CARE Approach and Goals - PERIL Research

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Purpose

To prevent extremist radicalization and political and hate-fueled violence, while equipping communities with tools, skills, and services to:

Support historically targeted and marginalized communities that continue to be harmed by extremism and political violence.
Prevent those susceptible to extremist radicalization from radicalizing.

Problem statement

Exposure to radicalizing content such as supremacist ideologies and harmful conspiracy theories is rising, especially in youth on social media. In 2018, 64% of teen social media users reported regularly seeing hate-based content online, and over the last two years, hate speech removed by Instagram has more than doubled. Similarly, teens reporting severe hate and harassment also doubled from 2022 to 2023.
Adults capable of recognizing warning signs in people who are susceptible to radicalization are few and far between, and even when they do, they may not be comfortable or confident in their response. On average, both community leaders and parents/caregivers in our studies only felt “somewhat” capable of identifying and talking about warning signs of radicalization prior to using guides produced by PERIL and SPLC.
Communities’ primary—and often only—resources to address these issues are typically tied to law enforcement, surveillance, and incarceration, rather than prevention. Teachers, parents, faith leaders, and even mental health professionals are rarely equipped to address the specific problems that radicalization presents.

Main Goal

To develop an on-site, community-based mobile advisory center that prioritizes community needs and building resilience via a “listening-and-feedback first” strategy of testing, iteration, and execution. Through this process, we will develop evidence-based solutions that educate, equip, and empower stakeholders to proactively and appropriately intervene when harms have occurred or to prevent them altogether.

References:

Anti-Defamation League. (2023, June 27). Online Hate and Harassment: The American Experience 2023 | ADL. www.adl.org; Center for Technology and Society. https://www.adl.org/resources/report/online-hate-and-harassment-american-experience-2023

Assessments & Impact. (n.d.). Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://www.splcenter.org/peril-assessments-impact

Hate Speech | Transparency Center. (n.d.). Transparency.meta.com. https://transparency.meta.com/en-gb/policies/community-standards/hate-speech/

Theory of Change:

1

If we build a network of organizations, institutions, and individuals that offer direct services and social supports for marginalized and underserved populations, who are values-aligned with the CARE Center / PERIL vision, and amplify those resources within the communities we serve, AND

2

If we provide resources and training to community members to support victims and survivors of hate, bias, harassment, discrimination, and violence; to recognize red flags/warning signs of radicalization; to intervene with someone they suspect is becoming radicalized; to know where and how to get help, AND

3

If we train local mental health professionals/practitioners in ways to effectively address radicalization, working to treat victims, survivors, and those affected by radicalization as well as those who are susceptible to becoming radicalized, AND

4

If we raise awareness of CARE Center resources developed with and for K-12 schools, religious communities, and other local community groups through workshops/community events so as to refer people to CARE services, AND

5

If we evaluate the effectiveness of CARE Center services (both qualitatively and quantitatively), AND

6

If we gather feedback from community members, local organizations, and practitioners to improve program design, AND

7

If we use our evidence to inform and create evaluative frameworks, processes, and standards for opening and scaling new CARE Centers and building the CARE network,

8

THEN we will have created a community network for services, resources, and interventions that are empirically demonstrated to be effective in bolstering community capacity to address radicalization using non-carceral solutions, to intervene when someone is endorsing extremist ideas, and to support people who have been targeted by hate-fueled incidents.

Values

Accountability:

We hold ourselves accountable for our actions, outcomes, and impact by openly sharing successes and failures and seeking feedback from the community. We operate with the understanding of the power dynamics in place, recognize the privilege that comes with the connections and resources we have access to, and are mindful of how these dynamics inform our operations.

Transparency:

We are open and transparent about our program’s intentions, goals, and impact with our community partners and members. We have clear boundaries regarding the extent of our work and the services that we are able to provide.

Respect:

Every individual we serve is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their beliefs and background. Protecting the wellbeing and safety of each individual who participates in CARE Center activities is of the utmost importance.

Integrity:

We hold ourselves to high ethical standards and remain true to our mission when engaging in this work on the ground. We build community by acting with mutual trust and respect and staying true to our mission of uplifting and supporting the community.

Community Advocacy:

CARE Centers are meant to be for and by the community. As we work in local environments, we recognize that the community knows what is best for its advancement, and we work to advance and strengthen their vision.

Community Advisory, Resource, and Education (CARE) Centers