101

TOOLS FOR
TOLERANCE

Simple Ideas For Promoting Equity

And Celebrating Diversity
 101
TOOLS FOR
TOLERANCE

A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center® Simple Ideas For Promoting Equity
400 Washington Avenue · Montgomery, al 36104
www.tolerance.org And Celebrating Diversity
Illustrations by Rob Collinet. ©2000 Rob Collinet
 ate can only be conquered by ordinary people willing to

H promote tolerance. You may already be one of them. The ideas

in this guide will help foster tolerance in yourself, your family,
your schools, your workplace and your community. Some of the
ideas are things to do. Some are things to think about. Some are
things to remember.
But a word of caution is in order:
This booklet is not a sure-fire recipe
for making the world a better place.
These ideas are only some of the
possibilities. The best ideas are those
that work for you and your commu nity.
Please share your successful strat egies with the rest of America by
dropping us a line at 101 Tools, c/o Tolerance.org, 400 Washington
Avenue, Montgomery, al 36104, or E-mailing us at 101tools@tolerance.org.
We’ll include new ideas in the next edition of 101 Tools for Tolerance and
on our Web site, www.tolerance.org.
2 3
 Speak up when Imagine what

Ideas for 10Teach you hear slurs. your life might be

like if you were a
Let people person of another
YOURSELF an adult know that bias race, gender or
speech is sexual orienta- 12
to read. 11 always tion. How might
“today” have
unacceptable. been different?
Attend a play, Volunteer Attend services Test for hidden
1 listen to music 13 Take a Civil Research your
or go to a dance at a local at a variety biases that you
family history.
15
performance by 2 social of churches, may have, and Rights history
synagogues read what you Share informa-
artists whose services 3 can do about them. vacation. Tour tion about your
race or ethnicity and temples
organi- to learn about
www.tolerance.org/ key sites and heritage in talks
is different from hidden_bias/
your own. zation. different faiths. index.html. 14 museums. with others.

Think about how you Create a

Visit a local senior
List all the stereo- appear to others. List
Shop at ethnic
center and collect grocery stores and
Participate types you can — personality traits that “diversity profile”
oral histories. 16 positive and are compatible with of your friends,
Donate large-print
specialty markets. in a 6 negative — about a
17 tolerance (e.g.,
compassion, curiosity,
co-workers and
reading materials Get to know the particular group. acquaintances. 18
4 and books on tape. owners. Ask about diversity Are these stereo-
openness). List those
that seem incompatible Set the goal of
Offer to help with a their family with tolerance (e.g.,
craft project. 5 histories. program. types reflected in
your actions?
jealousy, bossiness,
expanding it by
perfectionism). next year.

Ask a person of
another cultural Learn Take a
conversation
9 Sign the Declaration
of Tolerance (see
page 16) and return
20 Read a book
or watch a
heritage to teach
7 you how to per-
sign course in
another
it to 101 Tools, c/o
Tolerance.org, 400
movie
form a traditional lan- 8 language that is Washington Avenue,
Montgomery, al
about
dance or cook a spoken in your another
traditional meal. guage. community.
19
36104.
culture.
4 5
 Gather 31 Play “action hero” Affirm your
information about with your children. Are
children’s
Ideas for local volunteer the heroes all aggressive
males? Help your children curiosity about
opportunities and
YOUR let your children
see the heroic qualities in
those whose contributions
race and
ethnicity. 32
select projects
HOME 30 for family
often go unrecognized
(e.g., nurses, bridge
Point out that
people come in
participation. builders, volunteers in
homeless shelters). many shades.
Invite Give a 23
someone of Assess the Help young
22 multi- cultural diversity 34 Read books
a different children make
background cultural reflected in your an illustrated with multi-
to join your home’s artwork, 33 list of what cultural and
doll, toy music and friends do or
family for a or game tolerance themes
meal or literature. Add what friend-
to your children.
21 holiday. as a gift. something new. ship means.

Watch what Watch how you Examine the

Don’t buy Establish a high Bookmark handle emotional “diversity profile”
“comfort level”
equity and you say in issues with girls
playthings 35 of your children’s
for open dialogue front of
about social diversity and boys. Do friends. Expand
that promote 25 issues. Let children when 36 you attempt the circle by
Web sites on you’re angry. 37
or glorify children know
your home
to distract crying helping your
24 violence. that no subject Curb your boys but reassure children develop
is taboo. computer. 26 road rage. crying girls? new relationships.

