ONE Community Foundation is a proud founding partner of the Safe Communities Coalition, alongside the Arizona Faith Network. This coalition is a bold, inclusive initiative uniting historically marginalized groups, advocacy partners, and faith communities to ensure all people can live, worship, and gather in safety.
Amid rising threats of violence and extremism, the Coalition serves as a proactive and unifying response. Together, we foster secure, resilient communities across Arizona through trust-building, strategic partnerships, and rapid action.
Our Mission
The Safe Communities Coalition exists to:
-
Protect vulnerable communities and diverse places of worship.
-
Provide education, training, and tools for safety and crisis response.
-
Monitor and respond to hate incidents, identity-based threats, and extremist activity.
-
Promote peace, understanding, and solidarity across lines of difference.
Why It Matters
Arizona has seen a 25% rise in extremist activity and hate crimes in the past five years. Over 20 active hate groups operate in our state, and the threats facing LGBTQ+ individuals, religious minorities, and communities of color are growing. Our coalition stands in the gap—responding swiftly to incidents, gathering data, and empowering communities through education and advocacy.
(Source: Southern Poverty Law Center, Hate and Extremism in Arizona, 2023)
What We Do
-
Education & Preparation: Offering training in conflict de-escalation, cultural competency, and safety readiness for congregations and partner organizations.
-
Rapid Response Team: Mobilizing support after threats or hate-based incidents in collaboration with law enforcement and community leaders.
-
Community Bridge-Building: Hosting interfaith and intercultural events to foster dialogue, trust, and shared safety practices.
-
Incident Monitoring & Data Collection: Tracking and analyzing hate incidents and community tensions via a secure reporting system.
-
Tension Analysis: Identifying risk trends to help guide resources, prevent escalation, and increase long-term community resilience.