call (703) 536-1030.

• Prince George's Muslim Association in Maryland donated a large percentage of their donations to the American Red Cross and is striving to educate the public on the truth about Islam.
  CONTACT: pgma@muslimsonline.com

• The Afghan-American community in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, in collaboration with several other organizations and the American Red Cross organized an Interfaith Memorial on September 23 to show a united effort to support the victims and America. Speakers included religious leaders from the following faiths: Islam, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, and Christian.

• In rural Colorado, the Ministry Alliance is organizing visits to a mosque to meet with its members and leaders, as well as inviting imams (Islamic leaders) to speak at local churches on Sunday.
  CONTACT: Fr John Farley, St Peter Catholic Church, Rocky Ford, CO, 719-254-3565, FrJohn@aol.com

• Vietnamese churches and temples around the country held memorial masses for the victims and their families.

• The Study Circles Resource Center has posted resources on their website that you can use to conduct study circles on the event, terrorism, and other related topics.
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• Campus Compact has a new listserve discussion called "CIVICROLE" on what higher education institutions can do in this time of crisis. You can subscribe by emailing bchapman@compact.org.

• Will the new War on Terrorism strengthen America's civic values or undermine them? This question is the focus of a new web page on the Institute for the Study of Civic Values web site devoted to the War on Terrorism and Civic Values.
  GO TO SITE >

• Since September 11, 2001, Arab, Muslim, South Asian and Sikh Americans, and others perceived to be members of these groups have experienced incidents of discrimination, including assaults, harassment and vandalism. On January 16, 2002, the Civil Rights Division and Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Transportation had a discussion at George Mason University about rights and how to file a discrimination complaint with the appropriate agency. Materials were available, and staff was present to receive complaints.

• The Hate-Free Schools Coalition in Kentucky works with the harassment and discrimination that students face in schools. In light of 9/11 their efforts have been that much more heightened and important to the overall well being of students! They have developed a packet that outlines the reasons for the inclusion of specific language to the Student Code of Conduct and the Student Bill of Rights. For more information contact: Natalie Reteneller at Louisville Youth Group (502) 454-3300.
  GO TO INFORMATION PACKET >

• On March 13th at Georgetown University the documentary, "In My Own Skin: the Complexity of Living as an Arab in America" was performed. "In My Own Skin" sheds light on the complexities of the Arab American experience through candid, in-depth interviews with five young Arab American women living in post 9-11 New York. The directors are: Jennifer Jajeh and Nikki Byrd.

• A peace coalition has been formed in Atlanta that includes the Georgia Green Party, the American Friends Service Committee, and Amnesty International.

• The Boston Coalition for Palestine Rights organized a talk "Jerusalem Women Speak" on September 27, 2001. Rawan Damen, a Muslim Palestinian and writer, Michael Shohat, a Jewish Israeli and General Secretary of the Meretz Party, and Jean Zaru, a Quaker Palestinian and Presiding Clerk of the Ramallah Friends Meeting-all daughters, mothers, and grandmothers working for peace and justice for all the people of Palestine and Israel-will participate.

• The Washington Area Partnership for Immigrants of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region will hold a Roundtable Discussion Six Months Later: Local Leaders Speak Out About the Impact of September 11 on Immigrant Communities and Efforts to Forge Unity. The discussion will be on Thursday, March 21, 2002 and moderated by: Gurvir Dhindsa (WUSA -TV-9). Terri Lee Freeman, President, The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region will give the opening remarks.
  CONTACT: Shirley Martin, The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region 202-955-5890, or smartin@cfncr.org.

• The Central Vermont Community Partnership conducted a community forum on September 21, 2001 for any community member to dialogue about safety issues and community unity. They are planning a five-day series from April 3-7, 2002 with an activist on inclusivity and peace, Sharif Abdullah. These are a few ways the "homeland security" in central Vermont is being addressed. For more information contact: Paula Francis, Central Vermont Community Partnership, 255 North Main Street, STE 5, Barre, VT 05641.

