Program Grant Funded by New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Secured by State Assemblymember Alex Bores
The Islamophobia Awareness and Cultural Competency Training Initiative Delivered Training to Staff Across Multiple City Agencies
NEW YORK – The New York City Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC) announced the completion of the Islamophobia Awareness and Cultural Competency Training Initiative, an education-based program for city employees, conducted in partnership with the Muslim Community Network (MCN) and New York State Assemblymember Alex Bores.
Bores secured the $70,000 grant from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to equip public servants with practical tools to better serve New Yorkers from all backgrounds.
The training focused on three components:
- Establishing a baseline understanding of the diverse religious & cultural backgrounds of Muslim New Yorkers;
- Examining how Islamophobia operates: its roots, how it manifests, and how it affects communities;
- Translating the knowledge into agency-specific guidance.
The training represents a proactive investment in combatting the rise in online Islamophobic content and anti-Muslim hate crimes, which, according to NYPD hate crime data, have steadily climbed since 2021 in New York City.
OPHC takes a prevention-focused, community-based approach to addressing the root causes of bias through education and engagement, working to reduce the conditions that lead to hate crimes, rather than responding only after harm occurs.
“Preventing hate starts with education, understanding, and building trust,” said Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois. “This training is a reflection of the Mamdani administration’s approach to addressing the root causes of bias by supporting cultural competency across city agencies and strengthening tools that perform the vital work of building a city where New Yorkers of every faith are respected and valued. By equipping city employees with the knowledge and tools to better serve Muslim New Yorkers, we’re helping reduce bias and building a safer, more inclusive city for everyone.”
“The training provided crucial expertise and space for Muslim voices to lead important discussions on how to best facilitate support through education, awareness, and community engagement,” said Executive Director of the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes Vijah Ramjattan. “No New Yorker should ever feel unsafe because of their identity, beliefs, appearance, or background.”
“New York is the world’s city,” said State Assemblymember Alex Bores. “That means every single person here, of every faith, must know that their fundamental value will be respected and celebrated. The Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes’ Islamophobia Awareness Training for city agencies, including NYPD and Public Schools, will help us build the community we aspire to be. I am proud to have funded this important work.”
Participating offices included the New York City Police Department (NYPD) Quality of Life Teams, NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, New York City Public Schools (District 75 staff and Respect for All liaisons), New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, and New York City Office of Special Enforcement.
The initiative aims to build safety in both the Muslim community and beyond, by fostering lasting cultural competency, deep community trust, and vital relationships that are needed to prevent bias before it escalates. By replacing ignorance with accurate knowledge, city workers become better equipped to recognize bias, respond appropriately, provide more inclusive workplaces and public services, and properly report Islamophobic hate.
OPHC’s community-centered prevention model integrates early intervention, education and support for those who are at risk of bias-motivated incidents and hate crimes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC)?
The OPHC is a New York City government office created to prevent and respond to hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents. It develops community-driven prevention strategies, fosters healing for affected communities, and coordinates citywide efforts — including education, outreach, partnerships, and improved response systems — across all five boroughs. The office resides in the city’s new Office of Community Safety (OCS).
What are the OPHC’s goals?
The mission of the OPHC is to uphold New York City’s commitment to diversity, respect, and safety for all. Using a multi-pronged approach that includes education, community relations, laws, and enforcement of those laws, the office works to raise public awareness about the impact of bias-motivated incidents and hate crimes, prevent future harm, and help ensure that no one is targeted because of characteristics such as race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected traits.
How does the OPHC work with communities and other organizations?
OPHC collaborates with city agencies, local partners, interfaith leaders, and district attorney offices to strengthen safety, trust, and community resilience. It also supports the New York City Police Department’s training on hate crime response, enhances data sharing, promotes victim assistance, and works with schools to educate students about prejudice and its consequences.
Who does the OPHC serve?
OPHC serves all New Yorkers — including faith communities, students, LGBTQIA+ communities, and communities of every racial, ethnic, and cultural background — by offering resources, education, and coordinated strategies to prevent bias-related harm, improve reporting, and foster safer, more inclusive environments. The office aims to support everyone impacted by – or concerned about – hate crimes and bias incidents across the city.
About the New York City Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC): As part of the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, OPHC takes a holistic approach to preventing hate crimes, developing and coordinating community-driven prevention strategies to address biases fueling such crimes, and fostering healing for victims and their communities. The agency coordinates the city’s efforts through a committee consisting of over 20 agencies and all five district attorney hate crimes units, as well as networks of community-based providers and organizations. It works with partners to develop approaches to preventing hate violence, resources to promote reporting of incidents, and responses for when hate crimes occur. For more information, visit nyc.gov/stophate.
About the Office of Community Safety (OCS): The NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Safety (OCS) was established by Mayor Zohran Mamdani through Executive Order No. 15 in March 2026. Under the direction of the Deputy Mayor for Community Safety, OCS develops citywide community safety strategies and coordinates the work of the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS), Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC), and the Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH).
OCS focuses on strengthening the social fabric that keeps communities safe, streamlining and expanding evidence-based and common-sense safety interventions, and strengthening wraparound services so no New Yorker is left behind. The creation of this office is the first step toward fulfilling Mayor Mamdani’s pledge to create a Department of Community Safety, a city agency that advances a whole-of-government approach to building safer communities for all New Yorkers.