John Michael Graves: Speaking out against hate
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 5, 2023
This is one of 12 finalists for The Herald Business Journal’s annual Emerging Leaders awards for 2022. The winner will be named at an event on April 13.
John Michael Graves, 25
Northwest High School Regional Manager, StandWithUs
John Michael Graves believes in providing a nuanced approach to combating antisemitism.
“Teaching the Holocaust is teaching more than just the persecution of Jews,” Graves wrote. “You learn the depths of where society can take things if the well-meaning remain silent.”
Since June 2022, Graves has worked as the Northwest High School Regional Manager at StandWithUs, an international pro-Israel advocacy organization. In that role, he organizes educational programs and workshops at high schools across the northwestern United States to discuss topics on Israel, Jewish history and the Holocaust.
Last school year, Graves taught more than 3,000 students about diversity and inclusion. He also led training sessions for community and parent groups on how to identify and respond to a antisemitic hate crime.
“Hate does not happen in a vacuum,” Graves wrote. “It is a slippery slope that starts with uncomfortable comments, progresses to hate crimes, and can lead to institutional harm against entire communities of difference.”
Graves’ most noteworthy accomplishment with StandWithUs to date was leading the effort that led to the Snohomish County Council passage of a resolution adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism for county agencies. The council unanimously voted to adopt the resolution on Jan. 18.
In a press release, StandWithUS praised the decision and said the new policy “gives definitional tools to identify, monitor, investigate and engage in effective policy-making.”
Graves spoke to the council in person prior to the vote and told of his first-hand experience with antisemitism.
“More actions such as these are needed to protect our increasingly diverse community,” Graves wrote, “and I would be honored to collaborate and assist other groups or individuals seeking a similar path of justice in our ever-changing county landscape.”
Before joining StandWithUS, Graves’ other accomplishments include serving as a congressional intern for Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers in summer 2017 and working as the volunteer coordinator in 2018 for Navy Captain Doug Roulstone who was running to represent the 44th Washington state legislative district.
Last year, Graves worked as a political consultant and campaign manager for Friends of Sam Low. In that position, he helped manage the 39th Washington state legislative district election campaign for Snohomish County Councilman Sam Low.
Eric Schucht: 425-339-3477; eric.schucht@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @EricSchucht.
