STEPPING INTO THE DIVIDE program
Using coalition building skills to strengthen and build partnerships between ALL groups.
Program History:
Taking on Antisemitism with a Coalition Building Approach:
A Leadership Initiative for College Campuses
“Stepping Into the Divide” has a rich beginning rooted in decades of individual and organizational experience in educating and teaching strategies for taking on anti-Jewish oppression/Antisemitism.
In 2020, as a response to increased incidents of anti-Jewish oppression/antisemitism on college campuses, NCBI launched an innovative program entitled “Taking on Antisemitism with a Coalition Building Approach: A Leadership Initiative for College Campuses.”
More than 500 Jewish-identifying students, faculty, and staff from 11 college campuses across the U.S. agreed to partner and participate in the program. Some of the participating groups were students and faculty from Jewish Student Life, Hillel, Rabbis and Jewish leaders on their campuses. These groups and leaders became the catalyst for the dissemination of the leadership skills of alliance building while reaching to break down barriers and increase awareness of anti-Jewish oppression.
The outcome of a long standing alliance with a non-Jewish colleague and program creator was the recognition of the potential challenges of leaving Jewish leaders in isolation to confront Antisemitism alone. Our colleague’s understanding of the dynamics of oppression sought to eliminate the isolation of Jewish leaders…understanding that isolation of Jewish leadership would be counter to alliance building for Jews and all groups working to end oppressions. This evolved into the new program (Stepping Into the Divide: Using Coalition Building Skills to Strengthen and Build Partnerships between ALL Groups) designed to illuminate how oppression harms all communities and deliberately keeps them divided.
This program welcomes all perspectives to strengthen alliances and foster collaborative action. It is a professional development opportunity for all who hold leadership responsibility…those leaders working to build and strengthen alliances across all segments of society seeded in a foundational understanding of alliance and coalition building as essential parts of leadership. Stepping Into the divide is a program for Organizations and institutions, college campuses, community organizations, faith based groups, advocacy groups, corporations or any group of leaders working to build and strengthen alliances across all segments of society.
Program Outcomes:
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Learn how to gather collective insights
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Understand how to remain in collaboration when divisive issues arise
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Develop leadership practices which strengthen teams and build successful partnerships
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Build a community in partnership with the learning and skills of alliance and coalition building populated by those humans impacted by Anti-Jewish Oppression, Anti-Black Racism, Islamophobia, Anti-Arab Bigotry, Racism, Racialized as White and Xenophobia
This engaging, multi-day intensive leadership training will give participants the opportunity to:
Practice the skills of remaining in alliance while reaching to develop consensus
Work together as a team in the face of division.
Create space for multiple cultural expressions of speaking, learning and engaging.
Empowering Leaders. Strengthening Alliances.
Ready to Lead Change?
Join the movement toward impactful leadership and meaningful collaboration.
Partner with NCBI—where coalitions become catalysts.