Not only do attacks on vulnerable communities scar the people directly affected, but they also shake general confidence in the strength of American pluralistic ideals. Where are today’s most serious threats against minority communities coming from? Why are we seeing an uptick in hate crimes across communities? And what best practices can law enforcement and justice officials employ to reverse this disturbing trend, while ensuring respect for the diverse needs and sensitivities of vulnerable communities?

Moderator: Mark Dowd | Director, SAFE Cincinnati

Panelists:

James L. Whalen | Director of Public Safety, University of Cincinnati

Benjamin C. Glassman | United States Attorney, Southern District of Ohio

Todd A. Wickerham | Special Agent in Charge, Cincinnati Field office of the FBI

The emergence of extremists, the resurgence of hate groups and associated effects on minority communities have been widely covered by local and national media outlets. What are the challenges associated with reporting on sensitive topics like racism, Islamaphobia, antisemitism and other forms of hatred? How do news outlets balance their responsibility to report these important stories with the need for context and the potential for “airtime” to amplify hateful agendas?

Moderator: Jeff Hirsh | Former Reporter, WKRC Local 12 News

Panelists:

Kevin Aldridge | Opinion Editor, The Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati.com

Mark Curnutte | Race and Social Justice Reporter, The Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati.com

Courtis Fuller | Weekend Anchor and Reporter, WLWT News 5

David Shribman | Executive Editor Emeritus, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cindy Skrzycki | Freelance Reporter, The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

Israel, like any other sovereign, democratic nation, is a country with flaws and challenges, and should therefore be subject to critique. But when is this criticism fair and when does it cross the line into antisemitism? Expert panelists will discuss both this hypothetical “red line,” real-life, on-the-ground ramifications in its application, and what’s at stake in the fight against antisemitism when it is crossed.

Moderator: Dr. Gary P. Zola | Executive Director, Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives

Panelists:

William Daroff | Vice President for Public Policy, Jewish Federations of North America

Holly Huffnagle | Assistant Director, AJC Los Angeles

Seffi Kogen | Global Director of AJC Young Leadership, AJC

There is no one panacea for bridging deep ideological divides. Rather, there are a series of strategies, depending on the goals. This interactive workshop will examine how to connect, listen, frame conversations, and understand identity issues in a way that creates the potential for better understanding.

Presenter: Sherri Goren Slovin | Mediator and Lead Trainer, Beyond Civility

When extremist forces take hold in our society, the need for coalitions and meaningful allyship becomes paramount. However, times of extremism can also make coming together across differences a challenging enterprise. In this session, members of the Cincinnati Regional Coalition Against Hate who have spent their careers engaged in the difficult yet rewarding work of bridge-building will share surprising challenges and opportunities they’ve faced in joining together in coalition with others.

Moderator: Allison Reynolds-Berry | Executive Director, Intercommunity Justice & Peace Center

Panelists:

Paul Booth | Division Manager, City of Cincinnati Office of Human Relations

Jaipal Singh | Cincinnati Sikh Spiritual Leader and Advocate

Justin Kirschner | Associate Director, Jewish Community Relations Council of Cincinnati

Shakila Ahmad | Board Trustee, Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati

Colleges and universities are experiencing a challenging convergence of events including increased polarization among the student body, recruiting of college students by white supremacists and other extremist groups, and increased use of the “heckler’s veto” and violence to silence controversial speakers on campuses. What are the trends and the challenges of simultaneously protecting free expression while maintaining a safe, inclusive and welcoming campus climate?

Moderator: Noah Stern | Vice President, AJC Cincinnati

Panelists:

Seffi Kogen | Global Director of AJC Young Leadership, AJC

Rabbi Ken Kanter | Interfaith and Special Projects Coordinator, HUC-JIR/Cincinnati

Ronna Greff Schneider | Professor of Law, College of Law

“It’s not differences that divide us. It’s our judgments about each other that do...You can’t hate someone whose story you know. You don’t have to like the story, or even the person telling you their story. But listening creates a relationship. We move closer to one another.” - Meg Wheatley

Using Storytelling to Combat Hate: This breakout session will be a crash course on Bespoken Live's storytelling methodology. Using the four-letter word HOME as our inspiration, participants will craft and share stories using three of Bespoken's five storytelling foundations (set the hook, share the heart, and land the plane) and Bespoken's story listening principles (listen with your body, listen with your imagination, respond in kindness and gratitude).

Presenter: Joey Taylor | Director, Bespoken Live on Campus

How can we be more proactive in creating respectful environments in our organizations, schools and communities to help reduce incidents of bias, discrimination and bullying? A panel of experts will discuss methodology and provide best practices and resources to help participants examine how to create these spaces and tackle hard conversations.

Moderator: Jodi Elowitz | Director of Education, Holocaust & Humanity Center

Panelists:

Maria Munir | Board Trustee, Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati

Shawn Jeffers | Director of Leadership Development, Youth at the Center

Chris Miller | Director of Education and Community Engagement, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center