Panelists from the Strong Cities Network webinar series on city-led prevention of hate and targeted violence represented local efforts across North America to build safer, more inclusive communities

In February, I had the distinct pleasure of facilitating the Strong Cities Network’s "Introduction to City-Led Prevention of Hate and Targeted Violence" webinar series—an insightful initiative that brought together local government leaders, prevention practitioners, and subject matter experts from across the U.S. and Canada.

This series, hosted by the Strong Cities North America Regional Hub, centered on a public health approach to preventing hate and targeted violence. It emphasized the importance of city-led, locally informed strategies to address the root causes of extremism and build resilience at the community level.

Throughout the sessions, we explored key components of effective local prevention work, including:

Building Multi-Actor Prevention Teams
Community Engagement Models
City-Led Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention Strategies—ranging from referrals and behavioral interventions to psycho-social support mechanisms

Hassan Naveed underscores the significance of "credible messengers" in disseminating information, fostering trust, and providing guidance in the face of misinformation. This approach enhances advocacy effectiveness and contributes to the development of a more informed community.

One of the most valuable aspects of the series was the inclusion of real-world case studies. These grounded our discussions in the lived experiences of frontline city practitioners who are developing and implementing prevention models in their communities every day. From innovative cross-sector collaboration to holistic, trauma-informed practices, their work underscored the adaptability and necessity of local leadership in this space.

As part of this effort, Naveed Co. was proud to contribute strategic guidance and facilitation support, drawing from over a decade of experience in criminal justice reform, hate violence prevention, and cross-sector city engagement. I personally leveraged my background leading police oversight investigations, launching New York City’s first Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, and advising city agencies and community organizations on data-driven, equity-centered interventions. This foundation helped ensure the sessions were not only informative, but practical and grounded in the realities of municipal governance and community safety.

A heartfelt thank you to the Strong Cities Network team for their visionary leadership and commitment to equipping cities with the tools, frameworks, and global connections needed to foster safer, more inclusive communities. Their work continues to bridge local action with global learning, and it was truly an honor to be part of that journey.

You can learn more about the initiative and the cities involved here.

City Power: Preventing Hate at the Local Level