David Leenstra is Networks and Membership Coordinator at the Strong Cities Network (SCN). In this role, he manages the day-to-day interaction with member cities and processes applications of local governments that seek to join the network. He is also involved in developing and implementing strategies to improve SCN’s outreach and engagement with members. Prior to joining SCN, he was a Research Associate with ISD, contributing to a wide range of research projects focusing on extremism, hate and conspiracy theories online. He holds Master’s degrees in Conflict Studies & Human Rights from Utrecht University and in International Relations History from the University of Amsterdam. Following completion of these graduate programs, he conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Flanders on right-wing extremist youth movements and researched Islamic State’s online propaganda politics and legitimation strategies.