The number of reported incidents of violence and intimidation directed against people because of their race, religion, or ethnic identity, (i.e. cross-burnings, swastika paintings, and verbal harassments) has increased dramatically over the last several years. The significance of incidents involving violence are twofold: (1) it results in expanding circles that send ripples of fear, doubt, and tension through local communities; and (2) it is experienced as painful and disaffirming by both its victims and those who share racial or ethnic identities with the victims. Responsibility for preventing and dealing with these incidents falls primarily onto community relations agencies. Prevention must focus on long-range attitude changes, the key to which are combinations of experience and education. In order to work effectively with groups in the community relations field, workers need to be able to take an inclusive view of the kinds of groups with which they can assume a professional role. These include groups of four major types: community groups, victims of hate violence, perpetrators of hate violence, and organizations' and agencies' representatives. Among the skills needed for effective work with these groups are: (1) dealing with the sense of impotence to effect change, (2) identifying and developing local leadership sufficiently committed and skilled to follow through on a plan of action, (3) dealing with the impact of crisis for victims, and (4) working in an authoritative setting with perpetrators. 15 notes and references.