Take me to information about JCCA’s programs for Youth and Adults and the Community.
Throughout our history, JCCA has conducted programs that promote inclusion, challenge assumptions and advance understanding across Arkansas. Through these programs we reach hundreds of youth and adults each year, working to combat bias, bigotry and racism. We believe that we must be engaged in self-examination and commit ourselves to learning more about others in order to build respect and understanding. Each of our programs is designed to empower youth and adult leaders with both the will and the skills to create a more inclusive community.
Our experienced human relations staff works with educators, community members, clergy and faith leaders, elected officials, law enforcement, young people and business and corporate leaders in support of our mission. A brief summary of JCCA’s programs is listed below. JCCA staff members can work with you to design and customize programs to meet your specific needs.
Community Forums-Plowshares Institute “Community Conflict Transformation” Training - Community Conflict Transformation (CCT) training creates a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural network of skilled community and city leaders to work proactively to build constructive relationships among all citizens. Learn more about Community Forums.
Building Inclusive Communities - A workplace initiative designed to equip “Workplace Change Teams” with the knowledge and skills to make their company’s business practices and environment more inclusive. Workshops are tailored to meet the particular needs of an individual workplace: corporate, non-profit, government or faith groups. Program components include collection of pertinent data, leadership and employee training and evaluation.
Shared Decisions - Cultural diversity training for healthcare professionals and consumers to address the well-documented disparities in healthcare outcomes for minorities. These workshops bring providers and consumers together and result in action planning to reduce healthcare disparities.
Diversity & Inclusion Training for the Workplace - Specific diversity and inclusion training for all types of businesses and organizations. Read a list of organizations that have participated in these workshops.
Straight Talk Panels - Panels of gay and lesbian persons, family members and friends talk about how sexual orientation affects their lives in Arkansas.
Ourtown for Teens - Formerly known as Anytown, this unique, week-long youth leadership training program is for Arkansas high school students of different races, religions and cultures. Participants experience and gain respect for diversity, while learning effective leadership skills.
Unitown - Two to three day retreats for students and teachers from one high school that prepare participants to be leaders in making their school more inclusive and accepting of diversity.
Minitown - A two-day program for students from one middle school to help them identify and prevent bullying.
Different and the Same - A program for students in kindergarten through third grades to help teachers and children identify and prevent prejudice.
Recent Advocacy Activities - In 2006, JCCA published and distributed a position statement calling for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. During the 2007 Arkansas legislative session, we worked to defeat SB959, a bill that would have prohibited gay and lesbian persons from adopting or serving as foster parents based simply on their sexual orientation. In September, 2007, JCCA led audience talk-backs following the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s performances of “It Happened in Little Rock”, a play about the 1957 crisis at Central High School.
Annual activities include Walk for CommUNITY, Gathering of Friends and the Annual Humanitarian Award Dinner.