October 16, 2018
For Immediate Release
Six U.S. professionals visit Alberta for program on Countering Violent Extremism
CALGARY– Six U.S. professionals in the fields of law enforcement, municipal government, violence prevention, community organization, and academia are in Alberta for a six-day program on countering violent extremism (CVE), beginning October 15. The program is organized by the U.S. Consulate General in Calgary and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism.
Participants will build on the themes explored during the April 2018 Strong Cities Network exchange, during which eight Canadian professionals travelled to Washington, D.C. and other U.S. cities for a program on CVE. The program will enhance cooperation between U.S. and Canadian government officials, community stakeholders, and frontline organizations to improve resilience of communities against the threat of violent extremism in all forms. Participants will observe multiple community-centric approaches to CVE, best practices for cooperation between community and law enforcement, and social inclusion initiatives in the Canadian cities of Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta. The group will familiarize Canadian stakeholders with best practices and policies in CVE from their U.S. communities.
Participants in this program include:
- Katya Migacheva, Behavioral/Social Scientist, RAND Corporation, California
- Halleh Seddighzadeh, Forensic Traumatologist, Asylee Refugee Migrant Assistance Network (ARMAN), California
- Anne Tremblay, Director, Gang Reduction & Youth Development (GRYD),Office of the Mayor, Los Angeles, California
- Braden Schrag, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada
- Girma Zaid, MSW, Advisory board member African community center refugee resettlement program Las Vegas, HR Consultant, Nevada Supreme court interpreter, Nevada
Participants are available for interviews upon request. For more information about this U.S. Department of State initiative, please contact Dubuquedc@state.gov.
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Deanna Cameron Dubuque
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Consulate General Calgary
403-444-5203 / Dubuquedc@state.gov
About Strong Cities Network
Strong Cities Network facilitates systematic sharing of knowledge, expertise and lessons learned on building social cohesion and community resilience to prevent violent extremism across cities on an international basis, through both regional workshops and international conferences. For more information, please visit http://strongcitiesnetwork.org/.
