The results are in - racism and discrimination are not rampant on the Ridge. At a press conference yesterday, the Paradise Center for Tolerance and Nonviolence unveiled the results of a survey distributed to 20,526 residents in Paradise, Magalia and Stirling City last February.
     The survey goal was three-fold. PCTN hoped to gain a broader knowledge of the community, a clearer picture of opinions and experiences related to discrimination and to determine what Ridge residents knew about PCTN. PCTN funded the anonymous survey through a California Endowment grant and worked with a local applied research firm, Gary Bess Associates, to develop the questions.
     PCTN Board President Gwen Nordgren said the response to the survey was outstanding. Of the 20,526 Ridge residents who received the survey, 1,818 responded or 8.9 percent of survey recipients. Nordgren said according to marketing specialists, a 3 percent return rate is considered successful for large mailings. "The biggest surprise was the return (it) blew us away," she said.
     While overall, the results indicated race and discrimination are not widespread problems on the Ridge, 240 respondents reported experiences of prejudice in the community. Nordgren said this issues needs to be addressed, for there shouldn't be any hate-motivated behavior in this community. Additionally, 65 respondents reported negative experiences related to race/ethnicity. Considering the small population of people of color on the Ridge, a majority percentage is unacceptable, she stated.      Other key findings PCTN plans to address are the 37.2 percent of respondents that felt the Ridge was not

accepting of African Americans and the 40.2 percent that felt the Ridge wasn't accepting of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals. Additionally, 19.4 percent of respondents didn't feel favorable to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals, while respondents' personal attitudes to all other races, senior citizens and people of different beliefs were positive.
     In response to the importance of living in a diverse community, 51.4 percent answered "important" or "very important" while 27.1 percent answered "not important." More than half of respondents with children rated diversity as important.
     PCTN considers this a key finding because of their focus on children. Nordgren said they were pleased to see parents embrace the value of diversity despite living in an area with a majority white population. She said it is important to teach children on the Ridge how to participate in a fully diverse world.
     The survey also validated the importance for PCTN's services on the Ridge, she said. The mission of PCTN is "to promote respect for differences and human rights, foster alternatives to violence, and advocate for a safe, hospitable and harmonious community for all."
     A majority of the respondents, 68 percent, felt the Ridge needs PCTN. Of the 55 percent of residents that had prior knowledge of PCTN, more than half considered the organization's activities, programs and services valuable to the community.
     PCTN Board member Dan Johnson said it was surprising that after seven years in Paradise, 45 percent of respondents had never heard of PCTN despite the annual events like the Unity in Diversity Festival and Martin Luther King Day