A planning process can be most effective before conflicts over symbols divide people into opposing camps. By working proactively, leaders and others within a campus, city, region, or state – what we call here for simplicity a “community” – will also respond more constructively and collaboratively when conflicts over symbols or other divisive incidents occur.

The guide offers practical ideas and illustrations for leading during campus conflict, including preparing ahead and acting during a crises. The guide covers assessments of the campus situation, communications, programming, and responding to large crowd events and hate incidents. The guide includes checklists and resources.

This guide applies what was learned from other communities and from an American Spirit initiative to suggest a collaborative process that any community or campus can use to identify and express its own spirit.