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Transatlantic Dialogue Initiative: City Leadership in Maintaining Social Cohesion Amid Global Crises Learning from ‘The Columbus Way’ and Other City-Led Approaches in Europe and North America

Publication Date:

23/10/2024

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Event Reports

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antisemitismColumbusGlobal CrisesLocal ImpactsSocial CohesionTransatlantic Dialogue Initiative

Summary

On 17 – 19 September 2024, the Strong Cities Network brought together more than 75 mayors and other city officials from Europe and North America, as well as representatives from partner organisations from across Columbus, Ohio to discuss challenges and identify good practices for enhancing city-led efforts to maintain social cohesion in the face of global and other crises. This includes migration, international and regional conflicts, as well as rising antisemitism, anti-Muslim and other forms of hate. The Transatlantic Dialogue workshop was organised in cooperation with the City of Columbus, The Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs, other Columbus-based partners and the U.S. Department of State.

Throughout the event, participants learned about The Columbus Way – an inclusive approach to building social cohesion and resilience across Columbus, Ohio that is centred on empowering communities and community-based organisations and working with all parts of the city. In this context, City officials shared examples of how different institutions across Columbus are contributing to the operationalising a comprehensive, multi-sector approach to hate and violence prevention. This includes initiatives such as the Police Dialogue Team and the Welcoming City programme which aim to manage protests and assist migrants, refugees and other new arrivals to Columbus, respectively. Additionally, the Columbus Partnership, a coalition of leading businesses and institutions from the city, addresses opportunities to advance economic development, smart mobility, public policy, education and leadership development, and the Columbus Foundation’s work supports sustainable, community-led solutions to address complex social challenges. The city also pointed to its collaborations with community-based organisations in Columbus that address antisemitism and islamophobia, threats which have spiked during the ongoing Israel-Gaza crisis, and its efforts to rebuild inter-faith bonds that have frayed as a result of it.

Participants also learned about approaches from cities across Ohio, and more broadly in Europe and North America, to address challenges such as the offline impacts of online harms, ensuring public safety and protecting free speech rights during protests and riots and city-led responses to hate incidents, including through effective strategic communication and wider crises management.

Lastly, participants heard from Ukrainian mayors about the challenges they are facing in the face of the Russia conflict. Local leaders from three Ukrainian municipalities showcased their initiatives to address the needs of their residents and urged cities from across Europe and North America to intensify their support efforts for Ukrainian cities to defend and rebuild their communities.

In his opening remarks, Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor of Columbus (Ohio, USA), stressed that his city is impacted by global challenges in different parts of the world and is determined to help mitigate the impacts on local communities. In addition to pointing to key initiatives (see below) that his administration launched to address the most prominent threats to social cohesion, he stressed his local government’s ethical responsibility to build a society based on compassion, empathy and protection against hate, where disagreement is handled with civility. He further emphasised the city’s collaborative and inclusive approach to addressing social challenges, known as The Columbus Way, which aims to create a unified and resilient future for its residents, upholding values of inclusion and tolerance. Daniel Ricchetti, Deputy Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy at the US Department of State, underscored the importance of supporting Ukrainian colleagues, but also, more broadly, the growing role of cities in international relations and global problem-solving. Equally important, he highlighted that welcoming refugees in cities and beyond not only upholds humanitarian values and is the right thing do to, but also makes economic sense. He highlighted Columbus as an example where integration has been beneficial for both communities and economies.

Julie Tilson Stanley, President and CEO of JewishColumbus, further highlighted the role of cities in protecting all communities, especially vulnerable populations, living in their communities. For instance, she noted a 200% increase in antisemitic incidents since 7 October in Columbus, and the importance of inclusive security efforts, which includes cities collaborating with the police, community-based organisations and other local actors to address such threats and safeguard communities. Eric Rosand, Strong Cities’ Executive Director, further emphasised the crucial role cities play in addressing global crises, noting that mayors are on the frontlines, whether they like it or not. He called for a collaborative approach, where cities work below the political radar to find practical ways to address the needs of their residents in times of global and other crisis that are increasingly dividing communities.  

