An overview of Pennsylvania’s civil rights law, the state’s changing demographics, hate crimes, supremacist group trends and positive practices will be presented as a “No Place for Hate” event Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. in the Bloomsburg Area YMCA, 30 E. Seventh St.
Ann M. Van Dyke, investigator and trainer in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission’s education and community services division, will present the seminar, “Of Hate in Pennsylvania … and the Good News,” co-sponsored by the Town of Bloomsburg, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and the Bloomsburg Area YMCA.
Van Dyke has worked with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) since 1979. For the past 20 years, she has provided technical assistance to employers, employee groups, municipalities, schools, campuses and religious and citizens’ groups. She also monitors racial supremacist group activity and assists communities and schools dealing with hate crimes and inter-group tensions related to demographic change. She is certified by the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct hate crimes training for police.
The “No Place for Hate” program, which began in Philadelphia in 2001, is dedicated to mobilizing citizens to challenge bigotry and promote prejudice-free communities. It provides a framework for schools and communities to deal with incidents of prejudice and bigotry and to foster respect for diversity. The Philadelphia Anti-Defamation League recognized the Town of Bloomsburg as a “No Place for Hate” community.
For more information, contact Robert Wislock, deputy to the president for social equity, at (570) 389-4529 or rwislock@bloomu.edu.
