Houston’s Community Response to Hate Crimes

Hate crimes are crimes that target an individual based on an aspect of their identities like gender or sexual orientation, religion, or race. Besides hurting the victim, these crimes are meant to intimidate anyone that identifies with the victim. Hate crimes are often hard to prosecute as definitions of hate crimes vary by state and federal government, with many definitions being very narrow.  The team’s research investigates and helps to articulate how community-based organizations respond to hate crimes. This takes the cooperation of many people including law enforcement, district attorneys, and an array of community-based organizations. 

 

 

We will hear from Aabha Davé Brown who was a former professor at the University of Houston's Graduate College of Social Work and is co-founder of Collective Experience Group, a consulting firm that supports capacity development in organizations and individuals seeking to become more effective and justice-oriented in their work. She will bring her professional experience of over 20 years of working in the non-profit and educational sectors as well as consulting with a number of corporations, law enforcement, and social service organizations. Currently, she is an organizational consultant, award-winning educator, speaker, and licensed social worker. She uses the connections between art and science to address inequities in systems and foster institutional and interpersonal change. 

 

Our second guest is Marjorie A. Joseph currently serves as the Executive Director for Houston Coalition Against Hate. HCAH is a network of community-based organizations, institutions, and leaders who come together to reduce hate and encourage belonging. MJ, as many call her, is a leader, visionary, and advocate. She is the originator of the #JusticeOverEquity framework in order to facilitate societal/cultural shifts and transformation. She is the recipient of the 2021 United Nations Association-Houston’s Global Citizenship Award for her work with the Coalition, also recognized by The Center for the Healing of Racism’s 2021 Juneteenth Ally Award. Marjorie is excited to herald the work of HCAH and feels privileged to be living in the most diverse and 4th largest city in the country.

 

Our final guest is Zoe Alterman who is an LMSW with a bachelor's degree in corporate communications from the University of Texas and just recently graduated with her master's in social work from the University of Houston graduate College of social work where she focused on politics. She currently works as a director of special projects at emerge fellowship a nonprofit working to expand college access for high-performing students from low-income communities. 

 

Learn More: //research.uh.edu/reaching-houston/stories/understanding-community-response-to-hate-crimes/

 

Read the Report: //houstonagainsthate.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Hate-in-Houston-FINAL.pdf