Several key findings emerged from the workshop:

• Cities are uniquely positioned to mitigate the myriad local impacts on social cohesion that global crises are having on their residents. They are typically the level of government that is closest to, has the most regular engagements with and thus best understands the needs and concerns of residents.
• Cities in Europe and North America have taken a variety of actions to promote empathy, inclusion and collaboration to help build long-term resilience. For example, some have implemented initiatives to ensure that diverse populations are included in decision-making processes, with an emphasis on equitable access to resources and services. Some cities are also focusing on engaging younger generations and empowering residents to participate in local governance, ensuring that everyone feels part of the community.
• In the midst of global crises, cities have launched initiatives that support migrant and refugee communities in becoming part of the local social fabric. These initiatives focus on providing cultural competency training for city staff, ensuring language access, and fostering active community engagement to ensure refugee and migrant immediate and long-term needs are met. Additionally, they are aiming to empower new arrivals through leadership programmes which are designed not only to aid integration but also strengthen their resilience by fostering inclusivity, representation and ensuring that all residents feel valued.
• Human-centred design is important in addressing community challenges, with an emphasis on involving local residents as co-designers in grassroot projects. This approach ensures that solutions are shaped by those who best understand the community’s needs, leading to improved outcomes in areas such as education, health and social equity. This includes meeting people where they are, outside formal city settings, to ensure all relevant communities and groups are involved and represented.
• Cities play a crucial role in responding to violent incidents and restoring community trust in their aftermath. They are often the first to respond to such an incident, mobilising local resources to restore peace and provide support to affected communities. Local governments can ensure a compassionate and coordinate response is deployed, by coordinating and collaborating with law enforcement, community organisations, social services and community-based actors who understand the needs and priorities of impacted residents. In this context, many cities have also implemented trauma-informed care and community-based interventions to support victims, reduce retaliation and prevent further violence. By engaging with residents and being transparent in their communication, cities can help to rebuild trust and foster a sense of safety in the aftermath of violence.
• Clear, proactive communication by relevant elected local leaders, local government officials and local institutions is essential in managing protests and maintaining public safety. By ensuring that protestors have access to safe platforms for demonstration and regularly engage with law enforcement, cities are able to reduce tensions. This approach fosters trust between the authorities and the community, ensuring that the right to protest is respected while public safety is maintained.
• Cities are finding that online harms are becoming a more prominent threat to their communities, with the spread of mis/disinformation, hate speech and extremist content online posing a growing threat to social cohesion. There are steps cities can take to mitigate the threat of online harms. These include:
  • raising public awareness of the dangers of and, more broadly, building resilience against this threat;launching new or expanding existing digital literacy programmes;establishing reporting centres for online hate;working with community leaders to address the spread of harmful narratives; and/or
  • prioritising clear, concise and accessible city-led public messaging to dispel misleading information, address public concerns and create an inclusive environment.

Despite the number of responses and support mechanism to help cities launch these initiatives, many local governments are unable to proactively tap into these resources due to capacity gaps, inadequate infrastructure and lack of time.

Threats & Key Challenges

Speakers shared how both Jewish and Muslim communities across the Columbus region have been impacted by the Israel-Gaza crisis. For example, Dorothy Hassan, CEO of Our Helpers in Columbus, Ohio, highlighted that Muslim families in the Columbus area have experienced vicarious trauma, feel less secure and are afraid of backlash against them and their loved ones. Additionally, she emphasised that anti-Muslim sentiment is becoming increasingly intertwined with anti-migrant rhetoric, presenting an even greater threat to this community.   

Howie Beigelman, President & CEO of Ohio Jewish Communities in Columbus, while noting the spike in antisemitism since 7 October, said that the troubling rise in such incidents in the US predates this current crisis, manifesting in increased online hate speech, doxxing, targeted harassment and in many cases violence.  

Discussions further highlighted how hate and mis-/disinformation targeting both groups have proliferated online. For example, Georgios Sotiriadis, Policy Adviser at the Senate Department of Interior and Sport in Berlin shared that, since 7, October online platforms became rife with hate campaigns targeting Jews and Muslims simultaneously. The confluence of these hate narratives, he said, has created an especially hostile online environment, fueling divisions and undermining social cohesion. He noted that hate campaigns were often orchestrated by groups at different ends of the extremis ideological spectrum. At the same time, he said, young people, and in some cases those in their early teens, are increasingly involved in the spread of hate speech online, often without fully understanding the criminal implications of their actions

In addition to amplifying threats against specific communities, cities shared how the Israel-Gaza crisis poses a challenge for broader public safety. For example, Filipe Fernandes, Advisor to the Mayor of Braga, Portugal, observed an increase in protests in his city as a result of this conflict. He noted how far-right demonstrations have drawn counter-protests from the far-left, which for now have resulted mostly in non-violent confrontations. Local authorities, he said, have been trying to navigate the situation and determine when to intervene to avoid escalation.

