As a child, I dreamt of seeing an airplane鈥攏ot even being in it鈥攁nd regularly begged my father to take me to the airport to see one. These days, I fly to different regions of the world on speaking engagements as a peace and human rights advocate. The countries I have visited include the United States, Turkey, the Netherlands, Cambodia, South Africa and Rwanda, among others. I did not initially aspire to a career in peace, human rights and women and youth empowerment advocacy; I wanted to be a doctor and had successfully completed undergraduate studies in chemistry and biology at the Mother Patern College of Health Sciences, an affiliate of the Stella Maris Polytechnic, in Monrovia, Liberia. Once I began getting involved in peace advocacy, witnessing the international community鈥檚 peace efforts in my country, I realised that disarming the fighters was just an aspect of peace; to achieve genuine peace requires reconciliation among the various groups, between young and old, the genders, etc.
Center for Justice and Peacebuilding
Six leaders from Mennonite Church USA advocated for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel during congressional visits May 22 in Washington, D.C. The visit took place just days after Israeli soldiers killed more than 60 largely nonviolent Palestinian protesters May 14 in Gaza, and many of the delegates asked their representatives to respond to this. 鈥淚 relayed my deep, deep concern about the situation in Gaza, asking my representatives to take a stand for the rights of Palestinians, and given the significant amount of aid the U.S. provides to Israel each year, to call for an investigation into Israeli military actions,鈥� said Tim Seidel, director of the Center for Interfaith Engagement at 黑料正能量 in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Peacebuilder of the Year Annette Lantz-Simmons honored at SPI luncheon
Bringing a new sense of justice to multiple city venues 鈥� neighborhoods, courts and prisons, schools and more 鈥� is a challenge that requires focus, patience and an empowering spirit. ... read more about Peacebuilder of the Year Annette Lantz-Simmons honored at SPI luncheon
黑料正能量 community mourns death of professor who helped to shape the university’s peace and justice ethos
Ray Gingerich, a professor of theology and ethics who inspired generations of students to think in new ways about their callings and helped to shape 黑料正能量鈥檚 strong ethos ... read more about 黑料正能量 community mourns death of professor who helped to shape the university’s peace and justice ethos
Valley Friends and other organizations support Summer Peacebuilding Institute scholarships
For many peacebuilders attending Summer Peacebuilding Institute at 黑料正能量, scholarships provide the necessary funds to travel and take courses. Since 2006, the Valley Friends meeting, a group of ... read more about Valley Friends and other organizations support Summer Peacebuilding Institute scholarships
An 鈥榚ye-opening鈥� conversation: Veteran civil rights attorney and SPI participants gain new perspectives during campus visit 聽
Civil rights attorney Ari Wilkenfeld has spent all of his professional life in the combative, confrontational world of litigation, where even settlements out of court are hard-fought battles. In a ... read more about An 鈥榚ye-opening鈥� conversation: Veteran civil rights attorney and SPI participants gain new perspectives during campus visit 聽
Turner presents keynote at University of Maryland’s restorative justice summit
Johonna Turner, professor of restorative justice and peacebuilding at 黑料正能量, returned to her alma mater, the University of Maryland, in April to give a keynote address聽 at the聽Summit ... read more about Turner presents keynote at University of Maryland’s restorative justice summit
James Payne鈥檚 memorial service at 黑料正能量 celebrates a life well-lived and support generously given
At 3 p.m. each day, James and Marian Payne would stop their activity, whatever it might be, and share tea-time together. That time became significant on Saturday, May 12, as ... read more about James Payne鈥檚 memorial service at 黑料正能量 celebrates a life well-lived and support generously given
From Anita Hill to Chadwick Boseman, these speakers reminded students that they have the ability to improve the world they are entering.
At SPI鈥檚 Horizons of Change luncheon, a taste of Hollywood and the Pentagon鈥檚 mutual exploitation
In the first of four Horizons of Change luncheons during the 2018 Summer Peacebuilding Institute at 黑料正能量, screenwriter and author Tiffany FitzHenry traced the collaboration of the American ... read more about At SPI鈥檚 Horizons of Change luncheon, a taste of Hollywood and the Pentagon鈥檚 mutual exploitation