Program Effectiveness: Case Studies in Mitigating Radicalization Case Study 4: Status Seekers – Building Leadership Through Service Status seekers are motivated by a need for recognition and a desire to feel important. Extremist groups exploit this by promising power, prestige, and influence. Service provides opportunities for friendship, mentorship, civic engagement, and political involvement for status seekers.
One impactful example of service programs fostering leadership and providing alternatives to extremism is BUILD (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development), a Chicago-based organization nationally recognized for its gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development initiatives. Since 1969, BUILD has empowered thousands of at-risk youth to break free from gangs and violence, transforming them into positive leaders within their communities. BUILD runs a Community Ambassadors Program, which allows youth to become an essential part of the neighborhood. They promote activities that engage residents and also provide Trauma-Informed Practices, and engage in Violence Prevention to help promote resilience, support, and health in communities faced with trauma and civil unrest. By providing a platform for leadership and community service, BUILD demonstrates how service-oriented initiatives can serve as a powerful counter to the allure of extremism. 8
6
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs