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PCTN’s mission is to promote respect for differences and human rights, foster alternatives
to violence, and advocate for a safe, hospitable, and harmonious community for all.
 
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CHRONOLOGY
of PCTN's Activities and Organizational Development


Introduction
In fall 2000, a group of Ridge residents concerned about hate graffiti appearing on the United Methodist Church in Paradise and other incidents in Northern California, decided it was time to be proactive in the face of intolerance. They sponsored an event to celebrate tolerance and nonviolence, and subsequently formed the Paradise Center for Tolerance and Nonviolence (PCTN), a nonprofit community organization dedicated to:
  • fostering acceptance of differences
  • resolving conflicts peacefully
  • building a safe, hospitable and harmonious community for all.
Following is a chronology starting with the current year's activities and tracing PCTN's growth as a community organization to its beginning in 2001.
2001
2002-2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
 

What's goin' on

Community Survey Results Available
...more

Community Forum: Stories from Palestine
...more

NO on Prop 8
...more

Community Forum  "Turning Away From Hate" - Postponed & Why
...more

Thank You to Annie B Drive Donors!
...more

PCTN Meeting Schedule
...more
 

2008
The first half of 2008 was very eventful as reported in the May issue of PCTN's newsletter (click here.) Newsletter reports included:
  • STARS Youth After-school Program wrapping up in 3 schools
  • Public Rally and the new PCTN bumper sticker, Paradise Ridge - No Place for Prejudice
  • Plans for this year's Unity in Diversity Festival and for Camp Friendship
  • PCTN Annual Meeting & Elections
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Commemoration, January 21, 2008 Despite the heavy snow, many people weathered the candlelight march and enjoyed the musical and spoken word ceremony, honoring Dr. King and his legacy.

Victim Support & Advocacy
As of June 2008 PCTN has received ten requests for help from individuals who feel they have been targeted by hate or bias-motivated behavior, or from parents of children who have been bullied or treated unfairly at school. We provided direct assistance ranging from support and advice to advocacy and mediation with relevant parties to bring about solutions. Our help often involves continuing friendship and support, and has extended to finding social and therapeutic activities for youth and facilitating contacts.

The Hate Incidents Protocol Taskforce, a project begun in 2007, is in progress, under the leadership and guidance of Booker Neal, a specialist from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. This effort was spearheaded by PCTN. (see reference below in 2007) The work of the initial committee members will soon be expanded to include other organizational stakeholders and interested individuals with the purpose of forming a community taskforce that will create guidelines for handling hate incidents occurring in the community and in the schools.

Community Survey
 On February 7th PCTN mailed a community survey to every residence on the Paradise Ridge (over 21,000), exploring people's experiences and opinions regarding discrimination, violence, and hate-motivated behavior in our community. Responses were completely anonymous. Results were tabulated and analyzed by GBA, Inc., an applied research company. PCTN will share results with the community at a press conference scheduled for August. Funding for the survey was provided by The California Endowment.

PCTN closed due to water damage PCTN was closed for six weeks (February 1 - March 17) because of water damage from a broken pipe. The space was rather dilapidated, but now has fresh paint and new carpeting. Fortunately, insurance covered all expenses. So even though the "flood" caused us to put in lots of extra hours to get re-organized, we are very happy with the result.

To celebrate re-opening, we had an Open House & Ribbon Cutting on May 8th that was sponsored by the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce. Over 50 people enjoyed delicious donated goodies and beverages, and everyone was very complimentary about PCTN and our improved surroundings.

STARS (Safety, Tolerance And Respect Superstars)
The spring semester of STARS was offered at Paradise Elementary, Ponderosa Elementary and Pine Ridge School. More details in the May Newsletter.

Public Rally and the new PCTN bumper sticker, Paradise Ridge - No Place for Prejudice
On April 17th PCTN sponsored a public rally to show support for a welcoming community, where everyone, no matter what their differences, can feel safe and comfortable. The theme of the rally was "PARADISE RIDGE - NO PLACE FOR PREJUDICE," and PCTN is offering free bumper stickers with that motto. The California Endowment provided funding for the event. More details in the May Newsletter (click here).

Spring Fundraiser
On May 10th PCTN participated in the community fundraiser, An Evening with Norton Buffalo, at the Paradise Performing Arts Center (PPAC). Over 500 people attended the event, which was great PR for us with several folks joining PCTN. We also benefited from the collaboration between PCTN and the other charities involved: Paradise Rotary Club, Paradise Exchange Club, and PPAC.