Point out stereo- Take the Involve all Enroll your

types and cultural
family to an members of children in schools, Participate Live in an 40
misinformation the family 29 daycare centers, 39 in a Big integrated and
depicted in 28 ethnic in selecting after-school economically
27 movies, TV restaurant. 38 programs Brother or
organizations and diverse
shows, computer Learn about to support with camps that reflect Big Sister
neighborhood.
games and other more than just charitable and celebrate program.
media. the food. differences.
gifts.
6 7
 Applaud the Encourage schools to Provide 52
Ideas for other team. 51 go“heroes
beyond the
and confidential
holidays” model to methods for
YOUR Promote good develop a rich, on-
students to
going multicultural
50 sportsman- report
SCHOOL ship and ban
curriculum. Give
Teaching Tolerance
harassment
materials to educators
taunting. in your community. or bullying.
Donate Volunteer to be an
Buy art supplies
tolerance-related advisor for a Encourage school Ensure that schools
for a local Discourage
books, films, student club. 43 administrators to comply with the
magazines and school. Sponsor Support a wide the use of
adopt Internet-use McKinney Act,
other materials a mural about range of extra- policies that divisive school the federal law
to school the cultural curricular activities 53 address on-line emblems 54 mandating 55
41 libraries. composition and to help students hate, harassment educational services
Organize heritage of your “find their place” and pornography. or mascots.
at school. for homeless children.
a book drive. 42 community.
Ask school Create a Invite bilingual Make sure that
Coach a girls’
44 sports team. Sponsor counselors what bilingual (or students to give school cafeterias
resources they have multilingual) 57 morning offer options
Encourage schools a conflict for supporting gay calendar greetings and
for students
and lesbian youth. highlighting announcements
to provide equal resolution Offer additional on the PA system
and staff 58
resources for boys’ materials if 56 school and in their home with dietary
and girls’ athletics. team. 45 necessary. 46 community
languages. restrictions.
activities.
Assess your school’s Donate a tape Celebrate “Someone Ask schools not to
compliance with the
Start a pen pal schedule tests or
recorder to a program. Get 49 Special Day” in
accessibility school meetings on
48 school that is students in touch
addition to Mother’s
the major holidays
requirements of the Day or Father’s Day.
Americans with conducting oral of any religious
with people in Keep adoptive and group. Develop
Disabilities Act. history projects.
47 Organize a class different parts of foster students in a school calendar
Suggest a focus on mind when planning
the community, that respects
project to improve local struggles for family-oriented religious
compliance. civil rights. country or world. 59 programs. diversity. 60
8 9
 Vary your lunch Start a
Ideas for Avoid singling
partners. Seek out mentoring
70 out employees
co-workers of
YOUR of a particular
race or ethnicity different
71 backgrounds,
program
that pairs
WORKPLACE to “handle”
diversity issues from different veteran 72
on behalf of departments, and at employees
everyone else. different levels in with new-
the company. comers.
61 Hold a Arrange a Partner with a Establish an
“diversity Add social Ensure that
“box-lunch local school 63 internal procedure your workplace
potluck” lunch.
forum” on and encourage for employees to justice funds complies with 75
Invite co- report incidents of
workers to bring
topics of your colleagues
harassment or
to 401(k) the accessibility

dishes that
62 diverse to serve as discrimination. investment requirements of the
Americans with
cultural and tutors or Publicize the
reflect their 73 policy widely. 74 options. Disabilities Act.
cultural heritage. social interest. mentors.

Examine the degree of

Cast a 66 Push for Don’t close
64 Sponsor a diversity at all
equitable
65 levels of your wide net your door.
community- workplace. leave policies.
Are there barriers when Provide paid
77 Foster an
wide “I Have that make it harder
a Dream” for people of color recruiting maternity and open working
and women to suc-
ceed? Suggest ways to
new paternity environment.
essay contest. employees. 76
overcome them. leave.

Give every- Fight against Value the

the “just like Advocate 79 Provide Publicize corporate
one a chance input of every
for that me” bias — the for domestic employees with
paid leave to
giving widely, and
challenge other
tendency to employee.
partnership participate in companies to 80
promotion. 68 favor those Reward 69 match or exceed
Post all job benefits. volunteer
who are similar managers projects.
your efforts.
67 openings. to ourselves. 78
who do.
10 11
 Host a Create a Establish an
ecumenical 92
“multicultural mobile “street
Ideas for extravaganza” library” to make
alliance. Bring
people of diverse
such as a food multicultural faiths together for
YOUR 90 fair or art, books and films
retreats, workshops
or potluck dinners.
COMMUNITY fashion and
talent show.
widely
91 available.
Be welcoming to
agnostics and
atheists, too.
Frequent Participate in a
blood drive, or
Start a monthly Write a letter to Start a campaign to
minority- 82 clean up a local “diversity round- the editor if your Present a
establish a multi-
table” to discuss “disabilities 95
81 owned stream. Identify
local newspaper cultural center for the
awareness”
critical issues ignores any arts. Ask local
businesses issues that reach
facing your segment of the 94 museums to host event with the
across racial, ethnic community or help of a local
and get to and other divisions community. 83 93 stories about exhibits and events
reflecting diversity at rehabilitation
know the and forge alliances Establish an cooperation and organization.
equity forum. tolerance. home and elsewhere.
proprietors. for tackling them.
Give copies of our
Encourage law
Make copies of the Make sure enforcement agencies Intelligence Report to
Hold a community- Declaration of 86
wide yard sale and Build a Tolerance (see page
that anti- to establish diversity
training for all
law enforcement
agencies in your 98
use the proceeds to 16), encourage others discrimination 97
improve a park or
community to sign the pledge, and protection in your
officers, to utilize
community-based
community. Do
officers receive
return it to 101 Tools,
community center.
Celebrate the event
85 peace c/0 Tolerance.org, 400 community extends policing and to
eliminate the use of
training about hate
groups, hate crimes
Washington Avenue,
96 to gay and inequitable tactics
84
with a picnic. garden. Montgomery, al 36104.
lesbian people. like racial profiling.
and domestic
terrorism?

Start a
“language bank” 88
Encourage
your
Create Ask for a free copy
of our publication 100 Conduct a
“diaper equity”
survey of local
of volunteer
interpreters for
local
public
a town Ten Ways to Fight
Hate and become a establishments.
Commend man-
all languages officials to Web 99
community
activist
agers who provide
changing tables in
used in your be tolerance
87 community. activists. site. 89 against hate groups
and hate crime.
men’s as well as
women’s restrooms.
12 13
 101 SHARE YOUR IDEAS
We end our list where we began — with a reminder
that the best ideas come not from books, but from the
experiences of caring and committed individuals and communities. Send
your best suggestions for promoting equity and celebrating diversity
to 101 Tools, c/o Tolerance.org, 400 Washington Avenue,
Montgomery, al 36104, or E-mail us at
101tools@tolerance.org. Let us share
what’s worked for you in the next
edition of 101 Tools for Tolerance and
on our Web site.

14 15
 D E C L A R AT I O N
of TOLERANCE

T
olerance is a personal decision that comes from a
belief that every person is a treasure. I believe
that America’s diversity is its strength. I also
recognize that ignorance, insensitivity and
bigotry can turn that diversity into a source of
prejudice and discrimination.

To help keep diversity a well-

spring of strength and make
America a better place for
all, I pledge to have
respect for people whose
abilities, beliefs, culture,
race, sexual identity or other
other characteristics are
different from my own.

To fulfill this pledge, I will …

· examine my own biases and work to overcome them,
· set a positive example for my family and friends,
· work for tolerance in my own community, and
· speak out against hate and injustice.

signature
Please sign and mail a copy to:
101 Tools, c/o Tolerance.org, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104
You may sign the pledge online at www.tolerance.org/101_tools/declaration.html
16
WE SHARE A WORLD
For all our differences, we share one
world. To be tolerant is to welcome the
differences and delight in the sharing.

A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center®

400 Washington Avenue · Montgomery, al 36104
www.tolerance.org
0004G001