Civil Rights Department Announces Summit to Advance Unity and Confront Hate
Hate is impacting millions of Californians and communities across the state are stepping up to respond.
That’s the focus of the California Civil Rights Summit, a new full-day convening focused on confronting hate and advancing community-driven solutions across the state. Hosted by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) and taking place at The Commonwealth Club of World Affairs in San Francisco on May 11, the summit will bring people together to reflect on both progress and the work still ahead.
“This summit is about turning experience into action and moving from conversation to impact,” said CRD Director Kevin Kish. “It brings Californians together across differences for honest dialogue, shared learning, and practical tools to respond to hate and strengthen belonging. Through dialogue, storytelling, and art, we’re not just reflecting on the problem — we’re equipping people with tools they can take back to their own communities.”
At a time when hate continues to impact communities across California, the summit will convene community leaders, organizers, artists, and elected officials for a day of dialogue, learning, and action. The event will spotlight California’s response to hate — including the Commission on the State of Hate, California vs Hate, and Stop the Hate — all working to provide support, prevention, and resources across the state.
“California has invested heavily in community-driven solutions to prevent hate crimes, support victims, and build a culture of belonging,” said California Department of Social Services Director Jennifer Troia. “The Stop the Hate program has strengthened prevention efforts across the state by investing in community-based organizations and prioritizing the multilingual professionals who provide services.”
The urgency is clear. According to the 2024 California Health Interview Survey, roughly 3.1 million Californians experienced at least one act of hate in the past year, reporting lasting impacts on mental health, financial stability, and overall well-being.
The California Civil Rights Summit is designed to meet this moment: bringing people together to share solutions, elevate community voices, and connect attendees with tools to take action.
Programming will feature leading voices in the anti-hate movement sharing stories of resilience, advocacy, and community protection. Sessions will explore how policy, grassroots organizing, and community power can work together to prevent hate, alongside conversations on the role of culture, storytelling, and identity in building belonging. Attendees will also gain practical tools for navigating division and strengthening cross-community understanding. The summit will be emceed by Hector Flores — podcast host, activist, and musician from the band Las Cafeteras.
Program highlights include:
Conversations on California’s response to hate, bringing together leaders in policy, advocacy, arts, and sports, featuring TransLatin@ Coalition President Bamby Salcedo, Oakland Roots Sports Club founder Edreece Arghandiwal, and Favianna Rodriguez with the Center for Cultural Power
A cultural dialogue on performance and art as resistance, featuring San Francisco Drag Laureate Per Sia and NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner and rapper Ruby Ibarra, with performances to follow
Interactive workshops offering practical tools to navigate division and build understanding across communities, led by Dr. Roxanne Manning
Public forum on new data and recommendations from the California Commission on the State of Hate, led by Commissioners Russell Roybal and Regina Cuellar
Participation from community organizations including AAPI Youth Rising, Disability Rights CA, TODEC, and more
Additional programming will be announced on the CA vs Hate summit page. Attendees will also hear insights from the California Commission on the State of Hate’s latest findings and engage in art experiences that foster reflection and connection, alongside interactive training and workshops designed to equip participants with tools to respond to and prevent hate.
“The data presented by our Commission is stunningly clear: hate, often unreported, continues to broadly and deeply impact the lives of millions of Californians at historically elevated levels,” said California Commission on the State of Hate Chair Brian Levin. “Addressing it requires more than promoting awareness about disturbing new statistics. It demands unified peaceful action through sustained civic collaboration across communities, sectors, and systems with inclusion of diverse perspectives. This key summit creates an important opportunity at a critical time for just that — to examine what’s working, confront emerging challenges, and build more effective and inclusive, evidence-based responses moving forward.”
For more information on the California Civil Rights Summit or to register to attend for this free event, visit www.cavshate.org/summit.
