Alabama
PEACE Birmingham (People Engaged in a Cultural Exchange) brings together teens for monthly dinner discussions to encourage respect and understanding among African American and Jewish youth.

Alaska
A husband-and-wife team fosters understanding through a 40-hour Race and Healing course, designed for individuals, businesses and other organizations. The course promotes frank dialogue and honest self-assessment.

Arizona
The Jewish Community Relations Council in Tucson drew 200 teachers to its in-service program, "Teaching the Holocaust on the Path to Prejudice Reduction." The gathering featured the director of Houston's Holocaust Museum as well as a detective from the Tucson Police Department who talked about bias and hate-motivated crimes.
www.jewishtucson.org

Arkansas
The Women's Project advocates alternatives to prison sentences for women convicted of non-violent crimes and protects the civil rights of the incarcerated. They also offer HIV support groups and domestic violence education for men incarcerated in Arkansas prisons, and publish an annual log of bias and hate incidents in the state.

California
As the nation's oldest senior theater company, Stagebridge in Oakland, uses workshops and theatrical performances to dispel common myths and stereotypes about aging. The company's actors, storytellers, students and volunteers range in age from 50 to 95.
www.stagebridge.org

Colorado
Citizens Project is a volunteer-driven organization working to ensure the separation of church and state while encouraging respect for tolerance and diversity. Among other things, the group raised public awareness when a white-supremacist group came to town and informs the public of politicians' stances on gay and lesbian issues and racial equality.
www.citizensproject.org

Connecticut
Students and Teachers Against Racism (STAR) uses research and education to raise awareness about racism against Native Americans and helps victims of racism and discrimination have their voices heard. The group has developed a series of seminars for teachers that include Native American speakers sharing personal and historical experiences.
www.racismagainstindians.org

Delaware
Create a More Positive Rehoboth (CAMP Rehoboth) helps lessen tensions between the gay and non-gay community through dialogue, cooperation and understanding. CAMP holds community forums to discuss issues of prejudice and discrimination and offers annual sensitivity classes for the town's incoming summer police force.
www.camprehoboth.com

Florida
The Non-Violence Project, based in Miami and led mostly by a staff of young adults, teaches young people alternatives to violent behavior. Among their programs are a peer-mediation group, a girls-only project that builds self-esteem among young women, and a leadership program that teaches communication skills.
www.nvp-miami.org

Georgia
From city parks to senior homes, from pet shelters to food banks, Hands On Atlanta volunteers are at work every day of the year, building a sense of community and addressing the needs of their city. Each year, HOA sponsors the largest citywide day of service in the United States. So far, volunteers have contributed more than 3 million hours of service to programs impacting the Atlanta community.
www.handsonatlanta.org

Hawaii
The Na Loio Immigrant Rights and Public Interest Legal Center provides free legal services, community education and advocacy for Hawaii's immigrants. The group tackles cases involving immigrant women and children who are victims of domestic abuse. They also provide interpreters to help abuse victims communicate with domestic violence shelters.
www.naloio.org

Idaho
Breaking Bread is a grassroots community-based program helping residents meet, share experiences and form friendships with people from diverse ethnic and racial groups. The group meets about five times a year and has held seminars on white privilege, race relations and Native American tribal issues.

Illinois
Street-Level Youth Media works with young people ages 8 to 22, helping them use media arts and technology as tools for self-expression, communication and social change.
www.street-level.org

Indiana
CommUnity Religious Effort (CURE), brings together religious and civic leaders to examine the impact of — and find solutions to — racism and violence in the community. The group has reached out to local law enforcement, prompting agencies to send officers to the monthly meetings.

Iowa
First Friday Breakfast Club was formed as a response to the radical right's rabid opposition to the gay community. The group has become an active force in the state and provides scholarships to college students who have worked for tolerance in their communities.
www.ffbciowa.org

Kansas
Inter-Faith Ministries in Wichita educates and organizes people of all faiths to dismantle racism within themselves as well as within congregations and organizations. One program pairs Muslims and non-Muslims to speak in the community, addressing stereotypes and misinformation.
www.ifmnet.org

Kentucky
Through leadership development and public education, the Kentucky Fairness Alliance seeks equality for all members of the state's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. KFA has fought discriminatory legislation and highlights the connection between the oppressions of all people.

Louisiana
The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond sponsors a community workshop called "Undoing Racism/Community Organizing," which helps participants build strategies to reduce racism by working together.
www.pisab.org

Maine
Among other things, Peace Through Interamerican Community Action educates consumers about the role they play in supporting the global sweatshop industry and teaches residents how to encourage local businesses and city governments to purchase "sweat-free" apparel.
www.pica.ws

Maryland
The Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education lobbies for the inclusion of students with disabilities in their neighborhood schools. The group uses a combination of community organizing, individual advocacy and professional development to make sure families are informed about options available to them.
depts.washington.edu/pdacent/sites/mcie.html

Massachusetts
The Food Project brings together Boston-area youth from diverse backgrounds to grow organic vegetables that are then donated to local homeless shelters or sold to urban farmers' markets.
www.thefoodproject.org

Michigan
The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services helps meet the needs of low-income families, helps newly arrived immigrants adapt to life in America and fosters a greater understanding of Arab culture both inside and outside the United States.
www.accesscommunity.org

Minnesota
The Center for Cross-Cultural Health in Minneapolis, Minn., aims to reduce health disparities among minority populations by promoting cultural competence in healthcare. The group works to ensure that patients receive treatment that takes into account their ethnicity, language, religion and cultural beliefs.
www.crosshealth.com

Mississippi
A lesbian couple risked death threats and harassment to create Camp Sister Spirit, a picturesque feminist retreat and educational center. The camp is open to all who share its mission of empowerment and equality. Meeting spaces are available for community groups and other organizations.
www.campsisterspirit.com

