Fall 2025 Peace Week

In-Person: Mason Square, Vernon Smith Hall, Room 5183
Presented by the Carter School’s Sustainable Peace Lab

This session examines how memory and reconciliation are constructed, contested, and negotiated across diverse historical and cultural contexts. It consists of two theoretically oriented presentations and two case studies focusing on East Asia. The presentations address a range of themes, including the role of universal principles in fostering reconciliation, the coexistence of plural historical narratives, civic movements and the dynamics of Japan–South Korea relations—particularly in the context of the Kim Dae-jung Incident—and the contested national symbolism of cultural properties shaped by institutional framing and collective memories in Japan and South Korea. Together, the panel offers interdisciplinary insights into how collective memory is shaped and how it functions in processes of reconciliation beyond national and regional boundaries.

Facilitator: Rita Z. Nazeer-Ikeda, Affiliate Faculty, Carter School; Research Fellow, Waseda University

Speakers:

• Dr. Sašo Dolinšek (Osaka University) is a Slovenian researcher of philosophy whose work focuses on anarchism in Japan.
• Dr. Hisashi Shigematsu (Vytautas Magnus University) is a Lithuania-based historian who specializes in modern and contemporary history as well as collective memory in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Dr. Yeojoo Jeon (The University of Tokyo) is a political scientist focusing on postwar memory, Japan–ROK relations, and East Asian reconciliation.
• Mr. Keitoku Ikegami (International Christian University) majors in Peace Studies and works at Kyoto University of the Arts to realize peace through art.

Chair: Dr. Hisashi Shigematsu

Discussant: Professor Karina Korostelina, Director, Sustainable Peace Lab, Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

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In-Person: Mason Square, Vernon Smith Hall, Room 5183
Presented by the Carter School’s Sustainable Peace Lab

Rooted in the interdisciplinary tradition of peace studies, this panel builds on Galtung’s (2010) call to address peace and conflict at four interrelated levels: micro (interpersonal), meso (within nations), macro (between nations), and mega (between regions or civilizations). Galtung’s framework serves as both a theoretical foundation and an organizing structure for the panel, which brings together four presentations that illuminate the multi-scalar dimensions of peacebuilding and demonstrate how education, memory, and diplomacy operate across various contexts—from classrooms and national narratives to diplomatic relations and regional frameworks. The panel invites reflection on how peace might be more effectively cultivated in a world where conflict and cooperation unfold simultaneously at every level of society.

At the mega-level, Jasmine Ryu examines cross-border peace education in ASEAN, showing how regional governance frameworks mediate diverse national approaches to human rights and peacebuilding. At the macro-level, Ayako Tomizuka analyzes the normalization of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan, illuminating how postwar reconciliation is pursued between states. At the meso-level, Rita Z. Nazeer-Ikeda investigates Singapore’s national peacebuilding discourse and educational reforms, exploring how they contribute to internal reconciliation. Finally, at the micro-level, Yuriko Noda draws on literature of conflict resolution pedagogy to examine how U.S. higher education curricula engage with interpersonal conflict, proposing reflective practice both as an educational objective aimed at fostering learners’ ability to engage with everyday conflict, and as a means for educators to clarify their teaching intentions and teach more effectively.

Facilitator: Rita Z. Nazeer-Ikeda, Affiliate Faculty, Carter School; Research Fellow, Waseda University 

Panelists:

• Dr. Jasmine JungHyun Ryu (The University of Tokyo) is an international education researcher and practitioner, focusing on student mobility, international universities, knowledge diplomacy, and inclusive internationalization.
• Dr. Ayako Tomizuka (Hitotsubashi University) is a historian, specializing in Japan–Vietnam relations during the Cold War.
• Dr. Rita Z. Nazeer-Ikeda (Waseda University; George Mason University) is a comparative educationist whose work focuses on education for reconciliation and peace in Southeast Asia.
• Ms. Yuriko Noda (George Mason University) is a PhD candidate at the Carter School, specializing in conflict resolution pedagogy.

Chair: Dr. Jasmine Ryu

Discussant: Professor Kazuo Kuroda, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University

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Format: Virtual

This session touches on the learnings gained by the presenters through their graduate studies at the Carter School and how it shaped their career choices and participation in international development. translating theory into practice to enhance conflict sensitive development and local participation. The speakers will discuss how past and present experiences informed and broadened their perspectives on the topic.

Speakers: 

• Jeehan Abdul Ghaffar, Ph.D, International Development Expert
  Alma Abdul-Hadi Jadallah, Ph.D. International Mediator and Practitioner

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In-Person: Mason Square, Vernon Smith Hall, Room 5183
Presented by the Carter School’s Better Evidence Project

In a rapidly changing global landscape marked by protracted conflicts and widescale withdrawal of funding that has destabilized the peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development sectors, the conflict resolution field must continue to evolve to meet new challenges. This interactive session will explore what it means to be innovative in the field of peacebuilding, drawing lessons and strategies from outside the traditional peacebuilding and conflict resolution space, from such industries such as business, marketing, communications, and technology. As part of the Better Evidence Project’s ongoing mission to support more effective peacebuilding through knowledge-sharing and the strategic use of evidence and learning, this session will feature presentations from three speakers who embody cross-sector innovation in action. The session will also feature an interactive brainstorming section, in which we invite participants to share and explore additional innovative projects, tools, or approaches that they have seen or used. Through this discussion, we hope to generate new ideas, spotlight under-recognized approaches, and foster connection and collaboration across sectors. We will also invite those attendees who are interested in submitting a short paragraph in advance describing an innovative project that they would like showcased or promoted during the session. Please send your innovative project submissions to bep@gmu.edu.