Participants also discussed the impacts on social of cohesion of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mayors from both Europe and North America noted that while the war has elicited strong support for Ukraine, it has also stoked anti-refugee sentiment and nationalist rhetoric, particularly from extremist groups. These tensions have created new challenges for local leaders tasked with managing diverse communities and ensuring that refugee integration does not exacerbate existing social divisions​.

For example, Mayor Lucian Daniel Stanciu-Viziteu of Bacau, Romania, noted a rise in far-right sentiments and groups in his city due to the influx of Ukrainian refugees and migrants. He reported that two extremist parties, one of which has secured a seat in parliament, are actively promoting anti-Ukraine/Ukrainian rhetoric and opposition to hosting refugees in the country. Martin Barčik, Prevention Coordinator, City of Žilina, Slovakia, commented that the rising anti-migrant sentiment is creating additional challenges in integrating Ukrainian refugees and exacerbates existing divisions in the community.  

Ukrainian mayors shared examples of the challenges they are facing as a result of the ongoing Russian invasion. For example, Andriy Sadovyi, Mayor of Lviv, Ukraine, described the devastation in Lviv, including the attack on 4 September 2024 that killed seven people, injured more than 66 and caused significant damage to dozens of buildings, both residential and historical. In Mykolaiv, located much closer than Lviv to active conflict, Mayor Oleksandar Syenkevych described how the city has been heavily bombarded, with vital infrastructure such as water systems destroyed, forcing the city to rely on makeshift pipelines from neighbouring rivers. More importantly, he emphasised the irreplaceable human losses that his city and Ukraine as a whole are experiencing as a result of the war. Andrii Besedin, Mayor of Kupiansk, a city six kilometres from the frontline, shared that his community was occupied by Russian troops at the start of the war. City residents organised protests and gatherings to resist the Russian administration which included kidnappings, torture and information isolation. The city was liberated in the fall of 2022; however, the city is still facing constant shelling which results in civilian casualties and destruction of residential, historical and critical infrastructure.

European and American cities, while not facing the same scale and severity of threats facing their Ukrainian counterparts, are experiencing a rise of hate, extremism and polarisation in their communities. For example, Martin Horak, City Manager, City of Nitra, Slovakia highlighted that far-right sentiments are becoming mainstreamed partly because of statements by senior officials in the national governments which in his view amount to hate speech against journalists, the LGBTIQ+ community, non-governmental organisations and minorities. Additionally, he remarked how these threats are compounded by the fact that Slovaks are among the most susceptible to conspiracy narratives and mis-/disinformation in the European Union. This, he said, can have a profound impact on public opinion, particularly on issues like the COVID-19, migration and international relations.

Mayor Sloan Spalding of New Albany, Ohio highlighted how local governments are increasingly grappling with how to address mis-/disinformation and social media-fuelled division, which make it increasingly difficult to manage public discourse and communal harmony. He underscored how small cities like his often lack the resources to fully counteract these influences, making it imperative for them to rely on strong partnerships with law enforcement, schools and social services.

Some of this online hate has also translated into threats of offline violence targeting local officials. For instance, Annette Blackwell, Mayor of Maple Heights, Ohio – the first elected Black women mayor of the city – shared how she has been a frequent target of physical threats, even at City Council meetings.

Throughout the workshop, participants shared experiences from their cities, highlighting initiatives they have launched to address these threats. They discussed what has worked as well as what has not, stressing the growing need for continued dialogue and city-city peer learning that Strong Cities facilities to help inform their existing and inspire new innovative practices in their jurisdictions.

Key Themes

1. Building Inclusive and Cohesive Cities: Mayoral Leadership and ‘The Columbus Way’ 

The City of Columbus, Ohio has relied on a whole-of-society approach to address increasingly complex and fast-evolving threats to its social cohesion and public safety. Known as ‘The Columbus Way,‘ this partnership-driven strategy is predicated on coordination and collaboration among the city government, local businesses, community-based organisations, academic institutions and other relevant local actors to address local challenges, foster innovation and drive inclusive growth and development. Consistent with this approach, Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor of the City of Columbus, and his administration have launched various initiatives to address residents’ most pressing needs.

