What People Say About NCBI Programs
"This grassroots movement has worked successfully ... to improve race relations and promote a greater understanding of and appreciation for diversity. Elected officials and public servants are asked daily to address the need for cooperation and understanding in our own communities which continue to grapple with racial tensions and group polarization. NCBI programs are designed to provide us with not only a necessary foundation for understanding prejudice and diversity, but also, invaluable insight about community building which is so essential for elected officials at this time of critical national change. NCBI works to reframe issues of diversity with the purpose of reformulating public policy and building pridges within communities fractured by competing interests."
-- Congressperson Louise Slaughter (D-NY), who co-sponsored programs bringing NCBI's prejudice reduction skills to Capitol Hill
"The process is nothing less than an effort to root out deeply embedded prejudices which students are not even aware have been inflicted upon them...Here is a program that should be implemented in every District school. If ever there were a way to turn the obstacle of prejudice into the stepping stone of cultural exchange, this is it."
-- Courtland Milloy, reporting in "Open Hearts and Minds," The Washington Post, December, 1990, on a prejudice reduction workshop conducted by Wilson High School students trained by NCBI
"People are scared of what they don't know. The NCBI gives people a chance to know other groups; when you know about something the fear goes away. The kids go in with prejudices about each other, but when people leave the workshop they realize they have so much in common, and they don't have enemies. I've learned that it doesn't matter how old you are or who you are, the workshop opens lots of doors for you."
-- Horacio Artigua, Student; Prejudice Reduction Workshop Leader, Wilson High School
"Many things can cause anger and violent behavior. However, none, in my opinion cause more frustrations, hatred, violence, and anger as prejudices. We all have them in one form or another. The NCBI workshop, which deals specifically with prejudices, does a marvelous job of addressing those problems. It is needed not only in institutions like prisons, but the free world as well. I was impressed. I was surprised. I was informed. But most of all, I was changed by its lessons and teachings."
-- Eugene Dailey, Inmate, Auburn State Prison, N.Y.
"The NCBI model offers an approach to behavior and attitude modification that can help police officers change... Cops are not all alike, and some are interested in change. Any police administration interested in addressing prejudice, citizen complaints, or accepting diversity should use the NCBI program. it can change police culture."
-- Police Chief Eric Jackson, in Law and Order Journal, November 1992
"If we don't take the time now deal with multi-cultural awareness, and skills, then by the time we get to body counts it will be a moot issue. This preventive work. If this type of prejudice work had been done systematically, proactively, then we would not have the level of violence we now have, reactively."
-- Jackie Brown, Director of Human Relations, Howard County, MD Public Schools
"NCBI work is making a profound difference in the urban life experience of the '90's in Chicago. The model takes people who are focused on turf issues and leads them towards a common goal."
-- Clarence Wood, Director, Human Relations Foundation, Chicago, Illinois
"Everyone should have the opportunity to experience the new energy and excitement this program offers, I have and will recommend this to anyone who is willing to listen...this program is very much needed, not only in our company but in our company but in our community as well. Sometimes we insulate ourselves to other preople's pain. We need to stop doing that."
-- Karen Lilly, Co-chair Diversity Advisory Committee, Flagstar Corporation (Owner of Denny's Restaurants)
"If I were working to resolve the larger issues that an entire city confronts, I would incorporate a program like [NCBI's] from elementary school through the workplace. It's totally crucial."
-- "The Conquest of Hate," Los Angeles Times Magazine, April 25, 1993, quoting workshop participant Judy Rubenstein
"Our city is in great need of programs like those offered by the NCBI which can bring together individuals of all ages, backgrounds and positions to train them to become a leadership team for resolving intergroup conflict and violence. We have seen this happen in the high school programs we have funded and believbe it would be an equally beneficial resource for the wider DC community."
-- Julie Rogers, President, Eugene and Agnes Meyer Foundation
"The training which AAUW has received over the past 4 years has been invaluable to our organization, With a clear top priority goal of becoming a model of a multicultural organization, AAUW, through NCBI's training, has reached our national boards, a cadre of 20 members trainers and our entire staff, who in turn are training thousands of of AAUW members throughout the United States. Changing our culture and indeed the way we operate brings challenges - but with the quality of assistance we have gotten from NCBI - we are making progress!"
-- Anne Bryant, Executive Director, American Association of University Women