Unity in Diversity Festival, June 8, 2008
This annual festival offers an afternoon of multicultural music and dance, along with fun games and crafts for children. Guest performers included Eloise Newell playing Tibetan Bowls; Maricel Kealani & Hula Dancers; David Paul Brown, Singer/Guitarist; Joy Duangpearach, Thai Dancer; Melissa Dalzell and Erica Mendoza, Celtic Dancers; and the down home blues and eclectic music of "Lazy Lester" Johnson. For the second year, we were delighted to have on loan the artistic International Displays of the seventh grade students of Paradise Intermediate School.

Educational Forum
On June 17, 2008, featured speaker, Dr. Kate McCarthy, addressed the topic "Religion: the Missing Piece in Diversity Work". Dr. McCarthy, whose latest book is entitled Interfaith Encounters in America, is a professor in the Religious Studies Department at CSU Chico. According to Dr. McCarthy "diversity efforts usually focus on race, gender, and class, but not religion. To create a religiously pluralistic society, religion must be taught and talked about. After all, religion and culture can't be separated."

Key Events and Programs
  • 8th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration - January
  • Survey Mailing - February
  • Annual Meeting and Elections - March
  • Community Rally - April
  • Grand Re-Opening: Open House & Ribbon Cutting - May
  • An Evening with Norton Buffalo Fundraiser - May
  • Booths at community events - April, May
  • Newsletter published - May
  • 8th Annual Unity In Diversity Festival - June
Organizational Development
 In April the Town of Paradise awarded PCTN a $2500 Community Development Block Grant for PCTN's 2008-2009 STARS after-school anti-bullying program.

Stay tuned…

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2007
2007 saw the continuation of PCTN's regular programs and activities with some new approaches. Victim Support & Advocacy and STARS became the cornerstones of PCTN's direct services.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Commemoration, January 15, 2007 Participants enjoyed the singing of adult and youth choral groups, a Dance of Universal Peace, the recitation by a young girl of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and inspirational speakers from the faith community and community activists.

Victim Support & Advocacy PCTN received reports and requests for help in connection with 23 incidents in 2007. Awareness of PCTN as a resource and friendly haven increased. A series of hate-motivated incidents in the community and at Paradise High School involved a great deal of staff and volunteer time. PCTN held meetings with school district officials to cooperate in finding ways to alleviate the fears of victimized youth and help them feel safer on campus. Goals were set to develop protocols for improved communication and proactive methods of addressing hate-motivated behavior on campus.

Subsequently, the Regional Community Relations Specialist, U.S. Department of Justice, began a series of meetings with the Paradise Superintendent of Schools, the Town Manager, the Paradise Chief of Police, other town and county leaders. The process is on-going with the goal of developing a Memorandum of Understanding amongst the various agencies about dealing with hate incidents and hate crimes in the community and in the schools.

STARS (Safety, Tolerance And Respect Superstars) In this its third year, PCTN expanded the STARS anti-bullying program to two local elementary schools as part of the Boys & Girls Club after-school program.

Unity in Diversity Festival, June 10, 2007
The musical Guest performers included "Lazy Lester" Johnson, the Magalia Hillbillies, Irish Dancers with Melissa Dalzell & Friends, Art Gallo, singing Italian songs, Lenora Wong demonstrating Tai Chi & inviting audience participation, Hmong Dancers, Alex Templeton, slam poet. A special on-loan display this year was the International Cultural Marquees created by Seventh Grade Students of Paradise Intermediate School for their multicultural fair in May.

Key Events and Programs
  • Seventh Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration - January
  • Annual Meeting & Elections - February
  • Ridge Alive II Fundraiser - March
  • E. L. Hartley Awards - May
  • Seventh Annual Unity in Diversity Festival - June
  • Camp Friendship - July
  • "Rockin' into the Holidays" Fundraiser - November
  • Booths at community events
  • Newsletters Published - March, August, December
  • Book Discussion Group - Monthly
  • World Culture Evenings:
    • February - France
    • March - Brazil
    • April - Sri Lanka
    • May - Romania
Organizational Development
Fundraising is always a challenge for small nonprofits like PCTN. On November 1, 2007, The California Endowment awarded an 18-month, $36,055 grant to PCTN for capacity building. The grant monies were earmarked for Public Relations, Marketing, and Fundraising. PCTN used this funding to become better known and accepted, with the goal of eventually broadening the organization's support base to the point where a large portion of the general operating revenue would come locally from individual donors and community organizations.

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2006
2006 saw PCTN enhancing and stabilizing its core programming and increasing opportunities for the community to interact with the organization.

Martin Luther King Jr., Day Commemoration
The program in January 2006 presented an original dramatic reenactment of a pivotal period in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's.

Victim Support & Advocacy
PCTN logged 16 incidents in 2006 and developed an excellent working relationship with the Department of Justice Community Relations Services. On an as needed, the area DOJ Conciliator met with staff and individuals to help resolve issues.

STARS (Safety, Tolerance And Respect Superstars)
PCTN ran the STARS (Safety, Tolerance and Respect Superstars) program for its second full year at the Boys and Girls Club for 50 girls and boys, and started planning expansion to local elementary schools as part of a comprehensive Boys and Girls Club after school curriculum funded by Proposition 49.

In September PCTN instituted a monthly Book Discussion Group in conjunction with the Paradise Branch Library, offering participants an opportunity to read and share their responses to books focusing on the experiences of immigrants adjusting to new cultures and providing insights into their native traditions and worldviews.

2006 Key Events and Annual Programs
  • 6th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration - January
  • Annual Meeting & Elections - February
  • Community Panel Discussion: "Lessons from the Civil Rights Movement" - February
  • Ridge Alive Fundraiser - April
  • E. L. Hartley Memorial Awards - May
  • 6th Annual Unity in Diversity Festival - June
  • Camp Friendship - July
  • Días de Los Muertos Celebration - October
  • Community Panel Discussion: LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning) - November
  • World Culture Evenings:
    • June - Pakistan
    • June - Philippines
    • September - Senegal
    • October - Dias de los Muertos
  • Movie & Discussion: Crash - April
  • Booths at community events
  • Newsletters Published - June, September, November
  • Book Discussion Group - Monthly
Organizational Development
Realizing that The California Endowment funding would end December 31, 2006, PCTN created a fundraising and community outreach plan to garner support and to stabilize the organization. The plan included an annual membership drive, increased grant seeking, a mail solicitation, and outreach to the community and the media with a website, a newsletter, presentations to various local philanthropic community organizations, and the first major fundraiser, Ridge Alive.

By the end of 2006, membership was 155 individuals and 14 businesses, plus other individual donors.

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2005
2005 was a year of tremendous achievement and growth for PCTN.

Equal Treatment and Tolerance Proclamation
After over a year of advocacy and discussion with individual Town Council members, the Mayor set forth a Proclamation in Support of Equal Treatment and Tolerance at the Town Council meeting of January 11, 2005, and formally presented the proclamation to the Paradise Center for Tolerance and Nonviolence because of our efforts in promoting this statement of values for the community. This action was a milestone for PCTN.

Victim Support & Advocacy
PCTN instituted its Victim Support & Advocacy program, and developed and implemented a professional Incident Response Protocol. The program offers multiple options to individuals, families and parents of children who have been targets of hate, intolerance, or bullying. Beyond providing a compassionate and supportive listener in a confidential and hospitable atmosphere, PCTN:
  • provides direct assistance in making contact with relevant agencies and institutions
  • accompanies the victim or victim's parent to meetings and enables communication and mutual understanding
  • advocates for an immediate remedy as well as a long term plan to achieve resolution.
Nine incidents were reported to PCTN in 2005.

STARS (Safety, Tolerance and Respect Superstars)
In 2005 PCTN initiated STARS, a 9-week bullying-prevention program at the local Boys & Girls Club. Children (ages 6-12) participated in the sessions with topic materials inspired by a program created by the Chico Boys & Girls Club after school program director, supplemented by activities from Teaching Tolerance resources, and conducted by PCTN's Youth Activities Coordinator and a Chico State University intern.

Camp Friendship
The success of the STARS program inspired the two-week Camp Friendship. This unique nonviolence day camp, created and facilitated by PCTN, was held at the Paradise Recreation and Parks Center. In a fun and supportive setting, campers learned to deal with bullying situations, to control anger, to empathize, and to stand up for self and others in noncombative ways.

F.U.N. (Families United Network) FUN was started at the request of a single parent of two adopted Vietnamese children. This activity, run by PCTN for 18 months, provided social opportunities for minority families and families of mixed racial, ethnic, or religious heritage. Participants shared their experiences and gained strength and esteem through mutual support.

Youth Evenings and World Culture Evenings
Outreach efforts included activities for teens and educational evenings for all ages with speakers presenting multi-cultural topics.

2005 Key Events and Annual Programs
  • 5th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration - January
  • Annual Meeting & Elections - February
  • Cesar Chavez Commemoration - March
  • E. L. Hartley Memorial Awards - May
  • Anti-Hate Rally in Magalia - May
  • Fifth Annual Unity in Diversity Festival - June
  • Youth Evenings and World Culture Evenings:
    • Teen Discussion - January
    • Geeks and Jocks - Is there common ground?

