LCCAA Joining Anti-Hate Task Force

posted 11/5/18 -- LCCAA Joining Anti-Hate Task Force Lorain County Community Action Agency will join the Community Anti-Hate Taskforce as soon as possible, President and CEO Jackie Boehnlein announced.

Boehnlein said the decision to membership in the task force came in response to escalating violence in the nation, particularly the murder of 11 Jews worshipping at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27.

"Our work is about empowering people to create better lives for themselves," she said. "These incidents have reminded us that we also need to work against those forces that try to take that power away."

The Community Anti-Hate Taskforce (C.A.T.) is a collaboration between the Elyria and Lorain YWCAs, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the F.B.I. and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission with the support of the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office and the Lorain County Sheriff's Department.

C.A.T promotes tolerance and understanding between diverse communities within Lorain County. Since 2004 the Elyria and Lorain YWCAs have been active participants in The Northeast Ohio Hate-Crimes Working Group.

"We're proud to welcome LCCAA to the taskforce," said Lorain YWCA Executive Director Jeanine Donaldson (pictured). "Working together is the key to keeping hate from taking root in our community and in ourselves. We must learn more about people who are not like us in order to maintain a safe, vibrant community for everyone."

For information on joining the C.A.T., contact Donaldson at 440-322-6308.