About the program
The Program includes regular community education events. A network of:
- social workers
- youth-violence prevention specialists
- psychologists
- clergy
- police
- county staff
- community activists
direct at-risk individuals to appropriate help.
The program promoted volunteerism. One activity brought together young people and adults. They were from diverse faith and ethnic groups. They prepared and delivered food for the homeless. This happened in an atmosphere intended to:
- foster inclusivity
- honour volunteer community service.
The program also involved multi-cultural activities that brought together culturally-diverse youth. An example was participants working together on art. The art included short films on themes of social change.
Key takeaways
An evaluation of the program found:
- an individual's friends might be best able to notice early signs of violent extremism.
- peer gatekeepers were most willing to intervene when fear was at its greatest. This was despite their fear of damaging relationships.
- the volunteering and multicultural programming activities were effective.
- factors that improved participation in the program included:
- making it satisfying to participants
- making it more attractive than competing alternatives.
Relevant reports
Evaluation of a Multi-Faceted, U.S. Community-Based, Muslim-Led CVE Program, Michael Williams, John Horgan, William Evans, US Department of Justice, 2016.