Not In Our Town launches new tools for engagement on April 6

Katie Donnelly

Not In Our Town (NIOT), "a national movement that encourages and connects people who are responding to hate and working to build more inclusive communities,” demonstrates the power of media projects to both report upon and foster civic action. NIOT harnesses the power of media, grassroots activism and educational outreach to stand up against intolerance and work to "foster safety, inclusion and acceptance." On April 6, this long-running public media project will unveil its new face—a redesigned site that features an interactive map, group pages that support local organizing, a library of videos, and more.

Not In Our Town began with a PBS documentary that showcased how the citizens of Billings, Montana responded to intolerance in their town in 1993. During that year, Billings experienced a rash of hate crimes: among other incidents, the town was papered with KKK fliers, a Jewish cemetery was vandalized, and swastikas were painted on a Native American family's home. In response, the Billings community took a strong stand:

Religious groups from every denomination sponsored marches and candlelight vigils. The local labor council passed a resolution against racism, anti-Semitism and homophobia. Members of the local Painters Union pitched in to paint over racist graffiti. The local newspaper printed full-page Menorahs that were subsequently displayed in nearly 10,000 homes and businesses. The community made an unmistakable declaration: "Not in Our Town." Since then, no serious acts of hate violence have been reported in Billings.

Inspired by the Billings story, Not In Our Town has served as a strong model for groups around the country who have launched their own Not In Our Town campaigns over the past two decades.The project was developed by the Working Group, and major funders include CPB, PBS and the Bernard Osher Foundation.

NIOT is about to embark on its next phase, which includes both the new website and a strong engagement strategy. This will better allow users to share empowering stories, document follow-up actions, provide opportunities for action, make use of interactive technologies and collaborate with one another. On April 6, NIOT will launch NIOT.org with a celebration at the Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC). Up until April 6, the website can be previewed here.

NIOT has also developed a strong school-based program. The Not In Our School campaign (NIOS) is "a peer-to-peer learning program that uses film and storytelling to encourage safety and inclusion." For example, "Starting A Not In Our School Campaign: Lessons from Palo Alto Unified School District" showcases an annual month-long event in the Palo Alto School District that includes community workshops, film screenings and art projects. High school students designed posters to combat intolerance:

Middle school students participated in a video panel discussion:

The Not in Our School Action Kit includes a curriculum designed by Facing History, pledge cards, and advice for facilitating discussions. There is also a series of Not In Our School videos. For example, "Youth Lead the Fight Against Hate in Olympia, WA," features a group of Olympia high school students who organized a community forum in response to neo-Nazi activity in their town. The forum was a great success, with over 400 people in attendance. Says Harmanas, a student in the film: "We're not done here. There is still work to do. We reached out to a small community. We actually made a difference. Now, what can we do next?"

In addition to the Not In Our School campaign, the new site includes a blog, and guest bloggers are encouraged to contribute. There are also group pages that allow local groups and organizations to share events, photos, videos and ideas, and collaborate with other users.

The new site includes a database of local lessons, which are first person accounts of how people across the country are addressing intolerance and building safer communities. Users are encouraged to add their own lessons and comments.

There is also an interactive Unites States map that tracks hate crimes, responses, NIOT groups, and Not In Our School communities.

The site also includes a downloadable action kit available for all users, and a video library with dozens of Not In Our Town videos available for streaming and purchase.

In addition to the new website, NIOT's next phase of development also includes a strong engagement component. The project will work with local stations to integrate elements of the site into station sites. The organization is currently developing local TV and radio profiles of community members who are taking proactive steps to make their communities safer places. NIOT will also host local town hall style meetings and listening panels, which will be broadcast on radio, television and online. Finally, NIOT will also develop new community-building resources for local stations, including mobile interactivity and innovative approaches for expanding and engaging publics around issues of tolerance, inclusion and community cohesion.