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| For Immediate Release September 18, 2024 Contact: Erica Fox Zabusky (412) 212 3567 [email protected] The Department of Homeland Security Funds Partnership Between Classrooms Without Borders and The Cure for Hate to Combat Extremism Through Education Award is one of only 35 grants made to help prevent targeted violence and terrorism PITTSBURGH, PA – Classrooms Without Borders (CWB), a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with The Cure for Hate, upon receiving a DHS Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant. This collaboration aims to empower educators and students to resist the growing threats of extremism, antisemitism, and hate through in-school and community engagement.The Grant Program is designed to support local communities in building sustainable, multidisciplinary prevention capabilities that mitigate targeted violence and terrorism; TVTP awarded 20 grants that focus on prevention in youth settings. The funding will enable CWB and The Cure for Hate to reach dozens of schools and hundreds of students across western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and West Virginia. At the heart of the partnership is The Cure for Hate, a program centered around the transformative journey of Tony McAleer, a reformed neo-Nazi leader. In addition to screenings of the documentary The Cure for Hate, communities will engage with McAleer and the film’s director, Peter Hutchison.“In this time of rampant antisemitism, we are grateful for the resources that will allow us to continue bringing anti-hate programming into schools,” said Tsipy Gur, Founder and Executive Director of Classrooms Without Borders. “This partnership will empower the next generation to stand against hate and build a more just and compassionate world.”The partnership will equip students and community members with a deep understanding of the societal and personal roots of othering, dehumanization, and extremist violence. In-school programming will teach students how to recognize and resist coded hate speech online. The program also includes workshops, digital literacy training, and community events focused on antisemitism, Holocaust denialism, and online radicalization.“As we grow increasingly divided as Americans, and polarization around issues of race and nationalism are stoked, the question so many seem to be asking is, ‘How did we get here, and how do we turn back the tide?’ We look forward to partnering with Classrooms Without Borders in providing young people with the tools to better understand the seeds of hate, and to help our better angels to prevail,” remarked Peter Hutchison. “The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has been at the center of innovative programs to combat hate even before the worst antisemitic attack in U.S. history on three Jewish congregations here in 2018. We are proud to support Classrooms Without Borders as they work to educate our entire community about antisemitism in an effort to foster the kind understanding and acceptance we need so urgently today,” commented Jeff Finkelstein, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation.About Classrooms Without Borders: Classrooms Without Borders (CWB) is an educational non-profit organization dedicated to empowering educators and students to combat discrimination, injustice, and hate through transformative learning experiences. About The Cure for Hate: The Cure for Hate is a program led by Tony McAleer, a former neo-Nazi leader turned advocate for compassion and healing. Through the documentary The Cure for Hate and associated curriculum, the program helps individuals and communities understand the process of radicalization and the pathways to healing and reconciliation. About the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh: CWB is a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh works to cultivate resources, connect people, and collaborate across the community to live and fulfill Jewish values.  |
The Department of Homeland Security Funds Partnership Between Classrooms Without Borders and The Cure for Hate to Combat Extremism Through Education
Thursday, September 19, 2024
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Subject Area: Antisemitism, Call for Action, Hate, Innovative Teaching Strategies, Peace Building, Racial Justice, Resiliency, Upstander, White Supremacy
Subject Area: Antisemitism, Call for Action, Hate, Innovative Teaching Strategies, Peace Building, Racial Justice, Resiliency, Upstander, White Supremacy