Panelists:

• Varvara Kozlova is a 2025 IREX Community Solution Program Fellow from Ukraine. She is a marketing and public relations professional who is working to launch a project in Ukraine centered around creating an adaptation hub designed to support children, veterans, and women affected by the war. The goal is to foster emotional well-being and a sense of community, ultimately contributing to a network of support that encourages healing and inclusivity across Ukraine as individuals work to rebuild their lives post-conflict.
• Abdoulaye Cissé is a 2025 IREX Community Solutions Program Fellow from Guinea. He has worked the past 8 years for a mining company while also serving as a leader in the Guinea National Association for Peace which is committed to fostering peace-building initiatives in Guinea through collaboration with various civil society organizations. Abdoulaye focuses specifically on peace education, conflict resolution, and nonviolent practices in order to strengthen reconciliation, multiculturalism, and community cohesion.
• Louise Wannier is Senior Advisor to the Better Evidence Project at the Carter School. She is a businesswoman who worked in the communications technology field and entrepreneur who strives to bring entrepreneurial skills and tools to peacebuilding projects in order to help increase the scale and effectiveness of their design and implementation. She has worked as facilitator and trainer around nonviolent means of addressing conflict.

Moderators:

• Jeff Helsing, Research Associate Professor, Carter School 
• Kamila Elyazgi, Better Evidence Project, Carter School

Discussants: Better Evidence Project team

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Format: Virtual
Presented by the Carter School's Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution (CRDC)

Through its work in Syria, the Middle East, and Africa, the Center for World Religion, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution (CRDC) has employed methodologies of conflict healing and compassionate reasoning, as well as others, to combine theory and practice in unique settings, both on the ground and virtually. This presentation will review and critique our experiences through the lens of self-examination, embracing both what was good, remarkable, or pioneering, and what was difficult or limited. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of recent methodologies and the value of a people-centered and bridge-building focus in peace-making, promoting positive increments of change.

Speakers: 

• Dr. Marc Gopin, Director, CRDC
• Christel Gopin, Associate Director, CRDC

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In-person: Van Metre Hall

Marking 80 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, this inaugural Fall 2025 Peace Week program invites reflection on the legacy of nuclear weapons and the enduring power of peace. Featuring the hauntingly beautiful Hiroshima Children’s Drawings and the acclaimed documentary Pictures from a Hiroshima Schoolyard, the evening will blend art, remembrance, and dialogue. The program includes powerful voices from the international peacebuilding community, including Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Ira Helfand and renowned historian and author Dr. Vincent Intondi, a leading authority on the intersection of race and nuclear weapons. Together, we will reimagine a world rooted in justice, dignity, and the shared commitment to “never again.”

Speakers: 

• Dr. Ira Helfand, Member of the International Steering Group of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapon, ICAN, the recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, and co-President of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, the recipient of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize.
• Dr. Vincent Intondi, Research Scholar-Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, Cornell University 
• Dr. Alpaslan Özerdem, Dean and Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
• Melvin Hardy, Program Manager, Rotary International - Carter School Collaboration for Peace | Member, Carter School’s Dean's Council | Instructor, Carter School Political Leadership Academy | Member, Rotary Club World Group, District 7620

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Format: Virtual

Yemen’s fragile context, defined by a “no war, no peace” reality, a weakened judiciary, and competing authorities, has fueled deep-rooted social fragmentation, a crisis of trust in institutions, and widespread impunity. In this volatile landscape, local actors are leading innovative efforts to reimagine justice from the ground up, anchoring peacebuilding in restorative justice, community reconciliation, and the protection of the most vulnerable.

This session will spotlight two complementary initiatives led by DT Institute, SPARK and SAFE, that demonstrate how grassroots justice and accountability initiatives can bridge peacebuilding, development, and security in fragile and contested environments.

At the core is the Consultation and Reconciliation Community Committee (CRCC), established under the SPARK program in Taiz. Rooted in tradition, local legitimacy, and informal justice practices, the CRCC provides a powerful model for community-centered reconciliation. It has mediated prolonged tensions between military actors and historically marginalized communities, using culturally grounded dialogue to de-escalate conflict, promote inclusion, and restore social cohesion.

Building on this foundation, the SAFE program expands the justice lens to focus on grave violations against children, especially child recruitment, detention, and disinformation. SAFE tackles harmful social norms that associate child soldiering with 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, raises awareness among military actors and communities, and exposes how warring parties manipulate narratives to justify violations. The program also explores victim-centered reparations mechanisms that elevate the voices of child survivors in shaping Yemen’s justice and peacebuilding future.

Session themes will include:

• Locally grounded reconciliation through CRCC: how informal justice mechanisms restore social trust, de-escalate tensions, and offer alternatives where formal justice systems are absent or distrusted.
• Restorative justice in active conflict: CRCC’s use of dialogue, mediation, and culturally relevant practices to address long-standing grievances.
• Countering harmful norms and narratives: How SAFE combats cultural drivers of child recruitment and counters disinformation used by conflict parties to obscure violations.
• Justice for child victims: Centering children’s experiences and participation in shaping reparations and accountability mechanisms.
• Bridging peacebuilding, development, and security: Linking transitional justice efforts with institutional engagement, social healing, and the protection of vulnerable populations.
• Survivor- and community-led models of justice that adapt to Yemen’s complex, fragmented landscape.

Yemen’s experience underscores the importance of empowering local actors, not only to resolve conflict but also to build resilient, rights-based systems of justice that protect future generations. This session will offer practical insights for peacebuilders, development practitioners, and policymakers working in protracted crises where state-centered models are insufficient.

