NOVEMBER 12, 2026
OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL
MONTEL WILLIAMS HOST
Montel Williams earned his media celebrity status as an inspirational Emmy Award winning television personality whom Americans invited into their homes for more than 17 years. He is a decorated former naval officer, inspirational speaker, author, entrepreneur and advocate for patients worldwide.
Before and after the success of his television show, Montel has been passionately involved in many projects that he has transformed into major initiatives with the aim of
helping others.
DEBRA HIXON
Debra Hixon Broward County School Board Member
Debra is a longtime educator. She brings the perspective of Broward's schools, policy, prevention systems, and school safety. She also brings a deeply personal understanding of the consequences of school violence. Her husband, Chris Hixon, was killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Debra was instrumental, along with Florida Congressman Jared Moskowitz, in getting the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act passed.
KATHERINE KENEALLY
Katherine Keneally Head of Threat Assessment, Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD)
Katherine Keneally brings critical expertise in identifying and understanding emerging threats, online radicalization, extremist networks, and the pathways that can lead individuals toward targeted violence. Her work examines how dangerous online communities, including the True Crime Community (TCC), can influence vulnerable young people, glorify perpetrators of mass violence, and contribute to the escalation of threats from online activity to real-world harm. Drawing on her background in intelligence and threat analysis, Katherine focuses on recognizing warning signs, understanding patterns of radicalization, and identifying opportunities for early intervention. Her expertise offers parents, educators, law enforcement, and communities vital insight into the evolving digital threats facing young people and the importance of prevention before violence occurs.
REBECCA JARQUIN
Rebecca Jarquin, LCSW Eagles' Haven Wellness Center
Rebecca Jarquin, is the head of Eagles' Haven Wellness Center in Coral Springs, Florida, which was created in response to the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Eagles' Haven brings the mental health, trauma, and recovery perspective, including the long-term impact of school violence on survivors, families, and communities.
JASON MCBRIDE
Jason McBride McBride Impact
McBride Impact was founded by Jason McBride in honor of his late father John McBride, a notable figure in the Denver community. Jason developed innovative educational programming that captures and maintains the attention of today's at-risk youth. Having turned away from gangs and violence Jason understands the importance of programs that keep inner-city youth off the street and out of trouble.
BARBARA MARKLEY
Barbara Markley Creator and Chair, Lock It Up, League of Women Voters of Broward County
Barbara Markley brings an important perspective on gun violence prevention through education, responsible firearm storage, and community outreach. Her work focuses on helping families understand the importance of securing firearms and preventing unauthorized access, particularly by children and young people. She brings practical prevention strategies and community-based solutions to our multidisciplinary panel.
DR. SHEA ALVAREZ
Exit Interventionist Parents For Peace
Dr. Shea Alvarez joins Parents for Peace as an Exit Interventionist, bringing over a decade of specialized experience in clinical and forensic psychology. With a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the CUNY Graduate Center, Shea has dedicated much of her career to understanding and addressing the complexities of criminal behavior, violence, and rehabilitation.
Prior to joining Parents for Peace, Shea served as a Pre-Licensed Psychologist at CSP-Sacramento, where she provided individual psychotherapy and crisis evaluations in high-stress correctional environments. Her clinical expertise is deeply rooted in evidence-based practices, having facilitated cognitive-behavioral interventions for individuals with gang affiliations and those within the psychiatric inpatient system. Her work has consistently focused on de-escalation, conflict resolution, and challenging maladaptive thinking patterns.
ARNO MICHAELIS
Exit Peer Specialist Parents For Peace
Arno Michaelis is a speaker, filmmaker, author of My Life After Hate, and co-author of The Gift of Our Wounds. His storytelling stems from an intention to inspire people to see themselves in others, and see others in themselves. Arno draws from his lived experience as a former Neo-Nazi to work as a Peer Exit Specialist at Parents 4 Peace, helping to lead people away from all violent extremist ideologies, and to support their families. Refuge, his latest film project, is now available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and Tubi. Arno has been a professional public speaker since 2010, and has captivated audiences around the world. His keynotes and workshops leverage noble qualities of compassion, curiosity, and kindness to engage all human beings, building foundations for happiness and success. Uniquely positioned to facilitate healing for people who have been targets of hate, he has dedicated the past 16 years to bringing about a society where all people are valued and included.