National Conference for Community and Justice

The NCCJ was founded in 1927 as the National Conference of Christians and Jews, in response to anti-Catholic sentiment being expressed during Al Smith's run for the Democratic nomination. Its founders included prominent social activists such as Jane Addams and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes who dedicated the organization to bringing diverse people together to address interfaith divisions. Several years later, the NCCJ expanded its work to include all issues of social justice including race, class, gender equity, sexual orientation and the rights of people with different abilities.

In the 1990s, the name was changed to the National Conference for Community and Justice to better reflect the breadth and depth of its mission, the growing diversity of the country and the need to be more inclusive.

Their stated mission is promoting "inclusion and acceptance by providing education and advocacy while building communities that are respectful and just for all."

Through its youth and adult programming, the NCCJ works with students, teachers, clergy, corporate, and civic leaders to facilitate workshops, develop curriculum, convene race relations and inter-religious dialogues, and provide consulting on challenges related to bias, bigotry, and racism.

ANYTOWN is the NCCJ's premiere youth program, and has existed for over 50 years in America. Many similar programs (in name and content) emerged across the country, including Metrotown and Unitown. ANYTOWN is designed to educate, liberate, and empower youth participants (ages 14–18) to become effective, responsible leaders and community builders in a global society. ANYTOWN brings together a diverse group of students and counselors to learn to identify the many "isms" in our society, including racism, sexism, antisemitism, heterosexism, classism, cissexism, and ableism. Students examine in-depth prejudice and its byproduct discrimination, enhance their communication skills, and prepare to take their knowledge and skills into their schools and communities to make them more just and inclusive for all.

The year-long program launches with a week-long social justice residential experience focusing on prejudice reduction, community building and leadership for high school age youth.

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Wikipedia