Moderator: Feras Hamdouni, Senior Program Manager, DT Institute

Speakers:

• Amat Al Samal AL Haj, CEO of Abductee Mothers’ Association
• Tawfik AL Houmaidi, CEO of SAM for Rights & Liberties
• Iman Houmaid, CEO of INSAF Organization
• Mutahar Al Bathaji, CEO of Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violation

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Format: Virtual

Presented by the Carter School's Better Evidence Project in collaboration with PartnersGlobal

As a community of scholar-practitioners, the Carter School focuses on the application of theory to practice and the development of the most effective tools for effective and sustainable peacebuilding work around the world. This session will focus on ways in which we can center individual and collective well-being for peacebuilders, particularly for work at the community level.

Building on its work in the field, PartnersGlobal and its network of local peacebuilding organizations have been at the forefront of supporting civil society through innovative capacity-building approaches. One of its flagship initiatives, the ResiliencyPlus Framework and Process, has helped over 200 civil society organizations and networks strengthen their ability to adapt and thrive while working at the intersection of democracy, development, and peace. Too often, the healers, bridge-builders, teachers, witnesses, coaches, and mediators are expected to hold space for others, while rarely being the focus of resiliency-building or collective care efforts. This gap places tremendous emotional and psychological strain on those sustaining peace at the frontlines. In countries such as Cambodia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Palestine, Serbia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, PartnersGlobal has repurposed tools and approaches to directly support those leading struggles for justice, healing, and transformation. This session will share key lessons, emerging practices, and provocations for how the peacebuilding field can better invest in the sustainability and care of its own, while continuing to dismantle structures of violence and injustice that prevent substantive peace(s) from taking root.

Moderator: Jeffrey Helsing, Executive Director, Better Evidence Project, Carter School

Presenters:

• Alexa Brand (USA), Holistic Security and Resiliency+ Specialist
• Uros Misljenovic (Serbia), Serbian civil society specialist, Program Coordinator at Partners Serbia. R+ Coach
• Claudia Vargas (Nicaragua), Nicaraguan activist exiled in Costa Rica, Programs Director at local peacebuilding organization Fundación Arias para la Paz. (Spanish speaker - we will have translation)

Discussants:

• Kamila Elyazgi, Better Evidence Project, Carter School
• Isabella Cuevas, Better Evidence Project, Carter School

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Format: Virtual
Presented by the Carter School's Polarization and Violence Transformed (PiVoT) Lab

Ongoing insecurity and governance challenges in Nigeria pose a sustained challenge to community based economic development. This session will examine how conflict impacts sustainable development work in Nigeria and reaffirms the interconnectedness of peacebuilding and development work. Drawing on recent GMU doctoral research on localization in Nigeria as well as innovative work with small-holder farmers, this session will bring together experts to engage high-level questions in a country and region level conversation. Acknowledging that insecurity and violence make development projects more challenging, with an emphasis on the Northeast and Middle-Belt regions of Nigeria, this discussion will highlight the many ways the work of different organizations overlap and imagine how efforts can be more effective when these different types of work are viewed in tandem.

Moderator: Nathan Hosler, PhD, Director, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, Church of the Brethren; Board of Directors, Heifer International; Coordinator and Co-Founder, Nigeria Working Group

Speakers:

• Charles Kwuelum, PhD, GMU Alumni and Mennonite Central Committee
• Lekan Tobe, PhD, Nigeria Country Director, Heifer International
• Chidinma Chidoka, Director, Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership

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In-person: Mason Square, Vernon Smith Hall, Room 5183
Presented by the Carter School's Center for Peacemaking Practice

This interactive roundtable brings together Carter School graduate students to reflect on their journeys as learners, educators-in-training, and emerging scholars in the field of conflict resolution. Framed around the question, “What does it mean to bridge?”, the session explores how students are navigating tensions in how peacebuilding is taught and practiced today. Drawing from diverse disciplinary and cultural backgrounds, participants will share personal reflections on what has shaped their learning so far, what feels missing, and what kind of conflict resolution education the future demands. The roundtable aims to spark dialogue about pedagogy, identity, and the evolving purpose of peace education in a complex world.

Moderator: Margarita Tadevosyan 

Speakers:

• Margarita Tadevosyan, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Peacemaking Practice 
• Prerna Baura, PhD Student, Carter School 
• Sonja Borgmnn, MS Student, Carter School
• Yuriko Noda, PhD Candidate, Carter School 
• Ksenia Bakhtiarova, PhD Student, Carter School
• Kamran Mamedovi, PhD Student, Carter School
• Karina Valenzuela, PhD Student, Carter School 
• Rafiki Ubald, PhD Student, Carter School
• Abudlrahnam Abohajeb, PhD Student 
• Kristen Fegan, PhD Student, Carter School

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Format: Virtual
Presented by the Carter School's Sustainable Peace Lab

The Rotary-Carter Cyprus Peacebuilding Program represents a groundbreaking "Track 2" peacebuilding intervention designed to reignite peace negotiations after a seven-year hiatus.

The Rotary Club of Famagusta and Rotarians from the Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Center and Future Worlds Center partnered with faculty Karina Korostelina and Gul Mesciogl Gur, who contributed their expertise in identity-based conflicts, peace processes, contact theory and reconciliation and contextual expertise on Cyprus. The Round table will convene Carter School faculty, Greek and Cypriot Rotarians and UN representatives to discuss actionable ideas, innovative projects, strategic frameworks, and policy recommendations that local and regional Rotarians can take to revitalize and elevate peacebuilding efforts.