    • Teen Discussion - January
    • What makes people who they are?

    • Youth Movie - February
    • Napoleon Bonaparte

    • Culture Evening - February
    • Hmong 101

    • Youth Movie - March
    • Shaolin Soccer

    • Culture Evening - March
    • Irish Celebration

    • Youth Earth Day Movie - April
    • Whale Rider

    • Culture Evening - April
    • Islam: History, Faith and Practice

    • Youth Movie - May
    • Smoke Signals

    • Culture Evening - May
    • Native American Celebration

    • Culture Evening - June
    • Cycle'n Around the World

    • Culture Evening - July
    • Escape fro Hungary in the 1950s

    • Culture Evening - October
    • Exceptional People with Special Needs

    • Culture Evening - October
    • Dias de los Muertos

    • Culture Evening - November
    • Portugal and the Azores
  • Booths at community events
  • Published Newsletter - December
Organizational Development After attending a training seminar about its Role & Responsibilities, the Board of Directors developed a working committee structure and recruited three new Board members. Subsequently they attended a 1.5-day workshop and created an 18-Month Strategic Plan.

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2004
From its inception, PCTN had functioned as an all-volunteer operation. In an effort to broaden our vision, goals and capacity to offer community services, PCTN applied for and received a $50,000 grant from The California Endowment for an 18-month period beginning January 2004. Grant monies allowed PCTN to hire its first paid staff person and acquire technology needed to build regular comprehensive programs and services.

E. L. Hartley Memorial Awards
In May 2004, co-founder Wendy Hartley established what has become the annual E. L. Hartley Memorial Awards, honoring a local teacher and student who exemplify PCTN's mission.

Hate Graffiti
PCTN created a precedent of public outcry to protest the distribution of hate literature and hate graffiti by organizing a protest rally in July 2004 and others in following years.

Community Outreach & Collaboration
This was also the period when PCTN began to reach out to the community in earnest with booths at several community events, and began collaboration with organizations and institutions that are established and accepted by the community. MORE (link to PROGRAMS & SERVICES, Community Outreach & Collaboration)

2004 Key Events and Annual Programs
  • Fourth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration - January
  • Annual Meeting & Elections - February
  • Open House - April
  • E. L. Hartley Memorial Awards - May
  • Fourth Annual Unity in Diversity Festival - June
  • Anti-Hate Rally in Paradise - July
  • Folk Music Benefit Concert - September
  • Booth at community events
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2002-2003
In this period the organization began to gain stability and a vision.

Nonprofit Status
In March 2002, PCTN was granted 501c3 nonprofit status from the IRS.

Hate Graffiti Removal Program
In spring PCTN helped the Town of Paradise adopt a permanent hate graffiti removal program.

Community Campaign for Tolerance
In May 2002, the local newspaper, the Paradise Post, published several articles reporting on racism and violence in the schools. Seeing a need to respond, PCTN hosted a community forum, "Speaking Up and Speaking Out about Racism, Intolerance and Violence in our Schools and on our Ridge." More than 90 people attended and told their stories.

PCTN sponsored a second meeting where participants launched the Community Campaign for Tolerance at which action groups were formed. The Schools and Youth group was joined by Paradise Unified School District staff, and the School Board adopted a "Resolution to encourage tolerance and nonviolence in our schools."

The Public Policy group had two items on its action agenda:

1. To prevail on the Paradise Town Council to adopt a resolution promoting tolerance of differences, and respect and fairness for all.

2. To promote the idea of the Town of Paradise recognizing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a holiday coinciding with the nationally-recognized holiday in January. (That recognition occurred in 2006 as part of the Town's labor negotiations.)

PCTN sponsored monthly meetings throughout 2002 and into 2003, with the action groups moving forward to realize their objectives.

New Office Space
In October 2003 PCTN moved from a tiny temporary office to a permanent space on a main street of 'downtown' Paradise, and with donated items, furnished two workspaces, a meeting area, and a storage room.

2002-2003 Annual Programs
  • Unity in Diversity Festival - June 2002 and 2003
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration - January 2002 and 2003
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2001
PCTN incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in February 2001.

Volunteers produced two community events to promote multi-cultural education: a commemoration of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr Day held in January and a Unity in Diversity Festival held in June. The Center has continued to present these free, entertaining and inspiring events each year.

Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemoration
This program honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. beginning with a candlelight march followed by a program that include speakers and musical and/or dramatic performances.

Annual Unity In Diversity Festival
Held at Terry Ashe Park in Paradise, this event presents musical and dance performers from diverse ethnicities and cultures, fun and educational games and crafts for children. Special emphasis on outreach to families brings many children and parents.

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