DCR’s Education and Training Unit

This training will focus on race discrimination based on hairstyle. It will cover the history of this type of discrimination and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) investigation into a hairstyle-related incident at a high school wrestling match. It will also cover a guidance document issued by DCR explaining that race discrimination includes discrimination based on a trait inextricably intertwined or closely associated with race, such as hairstyle, and the CROWN Act, which codifies these protections into law in NJ and in other states.

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All New Jersey residents have the right to be in spaces open to the public without experiencing discrimination. This training will provide an overview of what places of public accommodation are and are not, and how the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) regulates these entities. Through case studies and other interactive exercises, participants will examine topics including disparate treatment, disparate impact, sexual harassment and other types of hostile environment harassment, reasonable accommodations, and assistance animals.

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This interactive, virtual training explores the factors that influence bystander intervention and strategies for intervening effectively in response to bias and discrimination. Participants will investigate the cognitive and psychological processes that inhibit and encourage bystander intervention. Then, using case studies and interactive media, participants will be introduced to and practice research-based strategies for  responding to explicit bias, “everyday” or casual forms of bias, and bias expressed in digital environments.

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Bias is on the rise in our communities. The most recent New Jersey Bias Incident Report indicates that bias incidents increased by 53% over the year prior to the report. Supporting marginalized populations and talking openly about issues related to identity are more important than ever. Yet research shows that when it comes to discussing diversity, many are exhausted by polarization or immobilized by fear or discomfort, including concerns about saying the wrong thing. In this training, participants will explore the impact of stigmatizing language and why it is important to embrace inclusive language as a strategy for dismantling bias in our society. Through interactive exercises, participants will unpack current terminology related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and discuss strategies for using the “language of diversity” in ways that promote understanding rather than division.

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According to data from the NJ Office of the Attorney General, almost a quarter of all bias incidents take place in K-12 schools—more than any other place. With bias incidents on the rise, schools have a legal obligation to prevent and address harassment and discrimination in the learning environment. This program provides K-12 school administrators, educators, and staff with an overview of their legal obligations in responding to bias incidents, as defined by the NJ Law Against Discrimination (LAD). Through examples and case studies, participants will examine best practices for schools in complying with both the LAD and their First Amendment obligations, reporting to and cooperating with law enforcement following a bias incident, communicating with community members about bias incidents, as well as strategies for supporting affected communities and bias prevention.

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