Hate:

Continued From Page 12 also exacerbated issues and increased a continuing cycle of blame. Ultimately, the speaker learned something from co-workers who treated him well despite his actions to them.

“What was most exhausting was when people I claimed to hate treated me with kindness,” said Michaelis. “And that’s really what drove home how wrong I was to be a violent racist.”

During the seven year period he was involved in white supremacy groups, Michaelis said all the hate he professed, mixed with violence and alcohol, caused him to break up with his girlfriend. Michaelis was suddenly a single dad to an 18-month-old baby and decided it was time to stop.

By then it was 1994; Michaelis said he left hate groups and went from being a white power skinhead to a raver in Chicago. His new friends noticed his swastikas tattoos but were into the party scene and accepted him as he was. He has since covered up the tattoos.

At this point in his life, Michaelis told the students he’s just trying to undo the harm that he’s done. He encouraged them to practice kindness, gratitude and forgiveness.

“It will make you happy,” said Michaelis. “It will also lead people around you to be happy, and it will make you an upstander in the world.”

He was introduced by Dr. Henry Jackson, OCC’s Executive Director of Academic Success.

“Here at OCC, we’re going to make this a tradition to try and get our students to be upstanders,” he said. “And not bystanders.”

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer told the students he hoped the conference would give them a transformative experience shaping their high school years and motivating them to celebrate diversity and treat others with respect.

Billhimer explained his role as the chief law enforcement officer in the county, saying that his office prosecutes between 5,000 and 6,000 cases each year. The prosecutor’s office also investigates criminal cases in conjunction with local police departments.

“We have members of our office that are on pace to speak to over 100 schools this year,” shared Billhimer . “The goal of all that outreach we do is so we don’t see you as a defendant.”

Participants should wear comfortable clothing, sneakers and bring a water bottle.

There is a $5 per transaction fee when paying oniine with a credit card. NO REFUNDS after June 21. All refunds will be assessed a $10 administrative fee. Credit card transactions: $5 processing fee will not be refunded. Credit cards will NOT be refunded. Refunds are done by voucher and take approximately 4-6 weeks.

Residential Dementia & Alzheimer’s Community