The Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence works with young people and adults to prevent and respond to bias, harassment, and violence, by providing training, education, and advocacy in schools, colleges, government agencies, non-profit organizations and communities.
The Center was founded by Steve Wessler in 1999. Wessler is an attorney and former lawyer with the Maine Attorney General. He also headed the Maine Civil Rights Unit. As Chief of the Civil Rights Unit, Wessler became acutely aware of the pressing need for preventative action against hate crimes. He founded the Center with a primary goal of creating programs which would interrupt the social conditions which allow the use of degrading language and harassment to escalate to violence and hate crimes.
For bios of the CPHV staff, please click the links to the left.
Stephen L. Wessler, Executive Director, 207.228.8152
Dr. Lelia L. De Andrade, Associate Director, 207.228.8308
Nicole Manganelli, Coordinator of Curriculum Development, 207.228.8428
Jasa Porciello, Coordinator of Development & Finance, 207.780.4837
Laura Randall, Financial Assistant
Jesse Zimmerman, Administrative Assistant
biased language/motivation + threats/property damage/violence
When most of us think of hate violence, we think of a few highly publicized crimes committed by members of organized hate groups. In fact, 95% of hate crimes in the United States are committed by people who do not belong to a hate group. Many people are surprised to learn that hate violence occurs across the State of Maine.
Hate violence begins with the common use of biased language which bystanders fail to interrupt. Bias motivated language, when allowed to go unchecked, creates an atmosphere where prejudice thrives and words escalate to threats and violence.
People who are targets of hate violence feel degraded and scared. They live with a cloud of fear and anxiety around them -- in the hallways at school, the parking lot at work, or the aisles at the grocery store.
Victims of hate violence are targeted because of who they are or who they are perceived to be. Hate violence sends a message not just to the victim, but also to all those who belong to a targeted group. As a result, whole communities of people do not feel safe enough to participate in life in ways that many of us take for granted.
"I am called slurs when I walk down the hallway. Every day, a little piece is taken away from me, and I never know what to say." -- High School Student, Maine.
"We were insulted outside the Mosque. We were afraid of going to the Mosque because people would yell things -- insult us . . . we were all waiting for someone to put fire to the fire." -- Muslim man in Maine
"When you go out of the shelter . . . you get looks, especially from neighbors. They stare at you or threaten you while they are driving by -- like you are a taboo or a disease . . . it makes you feel bad . . we are people too." -- Homeless woman in Maine
CPHV's training and dialogue programs provide young people and adults with the skills to interrupt biased language, slurs and jokes in low key ways -- ways that send a clear social message about the importance of respect in schools, organizations and communities.
By interrupting words of disrespect and prejudice, we break the process of escalation and significantly reduce the risk of violence. As important, by interrupting verbal expressions of bias we send a welcoming message of respect and inclusion to those individuals targeted by hate.
CPHV transforms communities by:
Research and Advocacy:
CPHV produces research-driven reports addressing bias, discrimination and violence aimed at traditionally targeted groups wuch as immigrants, homeless people, and gays and lesbians. CPHV follows the dissemination of reports with advocacy for programs, policies and legislation to reduce bias, discrimination, and violence.
Training and Dialogue:
CPHV implements anti-bias programs in schools, non-profit and governemental agencies, corretctional facilities, and communities. Our workshops provide participants with an understanding of the impact of bias, and the skills, confidence, and courage for respectful interventions.