Speakers:

• Mustafa Ongun and Maria Tsiarta, UNFICYP

• Tastan Altuner, Marina Gavriel, Sertaç Gümüş, Çilem Maniga, Yiannos Pissourios, Michalis Prodromou, Ioannis Tomasides, and Ali Vudali, Rotary Clubs Cyprus   

Facilitated by Prof. Karina V. Korostelina and Dr. Gul M. Gur, Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution 

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Format: Virtual 

This session explores the emerging PeaceTech sector, reflecting on lessons from past efforts—including the Peace Tech Lab—and why the time is ripe now despite previous setbacks. Anchored in general themes and a case study of Mission Transcend, the discussion will highlight how technology and innovation can be harnessed for peace. If accepted, the session will also feature an invited participant from outside the peacebuilding field to broaden perspectives and spark cross-sector dialogue.

Speakers:

• Chip Hauss, Senior Fellow and Emeritus Board Member, Alliance for Peacebuilding
• Ola Mojajer, Founder and CEO, Transcend, an AI driven peacebuilding startup

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Format: Virtual

Education is the pathway to the future and freedom from poverty, violence and exploitation. A child is entitled to basic human rights which include the right to education, allowing that child to reach their fullest potential. It is through this access and opportunity that a child, their family, and their communities will thrive in peace and peaceful co-existence with others.

Peace begins at home with mothers who live in some of the harshest and most devastated areas of the world. But it is through training mothers that children can become educated in small groups with minimal resources and tools. Amarok Society Schools, based in Alberta, Canada is an example of a successful program with proven results where women "find their true strength" and become teachers and community leaders. It is well-documented that mothers primarily establish a family’s culture of learning. Our presentation will serve to inform, inspire and perhaps even encourage scale where there is often little hope or opportunity.

Speakers: 

• Introduction to the Carter School: Melvin Hardy, Program Manager, Rotary International - Carter School Collaboration for Peace | Member, Carter School’s Dean's Council | Instructor, Carter School Political Leadership Academy | Member, Rotary Club World Group, District 7620
• Moderator: Rose Cardarelli, Ed.D., Education for All Coalition  
• Panelist 1: Tanyss Munro, PhD., Start With Mothers
• Panelist 2: Gabriel Munro, Start With Mothers
• Panelist 3: Rachel Bradley, Education for All Coalition

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Format: Virtual
Presented by the Carter School’s Better Evidence Project collaboration with PASO Colombia 

'Quibdó is a municipality nestled in the heart of Colombia’s Pacific region, full of colors, flavors, rhythms, and living memories. Its streets echo the heritage of people who, despite centuries of exclusion and marginalization, have woven with dignity a unique multicultural identity in Colombia. This event seeks to showcase this landscape of exemplary resistance—community struggles for recognition, autonomy, and long-term peace. In Quibdó’s challenging context, art has emerged as a beacon of transformation, a powerful tool for healing wounds and fostering hope. During the emblematic Festivities of Saint Francis of Assisi—recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity—the fusion of religious devotion, ethnic pride, and artistic expression has allowed local communities to use the celebrations as a path to process grief, frustration, and anguish—through dance, song, and prayer, they find ways to reframe pain and give it new meaning. This event will highlight the transformative power of art in the ethnic city of Quibdó, those sacred cultural moments where music, dance, and faith can, even if only briefly, suspend the shadow of violence. It reveals that Quibdó not only survives it creates, transforms, sings, prays... and above all, resists. 

Speakers: 

• Yancy Andrade, First Lady, Social Coordinator: Mayor's Office of Quibdó, Colombia. 
• Jackson Ramirez, Leader of the Arts and Traditions, Director of Franciscan Fairs and Festivities, Master of the Viche. 
• Rebecca Gindele, Director of the Public Relations Department. 
• Francisco Leudo, OFM, Order of Friars Minor, Franciscan Community.
• Niza Uribe, Cultural Advisor, Mayor's Office of Quibdó, Colombia. 
• Melvin Hardy, Instructor at the Political Leadership Academy of TCS, Carter School. 
• Moderator: Juan Fernando Lucio, Director of PASO Colombia.

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Format: Virtual
Presented by the Carter School’s Transitioning Justice Lab

With hate-related instances of interpersonal harm increasing in the US, this panel explores the use of Restorative Justice (RJ) processes as a response to violence motivated by racism, LGBTQI discrimination, political opposition, and other forms of hate. Facilitators and stakeholders will draw on their experiences to address these and related questions: What are key learnings from using RJ to respond to Hate-related Harm? How, if at all, do RJ conferences involving Hate-related Harm differ from other RJ conferences? How might the use of RJ for interpersonal Hate-related Harm connect to broader efforts toward security and community peacebuilding? Includes audience Q&A.

Speakers:

• Moderator: Susan F. Hirsch, Carter School Emeritus Faculty and Restorative Arlington Founding Board Member
• Panelist: Kimiko Lighty, Restorative Arlington Director of Special Projects and Founding Executive Director
• Panelist: Roman Haferd, Restorative Arlington Executive Director
• Panelist: Erica Washington, Restorative Arlington RJ Facilitator and Circle Keeper
• Panelist: Heather Kimball, Restorative Arlington RJ Facilitator and Circle Keeper

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Format: Virtual
Sponsored by the Carter School’s Sustainable Peace lab

This session, co-led by faculty from George Mason University and practitioners from Catholic Relief Services (CRS), will explore how contact theory can be operationalized to improve programs that aim to foster social cohesion in contexts of intergroup conflict. Drawing on research and engagement with a CRS-led project in Benin, the session examines how facilitated dialogue, perspective-taking and gateway group exercises, as well as collaborative games were used to reduce tensions between Fulani herders and Bariba farmers amid land competition, political polarization, and economic strain. Additional contexts will also be presented to compare findings and approaches. Presenters will share key insights on the role of identity narratives, collective nostalgia, and local dispute resolution in shaping perceptions and building trust across deeply divided communities. The session will also reflect on the value of participatory learning and adaptive facilitation, highlighting the joint GMU-CRS design process of quasi-experiments that enabled iterative testing of engagement strategies in a conflict-prone environment. After a short presentation of the context and findings, the session will be opened up for Q&A allowing an opportunity for attendees to reflect on the relevance of these methods for programming in other fragile or polarized settings, and how partnerships between practitioners and scholars can generate actionable evidence for peacebuilding.
Facilitator: Mary Rose O'Brien, Sr. Technical Advisor Justice and Peacebuilding at CRS

