The French­‐American Foundation, with Support from the Ford Foundation, Launches Equality of Opportunity Program Media Library Today

Today the French-American Foundation, with support from the Ford Foundation, announced the launch of the Equality of Opportunity Program Media Library (http://equality.frenchamerican.org). This first-of‐its‐kind website features an extensive library of resources that explore the French and American strategies to reduce discrimination and promote greater social justice for minority and immigrant populations. This bilingual, English-French, multimedia library includes:

• Exclusive video interviews with antidiscrimination experts including:
  • Jeffrey Rosen, Law Professor at George Washington University
  • Dominique Sopo, President of France’s main grassroots’ organization SOS Racisme
  • Dennis Parker, Director of the Racial Justice Program at the ACLU
  • Richard Descoings, Director of Sciences Po in Paris
• Excerpts from American and French documentaries on discrimination and integration
• Reports and policy briefs on a variety of topics related to equal opportunity

The Equality of Opportunity program, launched in 2006 by the French-American Foundation, examines French and American policy approaches to fight discrimination and to promote integration. The principle of equal opportunity is key to both French and American systems, yet the two countries have taken distinct paths to achieve social justice. Focusing on education and employment – critical means for social integration – the program seizes opportunities for policy innovation by informing the institutional actors responsible for devising new policies, and by engaging thought leaders who are impacting public debates and proposing change.

“The media library is an exciting new step for the Equality of Opportunity program. It opens our resources up to a vast global audience, so people can educate themselves on these important social issues” said Ioanna Kohler, Director of Policy Programs for the French-American Foundation. “We hope this media library will become a valuable resource for journalists, teachers and students, as well as the general public. Cross-cultural learning on social justice is highly beneficial: which policies work? Which don’t? It is important to explore what France and the U.S. can learn from each other.”

The searchable site hosts exclusive video interviews with renowned experts from the institutional, non- profit, and higher education sectors; excerpts from French and American documentaries; dozens of downloadable PDFs of scholarly publications; archived panel discussions; an interactive program timeline and guide; and a vast collection of links to additional resources. The site will be updated with new content and materials regularly and will serve as a resource center on equality issues.

“We want this multimedia library to grow thanks to the materials submitted by our viewers. Our goal is to create a dynamic, lively, platform for dialogue,” said French-American Foundation President Antoine Treuille.

For a video walk-through of the site, please visit: http://equality.frenchamerican.org/demo Visit the Equality of Opportunity Program Media Library at: http://equality.frenchamerican.org

About the French-American Foundation:

The French-American Foundation is the principal non-governmental organization linking France and the United States at leadership levels and across the full range of the French-American relationship. The purpose of the Foundation is to strengthen the French-American relationship as a vital component of the trans-Atlantic partnership. This mission is accomplished through a variety of initiatives that include multi-year policy programs, conferences on issues of French-American interest, and leadership and professional exchanges of decision-makers from France and the United States. Founded in 1976, the Foundation is an operating organization that relies on outside financial support to carry out its mission and does not provide grants. It is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.