For instance, the City is on the path to becoming certified as a ‘Welcoming City’ for its steadfast support of migrant communities. Guadalupe Velasquez, Managing Director of Welcoming City, highlighted that the Columbus area is home to the largest migrant population in Ohio and how the local government is committed to working to address their most prominent needs and include them in the social fabric of Columbus. A key component of this is the City’s communications strategy, which places a strong emphasis on fostering inclusive rhetoric and communication in multiple languages to make migrants feel at home. Additionally, the City ensures that its staff is attuned to the needs of refugees, migrants and minorities by ongoing cultural competency training and building and strengthening partnership with community organisations that support migrants.

Furthermore, Abdi Soofe, the Coordinator of the City’s New American Program, underscored the City’s commitment to empowering new arrivals to engage and build strong relationships with their neighbours and communities across the city. A key part of this effort is providing language access, ensuring that city services are accessible to non-English speakers by providing translations services, multilingual resources and interpreters. The City has also developed educational programmes and platforms to bring different groups together, fostering stronger community connections and resilience. One such initiative is the New American Leadership Academy, which focuses on cultivating leadership within migrant communities, ensuring that residents from diverse global backgrounds see themselves as part of the city’s future and decision-making processes.

Another key element of the City’s comprehensive approach to prevention is the work being done in its Office of Violence Prevention (OVP). Jamar Harris, OVP’s Community Relations Coordinator, explained how it works to better to understand the root causes of violence in order to develop more effective solutions. At the core of this approach is the Community Violence Intervention Ecosystem, where educators, healthcare providers and community-based organisations and other frontline actors work in partnership to address community needs before, during and after incidents of violence.  

The Columbus Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the United States, plays an important role in the whole-of-city approach to improving the well-being of everyone and maintaining social cohesion in the city. Heather Tsavaris, Principal Consultant, Amanda Ussak, Community-Centered Designer, and Mark Lomax, Community Research and Grants Management Officer shared that the foundation’s work spans various areas including education, health, economic development and social equity, with a focus on enhancing the quality of life for all residents, especially marginalised groups. Through grants and strategic partnerships, the Foundation funds programmes that promote social cohesion, support vulnerable communities and drive inclusive growth across the city. A key feature of its approach involves ‘human-centred’ design, ensuring that the ultimate beneficiaries of its work are consulted, involved in decision-making and co-implement initiatives. This process has so far been applied to over 30 different projects, with the help of more than 150 local interlocutors — referred to as ‘community co-designers’ — who understand the community and its concerns and are able to advise and deliver much needed and tailored support.

Kenny McDonald, President and CEO, Columbus Partnership, stressed the importance of working with the private sector and stimulating a diversified local economy, particularly through entrepreneurship, to enhance the city’s growth and wellbeing of all residents. The Columbus Partnership, a coalition of CEOs and local businesses in Columbus, aims to achieve this goal by being anchored in values and principles of the Columbus Way such as ambition, collaboration, fellowship, inclusivity and common good.  

We are stronger when we stand united. Let’s continue moving forward together, for the well-being of our residents and for the generations to come. I believe that, now more than ever, America needs its mayors, and I’d go even further to say that the world has never seen a more critical time for strong mayoral leadership

Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor of the City of Columbus and President of the US Conference of Mayors

Speakers also shared that local governments can prevent hate speech by investing in the digital citizenship and resilience of their residents, using communications campaigns to debunk (local) conspiracies and working with communities most vulnerable to being targeted with online hate to ensure they feel protected. Speakers agreed that local governments should also be included in or given the opportunity to engage initiatives such as the Christchurch Call Foundation and others so they can be kept informed of how various digital platforms are exploited to amplify hate and extremism and the national and global frameworks that exist to address digital threats. Paul Ash, Director, Christchurch Call Foundation echoed such sentiments, recognising that hate ‘manifests in cities and prevention programmes must be delivered at the local level’. He emphasised a commitment from the Foundation to working with local governments – including via Strong Cities – and other partners, such as the UN, to better equip and include local governments in global responses to online harms. 

City of Columbus (Ohio, United States)