• Global Vigil For Peace organized several localized actions -- including small groups in offices, schools, colleges, street corners, bus and train stations, community centers, places of worship, in villages, towns and cities across the world -- to meet, talk, and commune in silence or in song on October 2, 2001, Gandhi's Birthday. They also encouraged groups to gather signatures on a statement saying: NO TO TERRORISM - NO TO WAR - NO TO VIOLENCE! YES TO PEACE, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FOR ALL!

• Tenants' and Workers' Support Committee in Northern Virginia did an interfaith service in December and a speak-out in September. Both events were geared to rights/power of childcare workers but a special effort was made to include and bring in Islamic providers. There is regular organizing which is always anti-racist/anti-sexist/pro-worker/immigrant, etc.
  CONTACT: liss_twsc@hotmail.com

• On November 11th, the two-month anniversary of the tragedy of the World Trade Center and the 83rd anniversary of the end of WWI, New York City had a Gathering of Hope.
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• The American Muslim Foundation and Kamal Nawash in partnership with the Casablanca restaurant had a unity reception and dinner on September 26th to support the Pentagon families who lost loved ones. In addition a blood drive with the American Red Cross was sponsored on September 28th. CONTACT Kamal Nawash at 202-347-5115 for more information.

• The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) and The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater Washington, DC area sponsored a panel discussion on "Responding to Terrorism in America" on September 26th. For information on the event...
  CONTACT: yoora.kim@odnss.com

• The Prevention Institute have notes from a meeting that took place on September 20, 2001 regarding the shift in the overall landscape of violence prevention and discussion of longer term issues including a decline in the economy as well as a shift in government resources to fight terrorism. To have a copy of these notes...
  CONTACT: shailushi@preventioninstitute.org

Examples:

• Create Hate-Free Zones. Distribute and put up posters that declare areas hate free. For example, San Diego's Global Exchange is conducting this strategy.
  CONTACT: Global Exchange at 415-255-7296.

• Distribute flyers with resource and other educational information through groups and places that reach as many people as possible. For example, The Citizens Committee of New York City is working with Cab Watch, a citywide safety association for cab drivers, to distribute thousands of flyers with a resource list for their passengers. Most of the drivers are Muslims and it is also a way to promote positive action by them and other immigrants.
  CONTACT: Bill Chong at (212) 989-0909.

• The Washington Council of Agencies has published an Executive Summary Report about two surveys they conducted to gauge how the events of September 11 and the aftermath have affected local nonprofits now and how it will affect the future of the region's nonprofit sector.
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• The Multicultural Coalition released a statement on September 20, 2001 condemning terrorism.

• The Cooperative Grants Program (COOP), implemented by NAFSA: Association of International Educators and funded by the U.S. Department of State, is accepted proposals from U.S. based institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations for the Muslim Intercultural Exchange Grant competition. [Go to the Professional and Educational Resources heading and then click on Grants and Scholarships.]
  GO TO SITE >

• 9-11 FAMILIES CREATE FOUNDATION FOR AFGHAN VICTIMS -- Peaceful Tomorrows Foundation [to join or make a contribution: GO TO SITE >] Family members of Sept. 11 victims have formed a non-profit organization seeking effective alternatives to war as a response to the terrorist attacks. Peaceful Tomorrows favors the creation of an Afghan victims fund to match the outpouring of support for U.S. victims. Four family members have recently traveled to Afghanistan to meet with civilian victims of the subsequent bombing.
  CONTACT: Kelly Campbell, kelly@peacefultomorrows.org or David Potorti, david@peacefultomorrows.org.

• The Washington Grantmakers' Community Capacity Fund (CCF) announced the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) that will fund non-profit organizations in the Washington region to retrain workers laid off from industries affected by the terrorist attacks. The RFP is posted and proposals are due March 1, 2002 at 3:00pm. Approximately $600,000 in grants will be made to approximately twelve (12) grantee organizations in the region. Eligible organizations must have a demonstrated record of providing skills training and other programs related to employment, and feasible plans to enroll or involve dislocated workers from industries affected by the terrorist attacks.
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• The AmeriDream Charity, Inc. has established the Arab American Rebuilding Fund to provide direct financial assistance to Arab-Americans and others who have sustained property damage due to race-related crimes committed on or after September 11, 2001.
  CONTACT: Claudette Shwiry (via e-mail), Arab American Institute Foundation, 1600 K Street, NW, Suite 601, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 429-9210.

