Public engagement with diverse American communities whose civil rights may be affected by Department activities is a priority for the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL). Our Community Engagement Section responds to community concerns and provides information on Department programs, activities, and issues. Our goal is to:

• Communicate reliable information about federal programs and policies, including avenues for redress and complaints;
• Obtain feedback about community concerns and on-the-ground impacts of Department activities, in order to incorporate into the policymaking process community ideas and issues relating to civil rights and civil liberties; and 
• Deepen channels of communication between communities and federal officials in order to facilitate solution of problems.

Community Roundtables

CRCL holds regular roundtable meetings among community leaders and federal, state, and local government officials. These roundtables bring together American Arab, Muslim, South Asian, Middle Eastern, Somali, Sikh, Latino, Jewish, and Asian/Asian Pacific Islander communities with government representatives. We hold regular roundtables and a host of other engagement events in these cities (as well as others):

Young Leaders and Campus Engagement

As part of a broader campus engagement strategy, CRCL hosts a series of roundtables on security and liberty with young leaders from the American Arab, Muslim, Sikh, South Asian, and Middle Eastern communities. These roundtables have been held in Los Angeles, Houston, and Washington, DC.

Consultation with Communities

In addition to regular roundtables, CRCL hosts a variety of events and activities with affected communities to hear their concerns and ideas for solutions. These events range from public town halls on current incidents or issues to focused meetings and listening sessions with targeted stakeholders to include religious leaders, recent immigrants, law enforcement, local government, disability groups, etc. As a result of these consultations, we have received valuable input on DHS policy and also developed products to facilitate communication with diverse communities; including a guide on appropriate terminology to use when describing the terrorist threat.

Incident Communication Coordination Team

CRCL's Incident Communication Coordination Team (ICCT) is the only tool of its kind available for rapid two-way communication between the federal government and impacted communities in the aftermath of a homeland security incident or emergency. The ICCT national call provides timely information to communities and allows them to provide feedback to senior government officials on:

• reports allegations of hate crimes that must be investigated;
• reactions or concerns to policies or enforcement actions taken by the government; and
• feedback on how the government might be more effective in investigating terrorist acts.

International Engagement

CRCL is a key member of two intergovernmental groups between the U.S. and key European partners: the US-UK Joint Contact Group and the US-Germany Security Contact Group. CRCL officials have also presented on the Department’s engagement efforts at international conferences in Austria, Bosnia, Canada, Denmark, Kazakhstan, and Poland. CRCL has also participated in State Department-sponsored public diplomacy trips to Egypt, England, Germany, and Kyrgyzstan. As well, CRCL leads an annual community engagement/CVE exchange program, which pairs community stakeholders and local law enforcement in U.S. cities with their counterparts in Germany and Belgium.

Cultural Competency/Engagement Training

CRCL leads efforts to improve the cultural competency and awareness of Department personnel and has developed training resources on Sikh, Arab, and Muslim cultures, including the use of religious garments and articles. CRCL also facilitates a training program for federal, state, and local law enforcement, which works to improve communication, build trust, and encourage collaboration between officers and the communities they serve and protect. Training topics include effective policing without the use of ethnic or racial profiling and best practices in community outreach.

Connect with CRCL

• Subscribe to CRCL's newsletter by e-mail at crcloutreach@dhs.gov.
• Follow CRCL on Facebook for updates on our roundtables and other activities at www.facebook.com/CivilRightsandCivilLiberties.