Feel Good Friday - Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect

It's Feel Good Friday and once again time to highlight an organization that is standing up for people under attack. Today, the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect.

You may already be familiar with the organization as they've been making recent headlines for stating that President Trump's remarks condemning anti-Semitism haven't gone far enough. You can watch a rather animated CNN interview from Tuesday with Executive Director, Steven Goldstein, here. The following day he acknowledged Vice President Pence for traveling to St. Louis to clean Jewish graves desecrated in the recent surge of anti-Semitism.

The Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect was founded in 1959 by Anne Frank's father. Their mission is similar to other civil rights organizations I've recently profiled on Feel Good Friday, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League. As explained on the website, "Through educational programs and grassroots organizing, the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect calls out prejudice, counters discrimination and advocates for the kinder and fairer world of which Anne Frank dreamed." (Anyone needing a quick Anne Frank refresher can read more about her here.)

What's different about the Center is that, "it uses the diary and spirit of Anne Frank as unique tools to advance her legacy and to educate young people about the consequences of intolerance and the need to work toward a world based on mutual respect." Educational programs include traveling exhibits, workshops for educators and live performance programs for K-12 schools and any community organization who would like to see the words of Anne Frank come to life.

There is also an essay contest for middle school students (with a chance to win a trip to the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam) and the Spirit of Anne Frank Scholarship Awards which are given out annually to "students who have proven themselves exceptional leaders in combating intolerance, prejudice and injustice in their schools and communities." Applications are currently being accepted through March 17th.

As with all Feel Good Friday organizations, if you like what they do you can support their work by volunteering your time, donating your money and liking their Facebook page.

Their Twitter homepage @AnneFrankCenter focuses on the current campaign to support refugees, "America denied immigration to refugee Anne Frank. Open your heart to refugees and immigrants today." #SaveEveryAnne

Feel Good Friday - Anti-Defamation League

It's Feel Good Friday and, continuing my post-election theme, I'm here to tell you about another organization in the US fighting for justice and civil rights. Today, the Anti-Defamation League.

As the description from their website explains, the Anti-Defamation League, or ADL, "was founded in 1913 'to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all'. Now the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency, ADL fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects civil rights for all." Their slogan is "imagine a world without hate", and you can learn more about them by watching the 100 year anniversary video, narrated by James Earl Jones.

With offices around the country (and one in Israel), the ADL's main areas of focus include:

• Anti-Semitism - fighting it is still a priority because it's still an issue. One example is that the number of anti-Semitic instances on college campuses nearly doubled in 2015.
• Combating Hate - working at both state and national levels to deter and counteract hate-motivated criminal activity as well as tracking cyber hate, monitoring domestic and international terrorism and providing a database of hate symbols for law enforcement.
• Israel and International - monitoring and reporting hate crimes internationally.
• Civil Rights - filling amicus ("friend of the court") briefs in legal proceedings protecting religious freedom and preventing discrimination against immigrants, women, Muslims and the LGBT community.
• Education and Outreach - information, resources and training on anti-bias education and many other topics!

Like the Southern Poverty Law Center,  ADL is tracking anti-Semitic, racist and bigoted incidents. If you are a victim of hate or are aware of an incident, follow this link to #ExposeHate.

Now more than ever, organizations like the ADL can use your support. There are a number of ways you can take action, including making a donation, liking their Facebook page and following them on Twitter @ADL_national.