Event Overview
This two-day event is dedicated to building a safer, more inclusive community by uniting law enforcement, community leaders, and residents to proactively address hate and bias incidents.
As a core element of the county’s Hate Crimes Prevention Program, the conference aims to:
- Enhance Public Education: Train residents to effectively identify, document, and report hate crimes and bias incidents.
- Strengthen Collaboration: Build robust partnerships between public safety agencies and community organizations to improve investigation and prosecution.
- Promote Inclusivity: Advance the "The Best Place - For All" initiative by fostering a safer, more welcoming environment for all identities.
- Support Victims: Align County resources to better empower and serve those targeted by hate-based acts.
Agenda Overview (The "What")
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Day 1: Focus on Victims, Healing, and Justice
The first day of the event focuses on the human impact of hate-fueled violence by emphasizing storytelling, trauma-informed responses, and the legal pursuit of justice. Following opening remarks from county leadership, the program features a keynote session entitled "A Mother's Fight: Turning Tragedy into a Movement Against Hate." Additional sessions include a collaborative presentation between law enforcement and service providers on trauma-informed care, a discussion among faith leaders about fostering dialogue, and a case presentation from the State’s Attorney’s Office detailing the legal process from bias incident to conviction. The day concludes with a fireside chat and a screening of the documentary "Rich With Love."
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Day 2: Focus on Advocacy, Action, and Prevention
The second day of the event focuses on systemic solutions and the development of community-based models to combat hate and improve incident reporting. The program opens with a keynote session titled "No Home for Hate: Systemic Equity and the Path to a Safer Maryland," followed by a panel of survivors and family members sharing human stories of healing and resilience. Additional sessions include a fireside chat on the Emmett Till Alert System as a model for community safety and a presentation on leveraging Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management to prevent targeted violence. The day’s programming concludes with an in-depth look at breaking down the specific barriers that prevent individuals from reporting hate incidents.