Join us to hear from two former violent extremists about their journeys from violence to peace.

Jesse Morton is the CEO and Founder of Parallel Networks, a non-profit dedicated to combating hate and extremism. Jesse was once a prominent radicalizer in the West, helping to insert the narrative of Al-Qaeda and Salafi-jihadist ideology into the American ambit. Today, he works to transform ideologies of violence into ones of peace, using trauma-informed approaches to help people coming out of radicalization. 

Ryan Lo'Ree is an Interventionist and Program Specialist at Light Upon Light, a space dedicated to combating polarization, hate, and extremism. Ryan was formerly part of a neo-Nazi group in Michigan, where he recruited others using Nazi hate propaganda. Today, he uses martial arts and mentorship to help transform youths' lives who are on the path to violence. He is also a civil rights activist, working to transform institutional racism, economic barriers, and fighting for clean water in his hometown of Flint, MI.

During this event, we'll hear from Jesse and Ryan about their journeys from violence to peace, trauma-informed approaches to transforming violent extremism, and issues of polarization and division within our country today. Don't miss this important and timely conversation.