• Challenge: The City of Columbus, like cities worldwide, faced substantial challenges in managing civil unrest, especially during the 2020 social justice protests following the murder of George Floyd. Nationwide protests and riots highlighted the deep divisions within communities, both racial and political. In Columbus, these protests sometimes escalated into violent confrontations between police and demonstrators, leading to widespread dissatisfaction with law enforcement’s response. With over 200 arrests and significant use of non-lethal force, such as gas and pepper spray, the city recognised a growing trust deficit between its police force and the community, further exacerbating existing tensions. Columbus needed a more effective way to maintain public order, rebuild community trust, and prevent the kind of violence that had gripped other cities such Portland, Oregon which experienced 175 consecutive days of rioting.
• Approach: In response to these challenges, the City of Columbus adopted a public health approach to managing protests, focusing on understanding the root causes of violence and preventing unnecessary use of force. A key part of this strategy was the creation of a Dialogue Team within the Columbus Division of Police supported by Clifford Stott, Visiting Professor at The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs. This unit was developed in collaboration with Ohio State University’s John Glenn College and informed by research-based crowd management techniques from European policing models, especially those used in handling sport violence and public unrest. The emphasis was placed on de-escalation and communication, using dialogue to reduce tensions during protests. Instead of assuming that protests would turn violent, the City began to focus on strategies that encouraged self-regulation within the crowd. The Dialogue Team worked to maintain communication with protest organisers with the goal to minimise any potential for violence before it escalates. This programme was bolstered by a federal court injunction, which limited the use of force by Columbus police, pushing the city toward non-violent strategies and away from traditional riot control methods.
• Impact: Since adopting the Dialogue Team model in late
  2022, Columbus managed to keep the majority of protests peaceful, even during high-tension periods. Notably, since 7 October 2023, the city has hosted 52 pro-Palestine protests, with over 13,000 participants, yet only two minor uses of force and three arrests were recorded. This starkly contrasts with past
  protests, where unrest and violence were more frequent. The success of the
  Dialogue Team is evident in the avoidance of major confrontations between police and protesters. This new model has received national attention and recognition, with Columbus being cited as a positive example of how cities can manage civil unrest without resorting to violence. Furthermore, this approach has inspired other law enforcement agencies across the US to learn from Columbus’s model. Training sessions have been conducted, with over 29 law enforcement agencies being introduced to this new model, spreading the benefits of the science-led approach across the country. The broader impact of this model is seen not only in the reduced violence and improved protest outcomes but also in the restoration of trust between law enforcement and the community.

2. Local Government on the Frontline of Crisis Response: Supporting the Recovery, Rehabilitation and Resilience of Communities 

Participants discussed how, since cities are on the frontlines of crisis response, management and mitigation, elected local leaders and local governments often need respond quickly and inclusively. This involves working with a range of partners to navigate complex issues, which, if left unaddressed, can further contribute to fear, distrust and escalation of hostilities.

The Mayor of Lviv (Ukraine), Andriy Sadovyi, spoke about how the City has established multiple support systems, including mental health and rehabilitation centres, to help residents and the 150,000 internally displaced persons that have found refuge in Lviv as a result of the conflict with Russia. It has also taken significant steps to rebuild and preserve its cultural and historical heritage that has been damaged or destroyed during Russian bombardments, which the mayor sees as a symbol of hope and defiance.

Lviv’s resilience has also been supported through international cooperation. For example, it has received support from cities such as Manchester and Liverpool in the United Kingdom under the Unbroken Cities Network, which seeks to create a global support framework for the City of Lviv and other local governments in Ukraine. The National Rehabilitation Centre in Lviv is the centrepiece of the Unbroken initiative: it is where servicemen and civilians, both adults and children, receive comprehensive qualified medical care. Over 15,000 wounded Ukrainians, of which 2,000 are children, have received treatment at this Centre since the start of the war.

Under Mayor Oleksandr Syenkevych’s leadership, the City of Mykolaiv (Ukraine) has implemented a range of similar measures to address both the immediate and long-term impacts of the war. In terms of civilian protection, Mykolaiv has also mobilised community resources to provide shelter and humanitarian aid to those most affected by the conflict. The local government has worked to establish networks of support composed of both local, national and international stakeholders, ensuring that displaced families and individuals in the city have access to food, housing and medical care. The city has also focused its efforts on the reconstruction and fortification of critical infrastructure, such as water systems, which were destroyed by Russian shelling. Mykolaiv has had to rely on makeshift pipelines from neighbouring rivers to restore water access, demonstrating resourcefulness in the face of severe shortages.  

Although less severe compared to threats in Ukraine, the City of Nitra (Slovakia), has also had to address multiple crises that are threatening community cohesion among its residents, despite many of these tasks falling under the responsibilities of the national government. Faced with an influx of Ukrainian refugees at the start of the Russian invasion, Martin Horak, Nitra City Manager, explained how the city went beyond its mandate to make refugees feel welcome, demonstrating a clear commitment to safeguarding vulnerable groups. The city adopted the Icelandic Prevention Model, which is based on a collaborative multistakeholder approach to address refugee integration, with a focus on youth engagement and education. This initiative also aimed to sensitise the population on this critical topic, contributing to a more inclusive and aware community. In a strong statement of leadership during the 2022 elections in Slovakia, the mayor was a vocal supporter of these efforts, which were unpopular among some voters, even at the risk of losing votes. This demonstrated to city residents that his priority was the well-being of the community rather than political success.  

