Anne Arundel County is getting a substantial boost in its fight against hate crimes thanks to a hefty federal grant. According to an announcement shared, Anne Arundel County has received $1.2 million from the US Department of Justice to amplify its hate crime prevention program. This grant was awarded under the auspices of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program. Stepping into the role of guiding this initiative, Nicola "Dr. Nikki" Smith-Kea, PhD, has been appointed as the new Senior Project Manager.
County Executive Steuart Pittman stated in the county's press release, "This project is a continuation of work that we began at our Hate Bias Forum in early 2020 after learning that our county led the state in reported hate bias incidents." He also expressed enthusiasm about bringing Dr. Nikki on board, emphasizing that her involvement is key to advancing these efforts. The county's application stood out, as it received thrice the amount of funding originally requested, making it the sole county entity in Maryland to be awarded during this funding cycle.
The enhanced program promises a multi-faceted approach to hate crime prevention, which includes specialized leadership training, additional community outreach by law enforcement, and state-of-the-art surveillance technology for nighttime incident monitoring. Dr. Nikki's expertise as a Stoneleigh Fellow and Executive in Residence with the Philadelphia Police Department, where she focused on internal accountability and police-community relations, positions her well for this role. Her background also showcases significant experience managing criminal justice initiatives at Arnold Ventures and contributing to policy development with the Council of State Governments Justice Center.
In her new capacity, Dr. Nikki will be directing her efforts toward hate crime prevention under the county’s Office of Equity and Human Rights, endeavoring to make Anne Arundel a safer space for all of its residents.
