SOAH members are actively meeting and working with public facing officials, business leaders, elected officials, faith leaders, school and youth leaders and first responders, encouraging them to speak to their communities about the need to confront the rise in hatred.

All Action Groups are comprised of concerned citizens as they continue to drive the Mission of SOAH forward.

Youth and School Officials

Business Leaders

Faith Leaders

Elected Officials

First Responders

About Our Action Groups

Youth and School Officials

Youth and School Officials Action Group

Facilitated by: Patty Maloney and Leslie Slan

The Youth and School Officials Action group meets monthly via Zoom. The goal of the group is to keep current as to what is going on in the Sussex County Schools and to work toward combatting the rising tide of bias and bullying in the schools and on social media. The following are events, programs and actions taken thus far:

One of the goals of this Action Group is to bring the free Anti-Defamation League (ADL) framework “No Place for Hate “ K through 12, anti-bullying and anti-bias program to the Sussex County, DE schools. “No Place for Hate” enables schools and organizations to challenge antisemitism, racism and bigotry in all forms. By providing an innovative and powerful model for creating more inclusive environments, “No Place for Hate” aims to reduce bias and bullying, increase appreciation for diversity and build communities of respect.
SOAH representatives attend school board meetings and present when relevant to the Cape Henlopen, Milford and Indian River school districts. Several members attended the Milford School Board meeting, where controversial limitations on student and teacher’s free speech were presented. After much dissent, the proposal was dropped. SOAH Chair, Patty Maloney wrote a letter supporting student and teacher’s rights to the local news publications on behalf of the Youth and School Officials Action Group of SOAH and she presented at the Milford School Board her objection to the school board proposal that could lead to censorship.
Action projects to encourage high school student participation with SOAH include, but are not limited to:
1. Giving out “anti-bias statement” bracelets created by Schell Brothers, Inc. at the Sussex County schools, asking students to agree with saying/doing something kind to receive a bracelet.
2. Sponsored a “Silent Disco” event at Lefty’s (pizza and dancing) and recruitment of high schoolers with info on SOAH to work on a project.
3. Formation of a Youth Ambassadorship Board who will assist SOAH with projects and events. A youth event is in the planning for the summer and a social ceramic painting event in the Fall for fun and conversation.
4. Planning a anti-bias and bullying film festival for Jan. 2026 at the Cinema Arts Theatre in Lewes, DE for families and teens.
5. Planning a family event at the Listening Booth in Lewes, DE
6. In Oct. 2025 during Peace Week, the goal is to bring Dr. Jill Walsh to Sussex County, DE to present to middle schoolers and their parents/caregivers on “Misinformation and Disinformation on Social Media”.

Faith Leaders Action Group

Facilitated by: Allan Slan

In conjunction with the goals of all other SOAH Action Groups, the Faith Leaders Group has been formed to get SOAH’s message out to the faith leaders of the congregations throughout Sussex County and our State. In doing so, SOAH seeks to raise public awareness of the menace of the toxic communal impact of hatred and to have the Congregants of our local faith leaders begin to actively speak out against it. Several faith leaders have spoken about SOAH from their pulpits.

SOAH has also proudly spoken before multiple congregations and faith leaders in various settings and has been gratified by the response of clergy throughout our State. Please join us in pushing the message of SOAH out to this important group.

Business Leaders Action Group

Facilitated by: Travis Stevens and Alan Kane

There may be no more influential and public facing groups than the leaders of the major businesses in Sussex County and throughout the State. The goal of SOAH in seeking the support of this important group is to have each such leader actively support the mission of SOAH as well as to push its message out to their peers and customers throughout the community. The hope is that they will do this by marketing SOAH to their customers and holding fundraisers for our organization.

SOAH is proud that, among others, Schell Brothers has become an active supporter of its mission. They have created rubber bracelets with kindness sayings that will be given out to youth in Cape Henlopen High School and beyond.

Elected Officials Action Group

Facilitated by: Zita Dresner, Jan Kliger, and Allan Slan

Of all the public facing officials, perhaps our elected officials spend the majority of their working time doing so. Their influence on the voting public is considerable and as such, SOAH has and continues to gain their support in speaking out against hate. Among other things, SOAH will seek a pledge from all elected officials that they will affirmatively support the mission of SOAH and will take every opportunity to speak out against hate.

First Responders Action Group

Facilitated by: Charlotte King and Peter Schott

The First Responders Action Group is undertaking a charge to work with the police departments of Sussex County in an ongoing effort to combat the rising tide of hate and hate incidents. Our first task once established was locating the police departments of Sussex County. At an introductory meeting November 15, 2023, Chief Thomas Spell, head of the Sussex County Police Chiefs Association, advised us on securing a meeting with the Police Chiefs Association, agreeing to assist in that effort.

On December 15, we met at Troop 7 with representatives from six jurisdictions, gaining some commitments to dealing with hate crimes and their reporting. Our ask at the end of that meeting was for them to make a presentation at the January 11 SOAH Community Meeting, at which Georgetown Police Chief subsequently presented.

The First Responders Group held a Zoom meeting January 8, 2024, to work out a plan to meet the other police chiefs. A subcommittee was established to draft a consistent plan of action and presented their plan to the entire committee on February 9. We will make contact with all Police Departments and arrange to meet them, urging them to sign a pledge, speaking out against hate crimes, acts of hate and its normalization. We have continued to meet with various Sussex County police departments and even met with the Delaware State Police Director for Hate Crimes.

Peter Schott, facilitator of the First Responders Group, appeared on WMDT news to explain how our group was formed to combat hate in our County. Two current projects require additional volunteers and expertise. These projects came about after members of our Action Group and SOAH’s President, met with Rehoboth Beach Chief of Police on June 9th. Following that in person meeting with Chief Banks, several joint projects were discussed with SOAH member participation. One involves SOAH being part of the mandated Police Accountability Boards which are to be set up in each Department and the other is to put out a PSA along the lines of telling people, “If you see something, report it.” We welcome all who have an interest and knowledge in Public Relations.

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hate has no home here

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Youth and School Officials

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About Our Action Groups

Youth and School Officials Action Group

Faith Leaders Action Group

Business Leaders Action Group

Elected Officials Action Group

First Responders Action Group

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