Dimitrios Rossakis, Director, Eurotec, Thessaloniki (Greece), shared that Greek cities faced issues while navigating the challenges posed by the refugee crisis and economic difficulties over the past decade. He emphasised the complexity of managing communal relations during times of crisis, noting that Greece, unlike countries with more resources, has struggled to provide comprehensive responses to the needs of refugees and the receiving local communities. Nonetheless, Dimitrios notes that progress has been made in creating a more supportive environment for refugees since the height of the crises, and a key component of this has been clear, concise and accessible city-led public messaging to dispel misleading information, address public concerns and create an inclusive environment.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Joe Begeny, Mayor of Reynoldsburg (Ohio, USA), shared that he faced similar challenges in integrating refugees into his town of 40,000 people. The biggest obstacle they encountered, he said, was building trust between local authorities and the refugee population as many of these individuals come from countries where interactions with the police are often characterised by distrust and fear. To address this, the city brought in a migrant social worker who could relate to the cultural and linguistic needs of the refugee community and, thus, became an essential bridge between them and law enforcement making communication and trust-building more effective. Additionally, to further strengthen these efforts, Mayor Begeny employs a ‘walk and talks’ informal approach to connect with residents by walking through neighbourhoods with a trash picker and plastic bag, engaging in casual conversations. This method of meeting people where they are, outside formal city settings, has helped build trust and create accessible lines of communication.

Greater Manchester Authority (United Kingdom)

• Challenge: After the 2017 terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, realised that the central government alone was not in a position to address the needs of the city during such a crisis so he had to develop a bottom-up approach to manage and resolve the near and long terms consequences of the attack on social cohesion.
• Approach: To help address these issues, Greater Manchester, under Mayor Burnham’s leadership, launched the ‘We Love Manchester Emergency Fund’ to support victims and their families and promoted initiatives focused on building people-to-people connections and promoting resilience from within. Following the attack, Burnham witnessed firsthand the importance of city-to-city solidarity when survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing reached out to support Manchester’s victims and their families. This and other support he received from cities across the world inspired Mayor Burnham to commit aid to cities facing similar issues of violence in time of need, which gave rise to Unbroken Cities.
• Impact: The City’s ‘One Love Manchester’ campaign, which was launched at a benefit concert, raised millions of dollars which were used to directly support victims of the bombing and their families. The campaign reinforced Manchester’s reputation as a resilient and inclusive city. The phrase ‘We Stand Together’ became a rallying cry for solidarity against hate, and Manchester’s symbolic worker bee emblem was widely adopted as a symbol of unity and strength during and after the campaign. Despite this success, the City still experienced gatherings and protests that exacerbated tensions.
  
  In terms of its international support, the Unbroken Cities initiative has had a significant positive impact on Manchester and its partner cities. By fostering international cooperation, cities like Lviv have benefited from the shared knowledge and resources that help them rebuild during times of conflict. For example, Manchester is helping Lviv rebuild by sharing expertise in areas like human resource administration, education and transportation. The initiative also focuses on local solutions to address inequality, improve mental health and provide affordable housing and transportation.
  
  In the long run, Unbroken Cities aims to create a global network of cities that work together to counteract the negative influences of social media and division. By uniting cities and focusing on practical, community-driven solutions, this initiative positions cities like Manchester as leaders in building a safer, more cohesive future.

Mayor of Upper Arlington (Ohio), Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, relies on a similar approach, as she prioritises community input at the risk of slowing down decision-making processes because incorporating residents’ feedback will ultimately lead to better and more inclusive policies. Additionally, Mayor Jeter highlighted the importance of intentional outreach to engage hard-to-reach groups by meeting them where they are.

Isar Maharian, Associate Ombud from Seattle (Washington), emphasised the importance of keeping open lines of communication, fostering honest conversations and creating safe spaces for individuals to seek support and resolve outstanding issues that can lead to conflict. She shared how this trauma-informed care model has been integrated into the work of the police department through a new programme called Care. This training focuses on understanding and responding to the emotional and psychological impacts of trauma, which is crucial for police officers and city employees who interact with the public. The goal is to ensure that employees on the frontlines, particularly those in law enforcement and community services, are equipped to approach crises with empathy and a deeper understanding of the trauma experienced by individuals they engage.