Missouri
Kansas City Harmony provide communitywide education and facilitation programs. It also sponsors various celebrations promoting pride and appreciation for the city's diverse population.
www.kcharmony.org

Montana
The Mai Wah Society in Butte is creating a permanent exhibit of Asian artifacts. In 2003, the group brought to town a national exhibit about the Asian American experience.
www.maiwah.org

Nebraska
Citizens for Equal Protection fights for legislation and resolutions protecting the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in housing, employment and other areas.
www.cfep-ne.org

Nevada
Nevada Urban Indians Inc. provides free health care for the nearly 20,000 Native Americans living in Reno and Carson City. And through community education programs, it also breaks stereotypes and misconceptions.
www.nevadaurbanindians.org

New Hampshire
People First is the only nonprofit in the state that is run completely by people who are disabled. Among other empowerment projects, it produces "I Got That Right," a video about the rights of people with disabilities on such issues as voting, relationships and housing.
www.peoplefirstofnh.org

New Mexico
Through the New Mexico Alliance for Hispanic Education, 144 golfers take part in three tournaments, raising $300,000 in scholarship money for Latino students across the state.
www.nmalliance.org

New Jersey
The Center for the Study of White American Culture collects and produces essays and scholarly papers exploring white culture, white privilege and the role of white people in issues of race and racism. It also leads community workshops and discussions that help participants explore these issues.
www.euroamerican.org

New York
Seeking Harmony in Neighborhoods Everyday sponsors 500 youth events each year that promote respect for diversity and nonviolence through creative outlets such as art, music, poetry and sports.
www.shine.com

North Carolina
The Center for Diversity Education researches and compiles the histories of marginalized people that often are left out of text books. Student researchers use archives, library records, interviews and online resources to help uncover hidden history.
eduweb.unca.edu/diversityed

North Dakota
The North Dakota Human Rights Coalition is part advocacy and education, part watchdog. It lobbies the state legislature to establish a state Human Rights Commission and encourages women, people of color and people with disabilities to run for public office.
www.ndhrc.org

Ohio
Kaleidoscope Youth Center, a teen center for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, offers a rec room, tech room and stage and entertainment area. The group serves between 70 and 90 people ages 12 to 20 each month.
www.kaleidoscope.org

Oklahoma
NAMI North Central Oklahoma offers monthly meetings, hosts mental illness experts, and provides support sessions for families. The group also works to change policies and programs that make it difficult for people with mental illness to find effective treatment.
ok.nami.org

Oregon
Love Makes a Family offers support groups for households lead lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people, an outreach group for LGBT youth of color, an anti-bullying program for middle-schoolers and other programs.
www.lmfamily.org

Pennsylvania
Celebrating Diversity, in Pittsburgh, uses social gatherings to promote understanding and friendship among people of different races, cultures and religions.

Rhode Island
Progreso Latino offers a bilingual day care center, adult education and citizenship classes, an after-school and summer youth program, a meal program for the elderly, an HIV prevention program and a workers' rights program that addresses issues of discrimination and mistreatment of immigrant employees.
www.progresolatino.org

South Carolina
The Palmetto Project, among other things, offers "Building Cultural Bridges," an annual four-day conference that has reached students from more than 130 high schools, allowing students to explore ways to reach across racial and cultural barriers in their schools.
www.palmettoproject.org

South Dakota
The Minority Peer Mentoring Program at South Dakota State University aims to keep more minorities enrolled on campus. Older students, both minorities and non-minorities, are matched with incoming students. Group activities include three workshops and three socials each semester.

Texas
The Center for the Healing of Racism offers interactive workshops for adults and children that create safe space in which participants can explore issues of racism and privilege.
www.centerhealingracism.org

Tennessee
The Nashville chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice offers programs that help younger students dispel stereotypes, identify bias and reduce prejudice. For teenagers and college students, the programs are dialogue-based, allowing students to work through difficult issues associated with diversity.
www.nccj.org

Utah
Founded by a Salt Lake City dentist alarmed by a string of hate crimes, Smiles for Diversity creates tolerance-themed materials for use in dental office waiting rooms and school-outreach programs. It also publishes a diversity-themed comic book called "Scrapyard Detectives."
www.smiles-for-diversity.org

Vermont
The Beyond Difference program distributes tolerance-themed picture books to teachers and librarians to help young children learn valuable lessons of diversity, inclusion and tolerance. More than 50 schools across the state have participated in the program.

Virginia
The Augusta Coalition for Peace and Justice combines church groups, student groups and labor unions — with a range of diversity in terms of age and socioeconomic status — in its attempt to turn town gatherings into discussions of tolerance and justice. Such discussions happen at mainstream events such as Victorian Days and the Fourth of July celebration.
www.virginia-organizing.org/magazine/summer04_augusta_coalition.php

Washington
Nancy Rohde, a teacher for 20 years, invites Guatemalan and Mexican immigrants into her home, teaching them English, sharing meals, making friends and helping them adjust to life in a town of about 4,000 people in a remote area of Washington.

West Virginia
PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in West Virginia offers outreach and education. One recent campaign involved sending anti-bullying materials to schools across the state, aimed at protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered young people from harassment and hate crimes.
www.pflag.org

Wisconsin
After young people in Appleton complained that the town of 70,000 didn't embrace or respect diversity, Harmony Café opened. Harmony Café offers drumming circles, open-microphone poetry nights and other community-building gatherings in its newly renovated space.
www.focol.org/harmonycafe

Wyoming
Sponsored by Wyoming Equality, a gay-rights advocacy organization, Rendezvous is an annual gathering for LGBTQ activists. The weeklong event includes discussion groups, forums and lectures, policy discussions and workshops.
www.uglw.org/RenMain.html