National Conference for Community & Justice

Founded 75 years ago as the National Conference of Christians and Jews to fight prejudice and racism, the National Conference for Community and Justice has changed only its name – not its mission.

The organization continues to promote understanding and respect among all races, religions and cultures.

The name change came about six years ago, according to state director Ruth Shepherd, because “the old name made us exclusive, and we wanted to be inclusive.”

Unlike many organizations that focus on one particular group, Shepherd said, NCCJ stands with any oppressed group, whether that oppression is bias against race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.

Shepherd has headed the Arkansas region of NCCJ for two and a half years. The Arkansas region, she said, is strongest in its work with youth, business, education and faith leaders. The organization, through its more than 130 volunteers, is beginning a strategic process to identify needs.

In the past two years, the organization has worked to get the state’s sodomy law repealed, has pushed for enactment of hate-crimes legislation and has worked to overturn the ban against gays and lesbians serving as foster parents.

NCCJ offers a six-week program on building inclusive communities that teaches company teams how to make their organizations more inclusive.

Some of NCCJ’s workshop and seminar clients over the past two years have included Baptist Health, Entergy Arkansas, St. Vincent Health Center, Leadership Pine Bluff and Little Rock police recruit classes.

Two of NCCJ’s signature programs for youth are Anytown, which Shepherd hopes to see in all high schools in the state in the next 15 years, and Ourtown, a program specific to central Arkansas.

NCCJ reaches more than 630 people with direct services.

“We want to be the provider of choice for inclusive education,” Shepherd said. “We work to empower leaders to make institutional changes.”