Speakers:

• Dr. Karina Korostelina, Professor, Carter School, George Mason University
• Eric Tchintchin, MEAL Coordinator, CRS Benin
• Mary Rose O'Brien ('05), Senior Technical Advisor Justice and Peacebuilding, CRS HQ
• Salomon Diedhiou, Director of Operations, CRS Senegal (to be confirmed)
• Beltina Gjeloshi, Fellow, Sustainable Peace Lab, Carter School

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Format: Virtual 

Genocide also happens long before physical violence becomes overt, for example when any given group of people is denied the right to be seen, named, or even accounted for. This presentation examines the historical targeting of LGBTQ+ people using Stanton’s Ten Stages of Genocide as a base, however proposing a critical eleventh stage: invisibilization. This concept refers to the structural erasure of LGBTQ+ individuals through the historical denial of personhood, exclusion from legal frameworks, deletion from collective memory, and lack of access to protection mechanisms. The research upon which the presentation is based suggests that Invisibilization is not a passive omission but an active condition that legitimizes further harm.

The session bridges genocide studies with peacebuilding practice, highlighting both successes and failures in addressing queer communities. Case studies supporting the hypothesis above range from inclusive initiatives such as Colombia’s Gender Sub-Commission and Kosovo’s queer action plan to missions where LGBTQ+ people were entirely absent, such as Haiti’s MINUSTAH, Sudan’s UNMIS, and broader UN SEA (Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) protocols.

The goal is to map these practices thematically, raising visibility of how dominant peacebuilding paradigms narrowly address gender. The argument is that unless invisibilization is confronted, peacebuilding risks reinforcing erasure. This session contributes to Peace Week’s theme by calling for conflict-sensitive development and inclusive security that recognize LGBTQ+ rights as central to sustainable peace.

Speaker: Fernando Palacio, PhD

Dr. Fernando Palacio is a scholar and practitioner in peace and conflict studies with extensive international experience in higher education, humanitarian work, and human rights protection. He currently lectures at Doshisha University and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, teaching courses on peace and conflicts, civic engagement, and university social responsibility.

He holds a PhD and a master's in Peace and Conflict Studies from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, and a Master’s in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a Graduate Certificate in Mass Atrocity and Genocide Prevention from George Mason University’s Carter School. His current research focuses on genocide prevention, with particular attention to LGBTQ+ experiences and the role of universities in building cultures of peace.

Dr. Palacio has worked with UNICEF, UNESCO, and human rights organizations in Southeast Asia on child protection, refugee support, and documenting human rights violations. He also advises universities and networks on social responsibility, engaged research, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), bridging academic inquiry with advocacy and practice.

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Format: Virtual

'Sudan's ongoing conflict has upended lives and destabilized key regions, particularly in Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan. Through the Building Inclusive Peace in Sudan (BIPS) initiative, a clear pattern has emerged: when local youth and civil society actors are empowered to lead peacebuilding efforts, they consistently prioritize addressing the psychosocial stresses of conflict and displacement as their foundational intervention, underscoring that healing and emotional resilience are essential preconditions for any meaningful peacebuilding, development, or human security focused work.

This session will explore how trauma awareness and psychosocial support have become central to locally led peacebuilding efforts in Sudan, shaping how communities restore trust, mobilize for action, and respond to emerging threats. BIPS has learned to support this community-driven approach that naturally integrates psychosocial support, peacebuilding, and adaptive security interventions. The program shows that effective peacebuilding in Sudan's context requires following communities' instinctive understanding that trauma awareness must precede sustainable dialogue and reconciliation, leading to peacebuilding as both a developmental and protective intervention.

To engage participants in this vital discussion, the session will use a highly interactive virtual format designed to foster reflection, peer learning, and cross-context exchange. Participants will begin with a brief multimedia grounding in the Sudanese context, followed by real-life stories from youth peacebuilders. Breakout groups will provide space for small-group dialogue on trauma-informed peacebuilding, youth leadership, and countering harmful narratives, with shared insights feeding into a live panel discussion. Polls, Q&A, and a collaborative digital insight wall will ensure participant voices shape the conversation.

Participants will engage in dialogue centered on four key themes:

• Trauma-informed approaches as a foundation of peacebuilding - How conflict-sensitive capacity building and psychosocial support create the necessary conditions for sustainable dialogue and reconciliation
• Youth-driven Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) - Examining locally led, agile structures that serve as nodes for early warning, mediation, and humanitarian coordination while bridging formal and informal peace infrastructures
• Technology for peace and counter-narratives - The role of digital literacy, counter-narrative campaigns, and digital storytelling in addressing hate speech, disinformation, and promoting social cohesion
• Adaptive programming under extreme constraints - How development and peacebuilding programs can maintain flexibility, local ownership, and sector integration when traditional approaches face extraordinary security and access limitations

Moderator: Alexandra Altomare, DT Institute

Speakers:

• Maha Tambal, Senior Program Director, DT Institute
• Rounag Shimila, General Manager, Environment and Rural Women's Development Organization ERD.
• Esmat Omar Ibrahim, CEO, Graduate Producer Association GPA
• Sufian Eltegaani Adam, Program Director, Salaamedia Center Limited.