Building on this, Jim Hartnett, Director of Community-Wide Security at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland (Ohio, USA), stressed the importance of trust building and collaboration between law enforcement, local government, businesses and communities to effectively enhance public security. He particularly highlighted the value of community awareness, urging residents to not only “see something and say something” but to take action by working with law enforcement in reporting threats, contributing to needs and vulnerability assessments, and participating in security efforts and training to help them enhance their situational awareness and responding to violent incidents. In addition to collaboration at the local level, Howie Beigelman, President & CEO, Ohio Jewish Communities, highlighted the importance of regional and international cooperation by spotlighting J7, The Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism. This coalition of Jewish organisations from Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States provides a platform for peer learning and exchange as well as high-level consultations, strategy and action plan development and capacity-building on addressing antisemitism. He stressed that its relatively small size has helped the group be more focused and flexible to Jewish community needs in each of the countries. For instance, Beigelman mentioned that when the Jewish community in Australia experienced an increasing threat of doxxing, J7 shared a draft legislation that the Australian government used to help mitigate this threat.

Managing Campus Protests in Times of Global Crisis: The Ohio State University Experience

• Challenge: Last spring, like a number of other universities in the Unted States, The Ohio State University (OSU), among the largest universities in the United States, faced significant challenges in managing the balance between protecting free speech and ensuring public safety during protests on its campus inspired by the Israel – Gaza conflict. Some of these escalated into violent confrontations between protestors and law enforcement as well as arrests.
• Approach: The university adopted a cooperative approach, working closely with city officials and law enforcement to develop a protest management framework that prioritised de-escalation, communication and protection of affected communities. OSU also focused on preparing its public safety officers to respond effectively to potential flashpoints during protests. The strategy included building partnerships between campus law enforcement, local police and community and student leaders to establish clear guidelines for intervention, crowd management and feedback gathering. Additionally, OSU developed engagement teams, which consist of trained personnel tasked with de-escalating tensions during demonstrations. Students affected by protests would engage these teams whenever they felt uncomfortable to reach out to law enforcement. Equally important, OSU launched the ‘Listen and Learn’ website, a platform which provides the student community all tools and resources to better understand freedom of speech as well as how faculty can engage in difficult conversations in the classroom. Finally, OSU established protocols for monitoring online platforms together with campus law enforcement to pre-emptively identify and mitigate potential threats.
• Impact: OSU’s cooperative approach resulted in a notable absence of violence during protests. Only one arrest was made in recent events with no significant property damage, indicating effective management and communication between students and law enforcement. OSU found that by investing time and engaging student organisations and facilitating open dialogue, students were more willing to express their concerns and participate in campus discussions, leading to higher levels of civic engagement and trust. Furthermore, the ‘Listen and Learn’ website and other educational initiatives significantly raised awareness among students about their rights related to free speech and expression. This helped students feel more informed and empowered to participate in civic discourse. Additionally, OSU’s strengthened partnerships with local law enforcement and community leaders resulted in better coordination during protests. This collaboration enabled a more unified response to events, further enhancing safety and communication. The university implemented positive feedback mechanisms, conducting post-protest evaluations that provided valuable insights from participants. According to OSU officials, this process of reflection and adjustment contributed to an evolving framework that better meets the needs of the campus community. his process of reflection and adjustment contributed to an evolving framework that better meets the needs of the campus community.

3. Online Harms – City-Led and Other Local Approaches to Digital Resilience

Cities on both sides of the Atlantic highlighted how they are increasingly having to address challenges posed by rising levels of online threats, e.g., hate speech, mis/disinformation and harassment of public officials. Yusuf Siraj, Co-Founder of Foundation for Path Forward (Canada), stressed the worrying offline impact of online harms, especially in a climate where political violence is increasingly celebrated and dehumanising rhetoric based on identity is on the rise. He added that foreign influence campaigns and the proliferation of AI-generated content have the potential to increasingly negatively impacts public perception and inter-communal relations. He provided alarming statistics from Canada, indicating that there has been an 800% increase in threats against elected officials online, with 76% of elected officials reported being targeted on social media, with 10% experiencing doxxing and 23% facing cyber-stalking. He also noted that 80% of city officials are aware of support mechanism to address online harms but are not proactively using them due to capacity gaps, inadequate infrastructure and lack of time to deal with these issues.

