The dramatic rise in antisemitism and anti-Arab sentiments since October 7, 2024 was perhaps most acutely felt on college campuses across the country, where tensions boiled over last spring. For decades, the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) has been a respected national leader, providing resources to campus leaders and communities in ways to respond proactively to charged and emotional issues.

As the culmination of their time-tested methods of responding to divisions on campus, NCBI designed this new program to tackle the root causes of the divisions on campus that lead to antisemitism, racism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab racism. NCBI’s approach is to address these unique but interconnected forms of bigotry by approaching each not in an isolated way but through training in coalition building, hearing personal stories that can change hearts, and ongoing support from NCBI’s trained experts to develop campus-wide programs.

With so many students facing antisemitism, racism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism in 2024, NCBI has found value in convening all targeted groups from the start. Together, as students, faculty and administrators learn how to “step into the divide,” they develop skills to build effective intergroup coalitions on campus, to stay in the room when things get hard, and to build the kind of relationships that can survive the crises that hit campuses.

In this moment of intense national division that has neighbors turning against neighbors in communities across the country and college campuses being rocked by intense conflict, NCBI is stepping into the gap on campuses, supporting students, administrations, and affiliated communities to bridge divides and enhance belonging.

Learn more about NCBI’s campus program: “Stepping Into the Divide: Using Coalition Building Skills to Deepen Relationships in the Face of Antisemitism, Racism, Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Racism” in an upcoming learning webinar hosted by the Nathan Cummings Foundation and Henry Luce Foundation on Wednesday Dec 4th at 4pm.