Eradicate Hate adds six board members as it expands anti-violence work

By AI, Created 10:00 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Eradicate Hate announced six new board members on April 30, 2026, as the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit expands year-round efforts to prevent hate-fueled violence. The additions bring expertise in counterterrorism, mental health, education, government and finance as the group broadens its global programming.

Why it matters: - Eradicate Hate is adding leadership with experience in security, mental health, education and government as the organization tries to scale prevention work beyond its annual summit. - The board expansion comes as hate-fueled violence remains a public safety and community challenge in the U.S. and globally. - The new members are expected to bring practical expertise to programs aimed at making communities safer online and offline.

What happened: - Eradicate Hate announced six new members to its Board of Directors on April 30, 2026. - The new board members are Sara Carlson, Dr. Colin P. Clarke, Robert DeMichiei, Dr. Heidi Ellis, Vidhya Ramalingam and Dr. Robert Scherrer. - Carlson previously served as Deputy General Counsel for Analysis, Technology and Science in the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Office of the General Counsel. - Clarke is Executive Director of The Soufan Center. - DeMichiei is a retired Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. - Ellis is an associate professor in psychology and psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital. - Ramalingam is founder and CEO of Moonshot. - Scherrer is Executive Director of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. - Brette Steele, president of Eradicate Hate, said the new members reflect backgrounds in counterterrorism, technology, education and mental health.

The details: - Eradicate Hate said the board includes leaders from education, health, government, law and survivor communities. - The organization is rooted in the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic shooting in the U.S. - Eradicate Hate grew from an annual Global Summit into a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit. - The group now runs year-round programs and initiatives including UP End Hate, Reach Out Resource Hub and the Prevention Practitioners Network. - Eradicate Hate recently released its 2025 Impact Report on last year’s prevention work. - Carlson said private organizations can play an important role in fighting violent extremist movements. - Clarke said rising national security threats and incidents of hate-fueled violence show the need for organizations like Eradicate Hate. - DeMichiei said he feels a responsibility to support a community free from hate-fueled violence in Pittsburgh and beyond. - Ellis said mental health is a crucial part of violence prevention and pointed to her work with the Prevention Practitioners Network Advisory Board. - Ramalingam said collaboration is key to disrupting and countering violent extremism globally. - Scherrer said empowering youth with tools to prevent hate-fueled violence and feel secure at school is a priority. - Eradicate Hate also thanked Jeffery Finkelstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, for service on the Community Advisory Board from 2021 to 2023 and the Board of Directors from 2023 to 2026. - The organization said the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh served as its fiscal sponsor before Eradicate Hate formed a nonprofit corporation. - Eradicate Hate said Finkelstein was instrumental in making the Eradicate Hate Global Summit a success. - More information about the new members and the board is available in the organization’s announcement and the latest Impact Report.

Between the lines: - The board appointments signal a push to pair policy, research and field expertise with the organization’s prevention agenda. - The mix of national-security, public-health and youth-focused backgrounds suggests Eradicate Hate is broadening its approach to violence prevention rather than relying on a single strategy. - The organization’s emphasis on global reach shows it is positioning hate prevention as a cross-border issue, not only a local one.

What’s next: - Eradicate Hate will use the new board members to guide year-round programming and its expanding global work. - The group is likely to continue promoting its Reach Out Resource Hub and other prevention initiatives as part of its broader mission. - Additional information on the board and new members is available through the organization’s online materials.