Community Conversations

Rising Hate Crimes in U.S.: Awareness and Understanding

Each month, panelists from local or national organizations will discuss some of today's most challenging issues. This series is held in partnership with the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office and SLCTV.

Use this link to join the Community Conversation, or listen in on Facebook Live.

November’s Community Conversation will focus on hate crimes in the United States. Organizers for this conversation are the United Jewish Federation of Utah and their Partners Against Hate. The panel will include leaders from the Center for Global Policy, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the National Hispanic Media Coalition, Western States Center, and historically-targeted minority communities. Mayor Erin Mendenhall will introduce the program and share the actions Salt Lake City is taking to declare that hatred and hate crimes have no place in our city.

Panelists

Mayor Erin Mendenhall - Welcome and Introductions

Erin Mendenhall was sworn in as the 36th Mayor of Salt Lake City on January 6, 2020. Prior to being elected Mayor, Erin represented District 5 on the City Council for six years, including one year as its chair. She is the first mayor in Salt Lake City history to have been publicly elected from the City Council. As Mayor, Erin is working hard to make Salt Lake City more environmentally and economically resilient, and to take advantage of the region’s historic period of economic opportunity. She is determined to ensure every Salt Laker — no matter their neighborhood, economic or housing status, faith, race, or sexual or gender identity — can access all the city has to offer. Erin’s love for the extraordinary people of Salt Lake City drives an unrelenting commitment to bringing people from different walks of life together in pursuit of results for the entire city. 

Alejandro Beutel - Moderator

Alejandro J. Beutel studies hate crimes, violent and non-violent Islamist and far-right movements. He is currently affiliated with the Center for Global Policy and the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. Previously he was an Analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center and a Researcher at the University of Maryland's START Center.

Lecia Brooks – Panelist

Lecia Brooks is Chief of Staff for the SPLC. She served as chief workplace transformation officer, and outreach director, and traveled across the U.S. to speak about hate and extremism. Earlier, she was director of the SPLC’s Civil Rights Memorial Center. She has a wealth of experience in diversity advocacy training for corporations and nonprofit organizations, including Walmart, Pixar,  and the Newark Public Library.

Brenda Victoria Castillo - Panelist

Castillo is an activist, feminist, national strategic leader, who speaks on diversity & inclusion, hate speech, media, civil rights, and social justice. She is an award-winning producer with C-suite experience in nonprofits and companies, including BP America Inc. and American Red Cross. She is President and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, a civil rights non-profit organization that educates and increases visibility of Latinx. NHMC focuses on media which affects attitudes, values, and beliefs. It collaborates with civil rights organizations to eliminate online hate. NHMC is a founding member of Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights, and National Hispanic Leadership Agenda.

Eric Ward - Panelist

A nationally-recognized expert on the relationship between authoritarian movements, hate violence, and preserving inclusive democracy, Eric brings over 30 years of leadership in community organizing and philanthropy to his roles as Executive Director and Senior Fellow with Southern Poverty Law Center and Race Forward. WSC has become a national hub for innovative responses to white nationalism, antisemitism, and structural inequality, towards a world where everyone can live, love, work, and worship free from bigotry and fear. In his 30+ year civil rights career, Eric has worked with community groups, government and business leaders, human rights advocates, and philanthropy as an organizer, director, program officer, consultant, and board member. Currently Co-Chair for The Proteus Fund, Eric is a member of the Pop Culture Collaborative’s Pluralist Visionaries Program and the recipient of the Peabody-Facebook Futures Media Award. 

About the United Jewish Federation

With its Community Partners against Hate, The United Jewish Federation of Utah (UJFU) has worked effectively to secure a Hate Crimes Law in Utah. We work with Salt Lake City and the Salt Lake City School District to raise awareness of and counteract the implicit bias and false beliefs that that fuel discrimination, harassment, and hate driven abuse and violence. Among our Partners are: Alex Shapiro and Jay Jacobson(UJFU), Luna Banuri (Utah Muslim Civic League), Rob Moolman (Utah Pride Center), Rev. France Davis (Retired Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church), Jose Borjon (Mexican Consul for Utah), Josie Stone (Former Chair, Interfaith Roundtable).