This is our August 2024 Newsletter that went out to our email subscribers. Sign up to receive updates here.
Dear Friend of Life After Hate
It is no easy task to successfully disengage from violent extremism and reject harmful ideologies. It requires a multidisciplinary team, one that includes trained social workers, mental health practitioners, and those with shared experiences with far-right extremist groups and online hate spaces. It demands that one take accountability for their past actions and words. And it warrants a lifetime commitment to practice empathy, integrity, forgiveness, and grace.
Such work does not end after completing Life After Hate’s Exit program. It means ongoing work and self-improvement. To support such efforts, this summer we officially launched No Formers Left Behind, a new online community (found on Discord) that provides the support, resources, camaraderie, and encouragement needed to reintegrate into civil society and have a lasting positive impact on the community.
We offer this as part of our continuum of services and public education which we believe is necessary to ensure a safer, more compassionate society. Those who disengage from VFRE do so knowing they may not be welcomed back into society. At Life After Hate, we know we must do all we can to not only help individuals disengage from hate but to ensure they do not revert to the harmful ideologies and actions that can destroy lives.
This work isn’t easy, but it is needed more and more each day. At a time when many want to condemn and write off those with hateful ideologies, we are grateful for your support and encouragement. Our services have grown to serve court-mandated individuals and juveniles because reality demands it. And we can only do that because of your faith in Life After Hate and your financial support of our efforts.
We are a safer, more civil society because of you.
Pat Riccards
Conference on Countering Radicalization to Violence
LAH staff members had the opportunity to attend and present at The Canada Centre 2024 Conference on Countering Radicalization to Violence.
Read the recap here.
Neo-Nazism in the UK Police
Pat Riccards contributed to a documentary from Ray Kay Audits investigating Neo-Nazism within the UK Police force.
Watch it here.
LAH on the Social Chemist
Patrick Riccards spoke with the Social Chemist Podcast about the essential role social workers play in the prevention of violent extremism.
Listen to the podcast here.
Understanding Conspiracy Theories
Read our guide to understanding what conspiracy theories are, what leads to believing in them, and how to help a loved one under their spell.
Read it here.