Nonetheless, different cities have deployed different approaches to prevent and mitigate the impact of online harms. For example, Martin Horak, City Manager of Nitra (Slovakia), explained that the City’s strong social media presence enables it to address the proliferation of mis/disinformation. In addition, recognising that older generations are particularly vulnerable to mis/disinformation, the City developed a training program on basic IT skills, which includes media literacy and other tools to navigate the digital world more safely.

Berlin has also invested in promoting digital literacy as part of its broader strategy to combat online radicalisation and hate speech. For example, Georgios Sotiriadis, Policy Adviser, Senate Department of Interior and Sport in Berlin (Germany) explained that his government is training students and teachers to identify and critically evaluate harmful online content and understand its impact on youth, including through its Social Media Extreme project. The initiative is now expanding to include an e-learning platform to reach a wider audience and ensure more professionals are educated about online safety.

Similarly, the City of Žilina (Slovakia) has been actively focusing on enhancing community resilience to online harms through education and social programmes. Martin Barčík, Coordinator of Prevention and Social Inclusion, explained that the City has engaged social workers in schools to assist students on digital safety. They are tasked to run educational initiatives for parents and guardians, helping them understand the impacts of social media on their children. Additionally, outside the school setting, the City offers lectures on mis/disinformation and critical thinking for senior citizens. Finally, the City’s efforts also include the facilitation of community discussions on sensitive issues including the impact of online harms on social cohesion.

Looking beyond digital literacy tools, Kate Nelson, Director of Community Engagement from Boise (Idaho, USA), shared that her City created a dedicated police unit to monitor online harms in regular coordination with local partners. On the demand side, local authorities adopted a trauma response plan to address the psychological impact of online incidents, drawing inspiration from the Icelandic model. This plan engages the community in proactive ways to support students and families, offering safe avenues for residents to contribute and alleviating pressure on emergency responders. She highlighted the importance of a human-centred design approach in these efforts, ensuring that every part of the City and its communities are involved in creating inclusive solutions to address online harms.

Dontario Hardy, Mayor of Kinston (North Carolina, USA), underscored the need for cities to create on- and offline platforms where people with grievances can voice their concerns constructively, rather than allowing hate to fester and spread online. For example, Mayor Hardy has prioritised strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the community through outreach programmes like ‘Talk with Cops’, where residents can meet officers in informal settings to build trust. Additionally, Kinston offers a Citizens Police Academy, which educates residents on police operations and activities as confidence-building measure. Mayor Hardy also introduced Kinston 101, a programme that gives residents insights into how local government functions, empowering them to engage in decision-making processes.

Next Steps

Key findings from this workshop will inform upcoming Transatlantic Dialogue events as well as the Strong Cities Fifth Global Summit, being held in Cape Town (South Africa) in December 2024.

Practices shared during the workshop and captured in this event report will also be integrated into the Strong Cities Resource Hub, which houses a library of living guides and toolkits on mayoral leadership and city-led action to prevent and respond to hate, extremism and polarisation. In addition, to build on the Resource Hub’s growing City Spotlights Library, Strong Cities will partner with city officials from the workshop to create spotlights capturing their local governments’ inspiring and innovative prevention efforts.

Strong Cities will continue to facilitate this Transatlantic Dialogue between North American and European mayors and city officials next year. The next workshop will take place in Manchester (United Kingdom) in February 2025.

Additional Resources

• Global Crises, Local Impacts: Key Findings & Recommendations to Date, Strong Cities Network, September 2024
• Impact: Catalysing City-Led Prevention, Strong Cities Network, June 2024
• Global Crises, Local Impacts, including latest findings and recommendations, April 2024
• A Guide for City-Led Response, Strong Cities Network, April 2024
• Preventing and Responding to Election Disruption and Violence: Ten Considerations for Cities, Strong Cities Network, March 2024
• Transatlantic Dialogue Initiative: Ten Key Findings in 2023, Strong Cities Network, March 2024
• Navigating Local Impacts of Global Crises: Ten Considerations for Mayors and Cities – Lessons Learned from the Israel – Gaza Crisis, Strong Cities Network, December 2023
• A Guide for Mayors: Preventing and Responding to Hate, Extremism and Polarisation, Strong Cities Network, September 2023
• A Guide for Cities: Preventing Hate, Extremism and Polarisation, Strong Cities Network, September 2023

Donors & Partners

Contact Information

For more information on this event and the Strong Cities’ Transatlantic Dialogue Initiative, please contact Simeon Dukic, Deputy Director for Global Engagement at [email protected].

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