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Federal grant for extremism prevention awarded to UD HRC

We are excited to announce the grant award to the Center from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop a network of regional organizations to help prevent domestic violent extremism in southwest Ohio and beyond.

The Preventing Radicalization to Extremist Violence through Education, Network-Building and Training in Southwest Ohio (PREVENTS-OH) will raise awareness of what leads to radicalization and violence, create an education campaign to assist students in thinking critically about information in the media and online, and improve civic engagement throughout the community on sensitive topics related to domestic violent extremism. 

Our mission is to work to address systemic injustice and promote peace, dignity and human rights. We feel strongly that domestic violent extremism and hate movements pose a serious threat to the realization of human rights, which lies at the core of the center’s vision. For this project, we will draw on the expertise of University of Dayton faculty in sociology, philosophy and history who research extremism and radicalization in implementing the project.

The project primarily focuses on the Miami Valley community. PREVENTS-OH will conduct awareness-raising workshops and provide technical assistance for key community groups. It will also develop and host a series of community dialogues on sensitive topics linked to risks and protective factors related to violent extremism. These events will involve a diverse group of community stakeholders, including veterans, refugees, and faith-based organizations.

"We look forward to partnering with Ohioans throughout the Miami Valley across all political and social affiliations and sectors of the community. We truly believe people want to see the divisions stop, the threat of violence disappear, and the people of Ohio working together," said Shelley Inglis, executive director of the University of Dayton Human Rights Center. "With a historical connection to striving for peace and human dignity, we think southwest Ohio can be at the forefront of prevention efforts for the whole state. 

"Our first step will be to learn how people think about these difficult issues and what they want to do to address them. People are the solution to preventing domestic violent extremism."

In implementing PREVENTS-OH, the HRC will continue to work closely with DHS’s Regional Prevention Coordinator, Jordan Garza and other governmental and non-governmental stakeholders committed to preventing extremist violence in Ohio. 

"Working in partnership with one another is how we best prevent acts of terrorism and targeted violence," said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. "Through the grant awards we are announcing today, we are equipping local communities and organizations — including those historically underserved — with needed resources so they can become more effective partners, strengthen our security, and help the American people feel safe and secure in our daily lives."

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