The Community Relations Service (CRS) of the US Justice Department has introduced a new program, “Engaging and Building Relationships with Hindu American Communities,” aimed at fostering positive and supportive interactions between Hindu Americans and various sectors of society.

This initiative is designed to educate law enforcement agencies, schools, religious and secular organizations, as well as public and private entities on effectively engaging with Hindu American communities. The program is available to interested communities free of charge, according to a statement from the Justice Department.

Hindu American Foundation that contributed to the DOJ trainings commended the leadership of Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi for his leadership in working with the Justice Department to address attacks on Hindus and Hindu temples. 

Commending the DOJ’s initiative, Rep. Krishnamoorthi in a statement noted “The development of this critical program follows repeated requests from myself and Hindu American leaders to collaborate with the Hindu American community to curb hate crimes and ensure that Hindu Americans can build productive relationships with law enforcement to keep our communities safe,” adding “I want to specifically applaud the work of key organizations, like the Hindu American Foundation, whose critical input led to the formulation of this program.”

Developed in collaboration with leading Hindu American organizations, the program is supported by current data and peer-reviewed historical research

The training consists of a comprehensive five-part, four-hour module that provides participants with:

A deeper understanding of Hindu culture, philosophy, and traditions; Insights into the harm caused by misinformation, misconceptions, and hate crimes targeting Hindu Americans; and Guidance on developing culturally informed community engagement strategies based on trust, communication, and mutual respect.

Communities or organizations interested in this training can contact askCRS@usdoj.gov for more details. Additional information about the CRS’s efforts to support communities impacted by hate crimes, discrimination, and conflicts based on race, religion, and other protected characteristics is available at www.justice.gov/crs. 

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