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In-Person: Fairfax Campus, Merten Hall, Room 1202

The Carter School offers a wide range of hands-on opportunities to deepen your learning—but with so many amazing options, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start.

Mason students, staff, and faculty, join us for a dynamic showcase where you’ll meet representatives from eight different Peace Labs and Centers. Whether you're looking for internships, research projects, or community-based work, this is your chance to explore what’s possible, ask questions, and find the opportunities that align with your passions.

Come curious, leave inspired—and discover how the Carter School can elevate your college experience.

Moderators: 

• Averi Jordan 
• Joshua Farmer

Lab Showcase:

• Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation, SG Kim
• John Mitchell Jr. Program for History, Justice, and Race, Ava Smigliani
• The Narrative Transformation Lab, Audrey Williams
• Better Evidence Project, Isabella Cuevas
• Peace Engineering Lab, Charles Davidson
• Dialogue and Difference Project, Mara Schoeny
• Peacebuilding Fellowship, Ned Fitzgerald
• Polarization and Violence Transformed (PiVoT) Lab, Grace McIntyre

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In-person: Fairfax Campus, Innovation Hall Room 206 

This interactive workshop introduces participants to the core principles of mediation and restorative justice through a blend of engaging activities designed to build both understanding and practical skills. The first part focuses on mediation, beginning with a skit that depicts a common conflict scenario, such as a college roommate disagreement. This allows attendees to see mediation in action and observe its key elements. A guided discussion follows, helping participants clarify mediation’s goals, including facilitating dialogue, identifying mutual interests, and finding collaborative solutions. The second part shifts to restorative justice, featuring a live Four Corners exercise where participants physically respond to reflective statements about justice, harm, and accountability. This activity invites thoughtful reflection and respectful sharing of diverse perspectives in a supportive environment. Together, these activities create a dynamic space for dialogue, helping students explore effective conflict resolution tools and consider their role in promoting mediation and restorative justice responsibility within their communities.

Speakers:

• Arleen Ramirez Borysiewicz, Executive Director, NVMS Conflict Resolution Center
• Aaliyah Zagade, Program Outreach Specialist
• Jonathan Fang, Intern and Student, George Mason University
• Nouralhuda Alkaaby, Intern and Student, George Mason University
• Dae Yi, Intern, Student, William & Mary University

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Format: Virtual

In a world where noise often drowns out understanding, dialogue creates space for connection, curiosity, and change. Join us for a powerful conversation featuring leaders who use dialogue to build bridges, spark growth, and transform communities across a variety of contexts.

This session will explore how dialogue opens doors—to connection, to learning, and to peace. Whether you’re passionate about conflict resolution, storytelling, education, or social change, this session will inspire you to think differently about how we listen and speak to one another.

Come for the conversation—leave with new tools, perspectives, and maybe even a little hope.

Moderator: Averi Jordan, Carter School

Speakers:

• Mara Schoeny, Faculty, Dialogue & Difference Director
• Randy Lioz, PiVoT Peace Lab Director
• Nick Lennon, PhD, Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement Director

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In-person: Fairfax Campus, HUB Firepit
Presented by Carter School Ambassadors

Mason students, staff, and faculty, join us for a cozy, informal gathering to kick off the Fall semester! Our community of students, faculty, and staff will share meaningful conversations on peace, conflict, and their experiences with the work the Carter School prepares us for. We'll have snacks and drinks for everyone to enjoy!

Facilitators:

• Janna Tosson
• Lisa Gray
• Averi Jordan

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Format: Virtual

This session will explore innovative strategies utilized in multiparty mediation processes that involve local communities affected by development projects across the globe. It will show tools and innovative strategies that are contextually relevant and sensitive to the local context, address power asymmetry, and advances local participation and engagement through a robust consultative process to ensure sustainable agreements and access to remedy.

Speakers:

• Nokukhanya Ntuli, Manager (Dispute Resolution)
• Alma Abdul Hadi Jadallah, Senior Specialist (Dispute Resolution)

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Format: Virtual

Join us for the official launch of the SDG16 Hub, a global initiative led by the Carter School in partnership with Narxoz University, the University of Oxford, and the University for Peace. As the new Hub Chair under the United Nations Academic Impact framework, the Carter School will unveil its vision for accelerating progress on SDG16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

This inaugural session will highlight the Hub’s mission to bridge academia, policy, and practice through innovative programming—including global knowledge sharing, student-led initiatives, and cross-regional collaboration. Participants will also gain insight into upcoming flagship activities.

Be part of this landmark event as we launch a dynamic platform to connect scholars, practitioners, students, and policymakers worldwide in advancing sustainable peace and inclusive institutions.

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Format: Virtual
Presented by the Carter School's Polarization and Violence Transformed (PiVoT) Peace Lab

How should we understand the surge in extremist violence in the United States and beyond? Before fists are clenched, knives are thrown and guns are fired, extremists are driven subconsciously by the illusory power of world-making that centers on imaginaries of social groups, historical processes and large-scale systems. Such a drive is motivated psychologically by the allure of existential emancipation, as if transcending the world’s complexity, inscrutability, uncertainty and unpredictability. Underpinning this drive are four social-psychological processes for apprehension. In this session, panelists examine the power of existential liberation through the following studies:

• “Paranoia over Patriotism: A Thematic Analysis of Oath Keepers’ Extremist Narratives” demonstrates how the leadership of the Oath Keepers created an extremist identity group bolstered by shared paranoia that privileges the collective glories of American patriotism.
• “The Blood Equation and Condensation Model: Emotional Fulfillment Through Violence Among Ex-ISIS Fighters Inside Iraqi Prisons” explains how violence of former ISIS militants reflects deep psychological needs among jihadists. Using narrative grammar, Arabic linguistic nuances, and firsthand testimony, the model illustrates how more politically-oriented alternatives often neglect the blood narratives, leading to misunderstandings of violence among jihadists.
• “AI-Augmented Facilitation: Artificial Intelligence for a More Human Approach to Bridging Divides” introduces an AI chatbot trained in Root Narrative Theory as a support tool allowing a facilitator to “speak the language” of participants spanning the current ideological chasm.

