Hope LaFreniere
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Massachusetts Lowell
2021
Hope LaFreniere is a second-year doctoral student studying security studies and terrorism in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She received her Master of Science in Security Studies in 2019 from Angelo State University and her Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and Electronic Media from West Texas A&M University in 2014. Her primary focus of research currently is group dynamics and extremism in the United States, and has diverse interests in international security, energy, and mass media.
The catalytic power of this Summit in bringing together those who are devoting their lives to pushing back and working to confront, understand and work towards solutions around hate in our society is a noble and difficult task. The Summit not only energized those who attended but led to connecting the dots in a global network of those doing this work. The stories of the victims of hate were painful to witness but their courage in coming forward was inspirational. Those who attended left energized with the hope that by working together solutions can be forged.