• The Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers will be using one million dollars, which was awarded by the Ford Foundation, to establish a Capacity Building Grant Fund. This fund will be used to help strengthen the immediate and near-term capacity needs for nonprofit organizations responding to outcomes of September 11th. Interested nonprofits can CONTACT the Foundation at: info@washingtongrantmakers.org

• The Foundation Center in Washington, D.C. offered a series of six workshops in November 2001 to help grantees manage in crisis.

• The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) established a relief fund to provide assistance to the workers their families struck by the tragedy. Make a tax-deductible donation to the relief fund.
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• The United Way of the National Capital Area and the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region established The September 11th Fund Washington DC. For more information CONTACT: Tony De Cristofaro 202-488-2062 or Lori Kline at 202-488-2063.

• A website has been created to provide people with a simple, safe way to contribute to relief efforts that help victims of the terrorist attacks.
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• Citigroup, Inc. has established a Citigroup Relief Fund with a $15 million donation from the Citigroup Foundation to provide scholarships to the children of victims of September 11 and will accept tax-deductible donations from employees, clients, and others around the world. It has also created a "Citi for the City" fund that will enable employees and clients to drop of monetary donations at Citibank Financial Centers and at CitiFinancial offices to help the more current needs of victims and rescue crews. Citigroup's credit operations will be making special provisions and rates available to people in New York City and Washington, DC areas impacted by the disasters so that they can meet their financial obligations in their time of loss and hardship.

• Anyone wishing to contribute to The September 11th Fund may send their donations in care of United Way of New York City, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016, 212-251-4035.
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• The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region has established a Survivors' Fund to support the long-term educational, health and rehabilitation, grief counseling, and general support needs of the children, youth, and families in the metropolitan Washington region. Anyone wishing to contribute may donate online (GO TO SITE >) or CONTACT 202-955-5890.

• Two funding sources available for you to conduct research related to the recent events. Please see the National Science Foundation (GO TO SITE >) and the National Institute for Mental Health (GO TO SITE >).

• How can we help the surviving children and families as they face the future? To make a donation to the September 11th Children's Fund, checks payable to Community Funds Inc./SEPTEMBER 11th CHILDREN'S FUND should be sent to New York Community Trust, Two Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016.

• The American Psychological Association is providing clinical information and services to those affected by the terrorist events.
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• The Prevention Institute has produced a document entitled, "Rebuilding after September 11: Constructive Actions to Support Health and a Return to Well Being." This document contains useful information with accompanying web site links on how to talk about the tragedy, acknowledging the range of reactions, promoting safety for all, staying physically active, being aware of the TV, eating healthy foods, getting involved, preventing violence in one's own community, fostering creativity, speaking up, increasing transportation opportunities, and getting a global perspective. For a copy of the document...
  CONTACT: 510-438-PREV(7738).

• The Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR) has provided support for the development and pretest of a three-part tool to help identify possible bias introduced into studies as a result of the 9/11 attacks on America.
  GO TO SITE >

• Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, an electronic journal for the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, published a special issue about terrorism and its consequences on our communities.
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Examples and Resources:

• The 911 Peaceful Response Resources has developed buttons, stickers, and 911 Patriotic Window signs. The materials can be viewed at: www.peaceproject.com and orders placed by calling: 1-800-829-6202.

• A card-writing campaign has begun. The idea is to buy a card that reflects what your feelings are about the heroic efforts of the NY Firefighters and send it to them at: NYC Fire Department, 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York, NY 10005.

• The National Network for Immigrants and Refugee Rights' website includes resources for post-September 11th organizing.
  GO TO SITE >

• The Agenda for Children Tomorrow (ACT) went into five New York City communities two days after the attacks and spoke with residents, service providers, businesses, elected officials, and other community observers and stakeholders. The impact of the attack and other findings can be viewed at their website.
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