How Kindness & Collaboration Can Counter Violent Extremism (CVE)

Amidst a COVID-19 world operating in the digital space more than ever before, the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship hosted a virtual forum for the first time in its history. I had the honor and pleasure of moderating a panel on how collective action between civil society, military, and businesses grow societies that are resilient to violent extremism. Through the panel, I brought together a group of remarkable human beings and friends, representing a peacebuilding NGO, former violent extremists, and a military advisor. You can watch the full recording above, and see the speaker bios below.

Lena Slachmuijlder, VP of Programs at Search for Common Ground with 25 years of experience working for peace and social change in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Search is a 2006 Skoll Awardee and was a 2018 Nobel Peace Prize nominee.

Arno Michaelis, a motivational speaker, peace educator and the author of My Life After Hate and The Gift of Our Wounds. He was a founding member of what became the largest racist skinhead organization in the world, and now works on numerous CVE programs.

Zak Ebrahim, a peace campaigner and author of The Terrorist's Son: A Story of Choice, which was published by TED books. He is the son of El Sayyid Nosair, who assassinated Meir Kahane, the founder of the Jewish Defense League. Nosair was later convicted of involvement in the New York City landmark bomb plot.

Omar Stemmerik, a Military Adviser at the Netherlands Forces Caribbean Command and until recently at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations. He led multiple initiatives to increase the military's effectiveness in countering terrorism and CVE.