Take me to information about JCA’s programs for Youth and Adults and the Community.
JCA's programs promote inclusion, challenge assumptions and advance understanding across our state. Through these programs we reach hundreds of youth and adults each year, working to create communities where every person is valued, every voice is heard and everyone has a fair chance to succeed. We believe that we must engage in self-examination and commit ourselves to learning more about others in order to build respect and understanding.
Our experienced human relations staff works with educators, community members, clergy and faith leaders, elected officials, law enforcement, young people and business and corporate leaders in support of our mission. Each of our programs is designed to empower youth and adult leaders with both the will and the skills to create a more inclusive community.
JCA staff members can work with you to design and customize programs to meet your specific needs. To find out how we can help build a program for your group, contact a JCA staff member.
Plowshares - Community Conflict Transformation Training - Community Conflict Transformation (CCT) training creates a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural network of skilled community and city leaders to work proactively to build constructive relationships among all citizens.
Building Inclusive Communities - A workplace initiative designed to equip “Workplace Change Teams” with the knowledge and skills to make their company’s business practices and environment more inclusive. Workshops are tailored to meet the particular needs of an individual workplace: corporate, non-profit, government or faith groups. Program components include collection of pertinent data, leadership and employee training and evaluation.
Shared Decisions - Cultural diversity training for healthcare professionals and consumers to address the well-documented disparities in healthcare outcomes for minorities. These workshops bring providers and consumers together and result in action planning to reduce healthcare disparities.
Diversity & Inclusion Training for the Workplace - Specific diversity and inclusion training for all types of businesses and organizations. Read a list of organizations that have participated in these workshops.
Straight Talk Panels - Panels of gay and lesbian persons, family members and friends talk about how sexual orientation affects their lives in Arkansas.
Ourtown for Teens - Formerly known as Anytown, this unique, week-long youth leadership training program is for Arkansas high school students of different races, religions and cultures. Participants experience and gain respect for diversity, while learning effective leadership skills.
Unitown - Two day retreats for students and teachers from one high school that prepare participants to be leaders in making their school more inclusive and accepting of diversity.
Teentown - A one day program for students from one middle school to help them identify and prevent bullying.
Different and the Same - A program for students in kindergarten through third grades to help teachers and children identify and prevent prejudice.
Recent Advocacy Activities - In 2006, JCA published and distributed a position statement calling for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. During the 2007 Arkansas legislative session, we worked to defeat SB959, a bill that would have prohibited gay and lesbian persons from adopting or serving as foster parents based simply on their sexual orientation. In September, 2007, JCA led audience talk-backs following the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s performances of “It Happened in Little Rock”, a play about the 1957 crisis at Central High School.
Annual activities include Walk for CommUNITY, Gathering of Friends and the Annual Humanitarian Award Dinner.