Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Pacific Northwest

Mission

For over a century, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has worked nationwide and for 75 years in the Pacific Northwest to advance our mission, "To stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure fair and just treatment to all." By fighting antisemitism and all forms of hate and advocating for the fair and equitable treatment of all people, ADL imagines a society in which no individual is targeted because of who they are and all can thrive. 

Description

ADL's Pacific Northwest Office based in Seattle was founded over 75 years ago, serving Washington State and the greater region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. ADL believes in an all-society approach to combatting hate: educating the next generation, tracking and speaking out against hate and extremism, advocating for civil rights policies, and supporting communities impacted by hate. 

In the Pacific Northwest, ADL has vastly scaled up our anti-bias educational programs in K-12 schools, now reaching 50,000 students and educators throughout the region with our No Place for Hate initiative and A World of Difference trainings. Our programs are offered in-person, virtually, and hybrid, allowing all K-12 access to ADL's programs and resources that teach school communities about the building blocks of identity, bias, allyship, and activism. After completing ADL's programs and trainings, school communities can better working towards creating a climate of respect, inclusion, and belonging for all. Due to the generous support of our donors, our educational programs are heavily subsidized and we are able to meet all emerging needs. We also work to support emerging leaders throughout their lifespans, offering our Glass Leadership Institute to young professional leaders in their 20's and 30's. This 6-month program builds a community of young leaders educated about bias and hate and ready to advocate for social change. 

ADL's Pacific Northwest Office also works to track hate and extremism, educating the public, law enforcement, and media about domestic extremism trends and local activities. Over the years, we have found that sunshine is the best disinfectant and we actively push back against the normalization of hateful ideologies. In 2023, ADL staff tracked and responded to hundreds of hate-based and extremist incidents in the Pacific Northwest. 

ADL's Pacific Northwest Office works to protect civil rights, advance equity and fight hate through policy and legislative efforts. From local governments to state legislatures to Congress to the courts, ADL is on the front lines advocating, educating policymakers, and authoring amicus briefs. In the 2024 state legislative sessions, in Washington state ADL spearheaded a bill to establish a Bias and Hate Hotline to provide resources and support for victims and communities impacted by hate. 

Finally, ADL's Pacific Northwest staff works hand in hand with communities impacted by hate, processing discrimination reports, assisting individuals and communities, and using the data we collect to shine a bright light on the growing problem of hate impacting marginalized communities.