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Yorktown Family Services was honoured to participate in the Strong Cities Network Global Summit in Morocco in June 2025, in collaboration with the Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union. This international summit brought together practitioners, community leaders, and policymakers from Canada, Africa and the EU to share strategies for building community resilience, preventing extremism, and supporting the reintegration of individuals returning from conflict zones — with a strong emphasis on psychosocial support and trauma-informed care.
David O’Brien, Director at Yorktown Family Services, was invited to speak on a panel about trauma-informed reintegration strategies and the importance of cross-sector collaboration. David shared insights from Yorktown’s Programs, which support individuals affected by violence, trauma, and marginalization through evidence-informed mental health services.
Spotlight on the Strong Cities Network
The Strong Cities Network (SCN) is the first global network of cities and municipalities working together to build resilience against all forms of hate, polarization, and extremism. Through research, policy guidance, and international collaboration, SCN helps cities develop effective community-based approaches to public safety, violence prevention, and social inclusion.
As part of the week-long event, participants engaged in knowledge exchanges that explored how mental health professionals, social services, and government agencies can work together to support communities affected by conflict, displacement, and radicalization. The conversations emphasized the importance of centering community care, trauma recovery, and culturally relevant approaches in reintegration efforts.
Yorktown Family Services was proud to contribute to these global discussions, offering insights into our work supporting survivors of violence and families navigating complex trauma in Canada.
“It was a privilege to represent Canada and join experts from the EU and Africa to discuss ways we can engage and rehabilitate individuals engaged with violent extremism.”
— David O’Brien, Director at Yorktown Family Services
Why This Global Dialogue Matters
Participation in the Strong Cities Network Summit aligns with Yorktown’s commitment to advancing evidence-informed, culturally grounded mental health and violence prevention strategies. By engaging in international exchanges, we:
- Learn from practitioners addressing similar challenges around the world
- Strengthen our own services with a more global, trauma-informed lens
- Deepen our understanding of how conflict, displacement, and healing intersect
- Build collaborative pathways toward inclusive, community-based solutions
This experience has added valuable insights and reaffirmed our dedication to supporting families impacted by trauma and adversity. We are grateful to the Strong Cities Network and our international peers for their openness, insights, and shared commitment to building safer, more compassionate communities.
To learn more about the Strong Cities Network and Yorktown Family Services, visit strongcitiesnetwork.org or https://www.yorktownfamilyservices.com/.
Combatting Extremism in Canada
In the Media: David O’Brien on CBC’s Just Asking
Last week, Yorktown’s Director of Mental Health, David O’Brien, joined CBC’s Just Asking with Saroja Coelho for an important conversation on youth radicalization and violent extremism — alongside Dr. Barbara Perry, Director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech University, and Jeanette Manning, co-author of Walking Away from Hate.
David shared insights from his work at Yorktown Family Services, where he supports young people on the pathway to violence—helping them disengage from hate groups and reconnect with identity, purpose, and community.
It’s a powerful discussion on prevention, early warning signs, and how we can better support youth before it’s too late.
Listen now: cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-1424-just-asking/clip/16157579-what-questions-combating-extremism-canada.