CRS Releases New Training Program to Build Relationships with Arab American Communities

Created by the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service (CRS), the “Engaging and Building Relationships with Arab American Communities” program is designed to educate law enforcement, schools, religious and secular communities, and public and private organizations toward a more positive and supportive engagement with Arab Americans and communities.

The new program is a five-part, four-hour training that affords participants a deeper understanding of the Arab culture and experiences and an opportunity to create strategies to construct stronger relationships with Arab American communities. Informed by current data and peer-reviewed historical research, and produced in consultation with representatives from major Arab American organizations in the United States, the program offers:

• information on and illustrations of the social dynamics, contemporary experience, and cultural values of Arab American communities;
• a clear view of the harm caused by misinformation and misconceptions about Arab American communities, including hate crimes against Arab Americans;
• a process to design concrete steps toward a “community engagement plan” that would build inter-community relationships based on mutual trust, communication, and respect.

CRS is proud to partner with major Arab American organizations to produce this program and looks forward to continuing that partnership in offering this program to all communities in America.

In May, CRS announced the development of a new public education program to prevent and combat antisemitism in America. The “Engaging and Building Relationships with Arab American Communities” and “Understanding and Building Relationships with Jewish Communities” programs will be available to interested communities at no cost.

Communities and organizations interested in participating in these programs may contact askCRS@usdoj.gov. Additional information about the Community Relations Service’s work with communities facing hate crimes, discrimination, and conflict based on race, religion, and other protected characteristics is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crs

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