Terrorism Expert Brette Steele Tagged to Lead the Eradicate Hate Global Summit
Type: News
Brette Steele, a prominent figure in the field of preventing hate-fueled violence, currently serves as president of the Eradicate Hate Global Summit and chair of the Prevention Practitioners Network. In these capacities, she leads efforts to develop and implement effective evidence-informed strategies aimed at curbing and addressing hate-driven aggression. She was appointed to these roles in March.
At Eradicate Hate, Steele spearheads the organization of the world's most comprehensive anti-hate conference and supports numerous dynamic working groups. The event was established in response to the Tree of Life synagogue shooting that took place in Pittsburgh in October 2018, motivated by anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant hatred and resulting in the largest loss of life in an anti-Semitic event in U.S. history. Each year, around the time of the anniversary of the Tree of Life attack, the Summit reconvenes.
The Jewish Healthcare Foundation has been a sponsor of the Eradicate Hate Summit since its inception in October 2021.
Steele succeeds Chuck Moellenberg, who had been named the president of the summit’s nonprofit corporation last year. Moellenberg will continue to work as the chief administrative officer for the corporation. Steele is based in Southern California but has said that the summit will stay in Pittsburgh and “true to its Pittsburgh roots.”
“The 2018 Tree of Life massacre focused the eyes of the world on Pittsburgh,” said Steele. “And the community responded by coming together to establish the Summit, which has become one the most comprehensive efforts to drive the development and deployment of effective tools to combat the growing global threat of hate-fueled violence.”
She also directs a range of programs that provide essential infrastructure for preventing hate-fueled violence. Notably, through the Prevention Practitioners Network, Steele enhances the capabilities of prevention professionals with workshops, practice guides, and case consultations. She expands access to these resources by collaborating with professional associations, state and local agencies, and community-based organizations to build a national directory of prevention resources.
Steele's initiatives extend to the national level with campaigns like SCREEN Hate, which raises awareness and equips concerned adults with tools to intervene early. She fosters innovation through Invent2Prevent, empowering students to develop campaigns and tools aimed at preventing hate-fueled violence.
“Unfortunately, hate-fueled rhetoric and violence have become increasingly mainstream in our body politic and society as a whole,” said Steele. “The involvement of young people is vital as we develop the next generation of prevention professionals committed to keeping our communities safe.”
Beyond her programmatic roles, Steele is a recognized thought leader in her field. She co-authored the Policy Blueprint to End White Supremacist Violence and advises national entities including the White House, U.S. Congress, and Department of Justice on policies to combat hate-fueled violence. Her expertise also extends to consulting on cutting-edge prevention programs nationwide.
“Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure to work with different sectors to prevent hate-fueled violence—from educators to government officials, mental health practitioners, and law enforcement,” said Steele. “I am grateful for this opportunity to drive cross-sector collaboration and build capacity for the field as a whole.”
Prior to her current roles, Steele held significant positions including senior director of Preventing Targeted Violence at the McCain Institute and roles with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Justice, where she led initiatives in terrorism prevention and forensic science reform.
Steele graduated with highest honors from the University of California, Berkeley, and holds a JD degree from UCLA School of Law.