Shasta County Citizens Advocating for Respect: Homegrown Coalition Works to End Prejudice in All its Forms

Prejudice harms a multitude of people every day, but there’s a home-grown coalition that works tirelessly to address discrimination and uplift those affected by its reach. Shasta County Citizens Advocating for Respect (SCCAR), a local nonprofit organization devoted to social justice and civil rights through education and advocacy, has a multi-pronged approach for tackling all forms of prejudice right here in the North State.

Rooted in racial equity work, SCCAR’s mission has expanded

SCCAR was originally called Shasta County Citizens Against Racism when it was founded in 1988. It was then that a passionate and driven group of Shasta County citizens, outraged about a racially motivated shooting in Caldwell Park, came together to speak out against racism and advocate for racial equity. In 1999, the murder of a local gay couple in their own home showed this collective that there was more to be done in their community. Seeing the need to fight all forms of prejudice and inequality, they evolved into Shasta County Citizens Advocating for Respect, with an expanded mission and innovative strategies. As Pam Hughes, secretary of the organization says, “Everyone deserves dignity, respect and our support.”

SCCAR advocates for equity through outreach and education

SCCAR advocates for social justice and equity on multiple fronts. From cultural exposure and education in the classroom to private assistance with incidents of discrimination, members of SCCAR are working toward building a more equitable and less biased community.

Among the many services they provide, SCCAR offers help with sensitivity training. A few years back, when a local mixed-race couple was repeatedly snubbed and mistreated at a restaurant where they had made reservations for their Valentine’s date, they sought help from SCAAR. SCCAR contacted the owner on the couple’s behalf, suggesting this sensitivity training to his staff. SCCAR board member Penny Harris says, “He was very cooperative. Sometimes, it just takes awareness.”

And awareness doesn’t have to wait until adulthood. With several retired teachers on the board, SCCAR understands what struggles students and teachers often experience. From teacher workshops to conflict resolution education, rights-awareness and learning for justice materials, SCCAR equips parents, teachers and children with the knowledge they need to succeed. Cultural exposure through classroom speakers is another of the many resources provided to assist in broadening children’s understanding of the many cultures, people and traditions that make up the North State and, indeed the United States.

SCCAR reaches out to connect with the community in many ways, including holding workshops, offering to speak at schools and exhibiting at community events such as the 2023 Sikh Cultural Experiences Festival in Yuba City, where board member Penny Harris helped staff the SCCAR booth.

Having difficult conversations helps heal communities

Dismantling implicit or unconscious bias is important work, and SCCAR members attack the problem head on by providing “Difficult Conversations” workshops in Shasta County and surrounding areas, as well as other workshops addressing challenging cultural subjects. “People from all different agencies and organizations come for that training,” says Penny. In addition to various workshops, they lead forums on antisemitism, homelessness and other pressing social issues.

Nurturing a positive relationship with the police also helps ease a lot of situations that could otherwise turn sour. Ted Snyder, a SCCAR board member and officer with the Redding Police Department (RPD), acts as a liaison between the organization and the local authorities, ensuring better outcomes for individuals and the community at large. This work began with former SCCAR president Fran Brady and dedicated Volunteer Civil Rights Advocate with the RPD, Tom O’Mara, and has continued with Ted post-pandemic when outside volunteering was shut down.

SCCAR celebrates successes and funds education

It’s not all about fighting for social justice and addressing discrimination and bias. SCCAR is here to celebrate successes, too. Beyond organizing and participating in multi-cultural forums, they host an annual awards dinner, to shine a light on champions of social justice. In the last 35 years, they’ve held 30 of these Civil Rights and Social Justice Awards Dinners, honoring 71 citizens who have gone the extra mile working for social justice. While Covid halted the tradition, SCCAR hopes to resume these awards dinners soon.

SCCAR also invests in equity-driven youth. Their Isaac Lowe Civil Rights & Social Justice Scholarship Fund honors SCCAR co-founder, retired social worker and founding member of the Redding chapter of the NAACP, Isaac Lowe. This scholarship provides financial assistance for full-time college students with a commitment to social justice. So far, 24 students have received support through this scholarship.

The Rod Lindsay Youth Enrichment Fund is an ongoing fund supporting Indigenous youth between 10 and 25 years old. Honoring Native American community leader and former board member Rod Lindsay, the fund is managed by the SCCAR board in partnership with the LIFE (Local Indians for Education) Center. With a goal of fostering a connection to culture, this fund provides material assets toward that enrichment.

Many ways to be involved with SCCAR

When it comes to advocacy or education, SCCAR services are free. “We’re an all-volunteer organization, and we don’t charge,” Penny says. That said, they rely on members, volunteers and donations. SCCAR doesn’t currently have a website, but if you would like to get in touch or get involved, or you would like free flyers on student, teacher and parental rights in schools, and handouts with tips on what to do if you witness an incidence of bias or violation of civil rights, you can contact them at shasta.sccar@gmail.com. And be sure to follow North State Parent’s weekly e-newsletter for upcoming SCCAR events. Subscribe at northstateparent.com/newsletter. Whether you give money, time, assistance or you just want to learn, all engagement makes a difference.