Speakers:

• Dr. Daniel Rothbart, Druscilla French Chair of Conflict Analysis and Resolution
  Director, Peace Lab, Polarization and Violence Transformed, Carter School
• Elizabeth Landsdale, Graduate Student, Carter School
• Dr. Suha Hassen, Alumnus, Carter School
• Randy Lioz, Graduate Student, and Manager of the Peace lab Polarization and Violence Transformed, Carter School.

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Format: Virtual
Presented by the Carter School's Polarization and Violence Transformed (PiVoT) Peace Lab 

Join us for an engaging discussion on the rise of right-wing extremism in the United States. Facilitated by Carter School graduate students, this Fall 2025 Peace Week session brings together the academic rigor of social science research and the lived experience of a former January 6th insurrectionist. Topics will include the nature of domestic extremism, its psychological drivers, and how we can better bridge the political divide through prosocial approaches.

Speakers:

• Randy Lioz, GMU Graduate Student; Carter School PiVoT Peace Lab; Braver Angels
• Emily Williams, GMU Graduate Student; Carter School PiVoT Peace Lab; Mindbridge Center Countering Extremism Directive
• Pasha Dashtgard, PhD, Director of Research, Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab - PERIL, American University
• Pamela Hemphill, Retired Substance Abuse Counselor; Convicted for participating in the January 6th 2021 Attack on the U.S. Capitol

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Format: Virtual 

Discussion of the potential of networks for peace, drawing on a recent experience in Colombia where they met with the Love Foundation, an organization that supports women who have experienced conflict. The Love Foundation's initiative, Seamstresses of Peace, provides mental health relief and economic empowerment through art and entrepreneurship, using sewing workshops as a platform. This is a joint session with the Rotary District 7620 Peace Committee Peace Talks Series.

Speakers:

• Isabella Cuevas, Carter School Better Evidence Project and Member of the Rotary-Carter School Collaboration Team
• Manuela Cordoba, President of the Bogotá Centenario Rotary Club.  
• Carlos Guiza, Peace Fellow and Member of the Rotary Club of Washington Global 

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Format: Virtual

The creator economy is a large, multi-platform, global labor market which supports the work of content creators: digital producers who rely on social media, content creation, or e-commerce platforms. Creators use platforms to publish, promote, and monetize their labor, which can range from long-form writing, vlogging, music, art, and other forms of entertainment media. Estimated to hold a 250 billion USD value, the creator economy presents new implications for how we share information, work, and seek entertainment. Creators are not a silly fad or a trend; they are here to stay.

However, the creator economy is highly unregulated, catalyzing inequalities in the ways creators obtain visibility, support, and build credibility with their followers—particularly across disability, gender, and race. As the platforms where creators share their work reflect the biases that shape our offline realities, marginalized creators must navigate precarious working conditions while mediating authenticity and building credibility with their followers. This offers two lessons about studying inequalities in the creator economy. First, it interrogates the way digital media technologies shape reality. Next, the talk examines how ideological biases inform the politics of visibility and the realities we witness within the creator economy. The presentation will address the following question: Whose labor is visible in the creator economy, and how does who we see reflect longstanding oppressions that mediate our daily life?

Facilitator: Jess Rauchberg (‘17)

Speaker: Jess Rauchberg, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Communication Technologies, Seton Hall University

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In person: GMU Fairfax Campus, Innovation Hall, Room 336 

Based upon my experience in teaching an honors class about Judaism and Social Justice, this session will help us look at the religious imperative of creating opportunities to dialogue about important issues.  This session will be based upon looking at our biases, the power of building relationships, and the importance of listening to various points of view.

Speaker: Rabbi Professor Bruce Aft, Adjunct Professor in Religious Studies and the Honors college, Visiting Scholar and Fellow at the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution (CRDC), Carter School

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Format: Virtual

Presented in collaboration with Peace and Security Committee of the United Nations Association - National Capital Area (UNA-NCA)

In today’s digital age, technology plays a crucial role in fostering peace and resolving conflicts. This session will delve into innovative technological solutions that enhance peacebuilding efforts across various contexts.

Speakers: 

• Welcome by Dr. Alp Ozerdem, Dean and Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, Carter School
• Introductions by Ryan Brenner and Abbey Ogunwale, UNA-NCA PSC
• Shawn Guttman, Co-Founder and CEO of Project Didi
• Ola Mohajer, Founder and CEO of Transcend
• Sarah June Benjamin, Founder and CEO of PeaceIQ
• Adam Boaz Becker, CEO of HeadOn

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Speaker Bios:

Shawn Guttman: Shawn Guttman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Project Didi, an innovative initiative that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to transform peacebuilding theories into actionable, data-driven tools. With a focus on Zartman’s Ripeness Theory, Shawn aims to provide real-time insights to conflict resolution actors, helping them navigate complex humanitarian crises. He has successfully analyzed over 200 significant events related to the Northern Ireland conflict and is currently expanding his work to the Palestinian-Israeli context. Recognized for his commitment to utilizing technology for peace, Shawn is dedicated to fostering collaborations that amplify the impact of peace initiatives globally. His work exemplifies the potential of merging technology with traditional peacebuilding strategies to create pragmatic solutions for entrenched conflicts.

