For the 32nd Annual Northwest Public Employees Diversity Conference 

Americans are often told how divided we are—politically, culturally, and ideologically. Portland is portrayed as leaning far to the left, while rural Oregon is seen as leaning far to the right. This session examines the reality that we are less polarized than the current narrative suggests. Part of bridging this perceived divide involves learning strategies for de-escalation. Building on the work of Cure: PNW, a project funded by a federal grant to reduce political violence, this session will outline practical methods for promoting political and cultural civility. Topics include strengthening community capacity, using credible messengers, and recognizing trauma responses. These strategies have helped reduce conflict during the Portland ICE protests and can also be applied effectively in workplaces and family settings.

Dr. Blazak will lead a de-escalation training, sponsored by Cure:PNW.

Dr. Blazak will be presenting as part of a panel on disinformation at the annual conference of the American Association of Law Librarians, entitled, Fake News Is Lethal: How Critical Media Literacy Aids to Avert the Violent Consequences of Disinformation.

Dr. Blazak will be presenting a talk on the threat of political extremism and how to respond to it to the Greater Humanists of Portland. (Public)

Dr. Blazak will be speaking at the Division to Dialogue Town Hall in Vancouver, WA (Public) about the issue of hate speech and political discourse.

Dr. Blazak will be on a panel about disinformation at the American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting Program. (Private)

Dr. Blazak will be presenting to the Portland chapter of Indivisible a strategy to mobilize Americans to respond to the threat of authoritarianism. (Public)

Dr. Blazak will be leading a half-day training for the  City of Portland Fire & Police Disability & Retirement  Association. (Private)

Dr. Blazak will be presenting a workshop, as a member of Cure-PNW, for the Building Bridges in East County Community Series. The workshop will focus on violence prevention through de-escalation and the use of credible messengers. (Public)

Dr. Blazak will present a training to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office and Community Corrections about the evolution of extremism in Oregon and community-based responses to bias motivated criminality. (Private)

Dr. Blazak will be presenting to the International Visitor Leadership Program group from Germany on social trends in domestic extremism for World Oregon. (Private)

Dr. Blazak will be presenting on how trauma plays a role in the experience of both victims and perpetrators of bias crimes and incidents for Lutheran Community Services Northwest. (Private)

Dr. Blazak will be addressing the evolution of violent extremism in Oregon and current responses to the problem of political violence for the Oregon Court Reporters Association conference. (Private)

Dr. Blazak will present election security strategies for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. (Private)

Election years always elevate political divisions and potential flashpoints. Recent election cycles have been seen bias play a major role, including racism, sexism, antisemitism, and xenophobia. Some of this is driven by the “usual suspects,” like organized hate groups, but much is the result emotional responses to a rapidly changing social landscape that frames a wide range of factors, from pronouns to new technologies, as disrupting the known social order. This presentation focuses on three aspects of the historical moment we are in; 1) social changes that push people towards bias and extremist positions, 2) the threat presented by extremists who have exploited these changes, and 3) techniques available to de-escalate bias-motivated conflicts, including the utilization of credible messengers. Dr. Blazak has worked in the area for over 30 years and will be utilizing his current work with the federally funded Cure-PNW project. (NORTHWEST PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DIVERSITY CONFERENCE)

Dr. Blazak will be presenting on the issue of political violence at the Bias Crime Symposium for the Oregon Association Chief’s of Police. (Private)

Workshop on implicit bias for the Bonneville Power Administration. (Private)

Dr. Blazak will be presenting on emergent threats related to right wing extremism and the 2024 electon for the Washington County Bias Crime Symposium

Workshop on understanding the link between bias and trauma for the Bonneville Power Administration. (Private)

Dr. Blazak will be presenting a workshop on mindfulness and bias to the Port of Portland. (Closed event.)

Dr. Blazak and Ryan Nakade will presenting a workshop on de-escalation skills for the Oregon Department of Justice and the operators of the state’s bias crime hotline. (Private event)

Dr. Blazak will be a part of a discussion panel at the Flourishing Oregon conference.

Savannah Carreno, Rockwood CDC, Director of Development

• Jennifer Alkezweeny, Oregon Humanities, Program Director

• Ryan Nakade, Cure Violence Global

• Randall Blazak, Oregon’s Coalition Against Hate Crimes, Chair

• Leeza Edwards, Cure:PNW

Dr. Blazak will be presenting to the Oregon Department of Justice and overview of the threat matrix related to right-wing extremism and the November 2024 election. (Closed event.)

Join us for a conversation between Fay Stetz-Waters, Director of Civil Rights and Social Justice for the Oregon Department of Justice, and Randall Blazak, chair of the Oregon Coalition Against Hate Crimes. The two will discuss the history and current state of hate crimes in Oregon and what we can do to combat them. This program is part of The Burned Piano Project: Making Music Amidst the Noise of Hate. 

https://www.ojmche.org/events/combating-hate-crimes-in-or-a-conversation/

Workshop on implicit bias, presented to the Bonneville Power Administration (private).

Dr. Blazak will be hosting an event at PCC -Cascade Campus that will feature a panel discussion on the nature of peace, asking the question, is violence required to achieve peace? Sponsored by Cure-PDX. Open to the public.

Dr. Blazak will be leading a workshop on implicit bias for the Bonneville Power Administration.

Dr. Blazak will be presenting a discussion of hate speech and the first amendment to the 8th grade at the Cottonwood School,

Dr. Blazak will be hosting a workshop on the de-escalation of political violence with Brent Decker, from Cure Violence Global, and Savannah Rae Carreno, from Please Elaborate, at the auditorium of Portland Community College, Cascade.

Dr. Blazak will prevent on how public health approaches can be utilized to reduce political violence to the annual Building Bridges of Understanding in Our Communities conference at Muslim Educational Trust.