ADL Center on Extremism Editorial Director Jessica Reaves recently spent three days in Houston on a packed schedule that had her meeting with media, ADL’s Security Committee, FBI officials, ADL’s Associate Board, local law enforcement, and presenting at the Women’s Initiative lunch on September 12.

As Editorial Director of the Center on Extremism, Reaves reviews all writings and publications put out by the Center.  While in Houston, Reaves had different presentations for different audiences.

For the Women’s Initiative, she participated in a conversation with Houston Chronicle Opinion Editor Lisa Falkenberg about ADL’s report, When Women are the Enemy: The Intersection of Misogyny and White Supremacy.

The conversation, before a highly engaged audience, ranged from why ADL felt it necessary to put out a report on the connections between white supremacy and misogyny, what might be lacking in a young man’s life that would lead him to follow an extremist path, the way the Internet and social media have become an echo chamber for their ideologies, and the role toxic masculinity plays in grooming these men to be haters.

Reaves’ presentations to the other groups were broader, covering some of the information ADL has on numerous extremists and their groups and identifying how ADL’s Center on Extremism could be a resource to individuals and agencies.

“We put together a very heavy schedule for Jessica,” said ADL Interim Regional Director Gail Glasser, “but she was up to the task.  She is a charming and adroit presenter, demonstrating her knowledge, and deftly softening the blow of very serious, scary information with occasional glints of humor.  We were lucky to have her in Houston for three days!”