Having courage when you’re scared – Steve Wessler

Steve Wessler is the Executive Director for the Center for Preventing Hate, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and responding to bias, harassment and violence by providing education and advocacy in schools, colleges, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and communities. A graduate of Harvard College and Boston University School of Law, Wessler practiced law for more than 22 years. At the Maine Attorney General‘s Office, Wessler developed and directed the Civil Rights Unit before creating the Center in 1999. Wessler has received recognition for his work in civil rights from GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders), the Maine Education Association, the Maine Children’s Alliance, the Maine Civil Liberties Union, the Portland Branch of the NAACP, the Jewish Federation of Southern Maine and the Maine Lesbian and Gay Political Alliance. Wessler is currently a member of the faculty at the University of Southern Maine. He is the author of The Respectful School and a number of articles, reports and other publications focusing on hate crimes and prevention.