Major CVE summit in Europe to include Creative Associates International

May 10, 2017

Creative’s experts to speak on three panel sessions in Aarhus, Denmark, May 17 to 19

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Creative Associates International is supporting a major summit on preventing and countering violent extremism that will draw around 500 elected officials, policymakers and program implementers, the global development organization announced today.

Held in Aarhus, Denmark, the May 17 to 19 event is a combination of the Strong Cities Network Global Summit 2017 and the Building Resilience to Radicalisation and Violent Extremism II conference. It is hosted by the Municipality of Aarhus / East Jutland Police in partnership with the Strong Cities Network and other organizations.

Creative’s President & CEO, Leland Kruvant, recognized the event’s importance for all actors, from elected officials to at-risk youth, who are involved in this global challenge.

“The conference in Aarhus is an excellent opportunity for us to continue a dialogue with our counterparts from around the world about the best practices in preventing and countering violent extremism,” Kruvant says.

Based on four decades of work from Central America to Central Asia, Creative uses a holistic approach that builds on proven development tools that support communities in transitioning from conflict to peace.

Creative is partnering with the global counter-extremism organization, Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), to support the global summit.

During the three-day summit in Aarhus, Creative will lead one panel session and participate in two others that highlight best practices related to preventing and countering violent extremism.

Panel on “Does Your City Really Need CVE?”

Creative, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the City of Los Angeles will discuss the strengths and challenges of preventing and countering violent extremism by drawing on pertinent international experience.

Speakers will outline a framework in which all aspects of public life can play an active role in challenging hate, division and violence in a positive and proactive way. Panelists will emphasize the importance of understanding and mitigating local risk, assessing municipal assets, and developing targeted local action plans appropriate to specific local and regional contexts.

Kim Field, who is the Director of Creative’s Countering Violent Extremism work, and Deborah Kimble, who is the Director of Creative’s Governance and Community Resilience work, will present on this panel. It is scheduled for Thursday, May 18.

Panel Session on Secondary Violence Prevention

Creative is leading a panel session called “Public Health Approach for Addressing

CVE in Tunisia: What Are We Learning from the Gang Prevention Field?” that will examine efforts to reduce risk among youth who are likely to join groups that are prone to violent behavior.

Called “secondary violence prevention” and adapted from the gang prevention field in Los Angeles and implemented in Central America, this approach has been effective in diagnosing youth who are at the highest risk for gang membership and then reducing those factors through intensive, sustained family counseling.

The panel session will explore how a current program in Tunisia is using the approach of secondary violence prevention to reduce those negative behaviors that lead to joining groups prone to violence.

Enrique Roig, who leads Creative’s Citizen Security work, and Halima Mrad, Director of the Tunisia program, will speak on the panel. It is scheduled for Friday, May 19.

Engaging Youth in CVE

A panel session called “Developing Local Youth Engagement” will explore how cities can work more effectively with youth as key partners in preventing and countering violent extremism, as well as empowering their local youth as independent actors.

Held on Friday, May 19, the panel is a platform for young people to address the conference participants, including key practitioners working on youth engagement around the world.

Clare Ignatowski, Creative’s Senior Technical Youth Advisor, will present on this panel. It is scheduled for Friday, May 19.