Ola Mohajer: Ola Mohajer is the Founder and CEO of Transcend, an AI-powered platform dedicated to peace, security, and strategic risk management. As a former refugee and war survivor, Ola's personal journey drives her commitment to tackling global challenges through innovation and inclusive leadership. With over 15 years in peacebuilding, she has worked as a policy advisor in the Canadian government, a strategist at the United Nations, and a Senior Program Officer at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Her experience includes leading projects in Sudan, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Jordan, and authoring U.S. policy guidance focused on civilian engagement in peace processes. Ola holds a master's degree in international Affairs from Columbia University and dual undergraduate degrees in Biology and Religious Studies from the University of Calgary. A recognized expert, she frequently speaks on AI for peace and civic inclusion. At Transcend, Ola leads efforts to create the first AI-first platform for non-kinetic strategy, enhancing conflict analysis and amplifying local voices for more effective crisis response.

Sarah June Benjamin: As a peace innovator and international attorney, June founded Peace IQ to upskill leaders and their teams to peacefully resolve conflict and build sustainable cooperation in a socially conscious workforce. Her experience as a former refugee from the Liberian Civil War and a Baha'i refugee from Iran inspired June to pursue a J.D. and M.A. in Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University, where she received the Dean's award for Professional Responsibility. She now combines her experience and network to innovate technology that helps clients turn the small daily decisions that add up to conflict to add up to peace. June partners with the Peace Innovation Institute after serving as the Entrepreneur-In-Residence to foster relationships with thought leaders, industry experts, start-ups, and peace technologists to identify exciting new business opportunities in peace innovation.

Adam Boaz Becker: Adam Becker is a community builder and entrepreneur at the intersection of AI, technology, and society. He is the CEO of HeadOn, a platform for urgent discussions on global issues, and previously managed the MLOps Community, one of the world’s largest AI communities. Adam has founded multiple startups—including one in ML infrastructure and another in political technology, which he successfully sold—and regularly speaks at conferences and on podcasts about AI. He studied Astrophysics and Classics at UC Berkeley.

About UNA-NCA and the Peace and Security Committee:

The United Nations Association - National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the ideals and goals of the United Nations through education, advocacy, and outreach programs. UNA-NCA engages citizens in international issues and fosters dialogue on global challenges. As the largest UNA-USA chapter in the United States, serving over 1,000 members in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, UNA-NCA engages members, residents, and visitors on critical global issues, directs vital advocacy efforts, and operates meaningful programs to advance its mission. With a focus on bringing global issues to the local stage, our diverse and passionate team of staff and volunteers works to create a forum for all who care about our world, providing paths to engage, learn, and share. To join, reach out to Andrew B. Doll, Managing Director of Programs and Membership, at andrew@unanca.org.

The Peace and Security Committee of UNA-NCA focuses on issues related to conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and global security. This committee raises awareness about the importance of peace initiatives and collaborates with various stakeholders to promote innovative solutions for a more peaceful world. For inquiries, reach out to co-chairs Ryan Brenner (rbrenner@unanca.org) and Abbey Ogunwale (aogunwale@unanca.org).

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In person: Mason Square, Vernon Smith Hall, Room 5183

This interactive session involves the use of narrative analysis on the Trump administration. An introduction to narrative analysis, along with examples, will be given. Attendees will then participate in a collective discussion on the narratives promoted by the current administration. The discussion will explore different perspectives on the narratives at play. We will examine the goal of those narratives, their impact on peacebuilding and conflict resolution, and what this means for the future. 

Facilitator: Conner Moses, Master's Student, Carter School 

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Format: Virtual

Join us as we launch a global movement of healing through presence. This session explores how Global Social Witnessing and Artificial Intelligence are being combined to address collective trauma and foster sustainable peace in Kashmir—and beyond. 

Powered by AI4Peace and guided by the transformational methodology of Thomas Hübl, this experience offers new pathways for intergenerational healing, rooted in empathy, innovation, and the power of global connection. 

Facilitator: Raju Bhatt, Global Mediation Team 

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Format: Virtual

Presented in Collaboration with the Irreverent Podcast 

Session Overview:

This roundtable explores how communities directly impacted by the policies and rhetoric of repressive regimes and leadership — immigrants, racial minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, religious groups, and economically marginalized populations — have mobilized to address systemic challenges at the intersection of peacebuilding, development, and security.

Rather than focusing solely on institutional responses, this session centers grassroots agency: how “we,” the affected, have resisted, reimagined, and rebuilt. Participants will examine how local actors have responded to heightened polarization, securitization, and economic precarity through community organizing, mutual aid, digital activism, and restorative justice practices.

Key questions include:

• What lessons can we learn from marginalized innovation during repressive leadership and regimes?
• How have marginalized communities redefined security beyond state-centric models?
• What peacebuilding tools have emerged from grassroots resistance and solidarity networks?
• How can development frameworks be reshaped to reflect lived realities and cultural resilience?

The session will begin with short reflections from community leaders, scholars, and student activists, followed by a facilitated dialogue that invites all participants to share insights, strategies, and lived experiences.

Session Goals:

• Elevate community-led responses to systemic injustice and political polarization
• Explore how grassroots peacebuilding intersects with development and security frameworks
• Identify tools and practices that emerged during these eras of repressive regimes and leadership and remain relevant today
• Foster solidarity and knowledge exchange across sectors and identities

Team Members:

• Jamie Dayne Sackett
• Aroma Zainab
• Bryant Thomas Lyttle
• Gavin Cole Buckowski
• Silvestre Acuna Acedillo

Expert Panel/Speakers:

• Dr. Hannah K. Brown
• Dr. Mahmut Cengiz
• Dr. Rawan Arar
• Malala Yousafzai (Invited, not confirmed)
• Dr. Jill Biden (Invited, not confirmed)

Advisor: Dr. Al Fuertes

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