April 26, 2011 – Washington – More than 400 activists will spend the weekend with AJC ACCESS at an intensive conference to address two current challenges – the global assault on Israel’s legitimacy, and restoring civility in public discourse.

“Engaging individuals from across the United States and around the world, many of them activists in their own communities, in strategic conversations and decision-making, will mobilize new networks and renew efforts to make critical impacts on our most urgent concerns,” said Rebecca Neuwirth, director of AJC ACCESS.

The ACCESS 20/20 weekend will take place April 29 – May 1, following AJC’s Global Forum. ACCESS is the global advocacy organization’s emerging young leadership division, and has grown rapidly in membership and range of activities since its founding only a few years ago.

Francois Zimeray, France’s ambassador on human rights, will deliver the keynote address at the concluding session on Sunday, May 1.

“Confronting the Assault on Israel’s Legitimacy” part of the program is co-sponsored with the Reut Institute, a leading Israeli strategy group that has produced ground-breaking research on the campaigns to undermine Israel and the tools to respond effectively. Partnering on the weekend are the Israel on Campus Coalition and the Jewish Labor Committee, whose leaders will share insights into engaging new audiences and countering BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) campaigns on university campuses, trade unions and more. 

Nearly half the participants are coming from Europe, Israel, Latin America, Asia, and Africa to participate in the weekend ACCESS 20/20 event. 

“Together we aim to generate creative thinking on pragmatic steps to proactively counter the campaign to delegitimize Israel,” said Neuwirth.

In the parallel track of meetings focused on civility, representatives will join from other ethnic and religious communities and AJC partners in intergroup work, including the following cooperating organizations: The Baptist Joint Committee, Hillel, The National Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP), Office of Black Ministry of the Archdiocese of New York, OCA, Rock The Vote, Roosevelt Institute Campus Network, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), and The World Council of Religious Leaders. They will discuss with AJC ACCESS members how to restore civility in public discourse. Participants will be encouraged to sign a civility pledge and take it back to their respective organizations for adoption following the conference.

“In addition to signing the pledge, we hope to agree on the best methods available to combat racism and discrimination in ways that afford opportunities for healing rather than perpetuating conflicts,” said Neuwirth.

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