Patrice O'Neill

Patrice O’Neill is a filmmaker and CEO of the Oakland-based non-profit strategic media company, The Working Group, and leader of Not In Our Town, a national organization working to address hate, racism and bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities. Her film, Not In Our Town, began as a half-hour PBS special and turned into a dynamic movement that thrives in communities across the U.S. and around the world.

Her work and perspective is informed by decades of engagement with communities on the ground seeking ways to respond to and prevent hate and bigotry.

O’Neill’s 2022 film, “Repairing the World: Stories From the Tree of Life,” documents Pittsburgh’s response to hate and antisemitism in the aftermath of the assault on three congregations at the Tree of Life synagogue. The lives of eleven people were taken on October 27, 2018, in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. The film had its World Premiere at the Pittsburgh JFilm Festival in May 2022 and won the “Best Documentary” audience award.

For 25 years, O'Neill has fostered a network of “Not In Our Town” community activists and helped lead anti-hate effort featuring screenings and town hall meetings in hundreds of communities nationwide. Her work in collaboration with hate crime victims, activists, civic leaders and law enforcement has made her a nationally recognized leader in the anti-hate movement who has counseled countless communities and individuals. O’Neill’s team launched NIOT.org a social media resource and film site that provides free tools and guidance to communities about how to prevent hate and "Not In Our School" which includes anti-bullying campaign resources for teachers and students.

Other recent films include "Waking in Oak Creek" about the transformation of a community after hate crime killings at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin and "A Prosecutor’s Stand," which are both part of a Not In Our Town series about local leaders and law enforcement working together to prevent hate crimes and build safe, inclusive communities.

Recognized as a pioneer in impact media producing, she has served as a Sundance Media Advisor at the Skoll World Forum, an advisor to the National Summit on Preventing Multiple Casualty Violence, and provided testimony to President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.