Led by District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, the Staten Island Hate Crimes Task Force was convened in direct response to the unspeakable tragedy that occurred at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in October 2018. The Staten Island Hate Crimes Task Force works together with all our communities to develop solutions and inform our neighbors that our differences make us stronger and hate has no place in our borough. The Hate Crimes Task Force creates educational materials to be distributed to Staten Island students informing them of the many different populations that make up our borough and the meaning behind the symbols of hate often directed toward these individuals. Further, the Task Force works to develop legislative recommendations with the aim of strengthening protections for vulnerable groups and developing an early intervention model for those who are expressing hatred but not yet acting on their vitriol.Task Force members also serve as ambassadors within their own communities to promote greater understanding of those with diverse identities and experiences and will work with fellow members to accomplish this outside their own communities to educate Staten Islanders of all ages about tolerance and understanding.