Press


Joshua Goldstein - In An African Minute:
I remembered how much I enjoyed being in the midst of high energy students who were deep into figuring out the practical challenges they faced as early stage organizations.



Forums


Keynote Address - Johan Galtung
Titled "CR, ID and Young People", Dr. Galtung addressed growing US influence in the world and ways in which students have the ability to address global issues in conflict prevention over the next few years.
 Johan Galtung is founder and Director of TRANSCEND - A Peace and Development Network for Conflict Transformation by Peaceful Means, with more than 300 members from over 80 countries around the world and Rector of TRANSCEND Peace University (TPU). An experienced peace worker and Professor of Peace Studies, he is widely regarded as the founder of the academic discipline of peace research and one of the leading pioneers of peace and conflict transformation in theory and practice. He has played an active role in helping mediate and prevent violence in 45 major conflicts around the world over the past four decades, and is author of the United Nations' first ever manual for trainers and participants on "Conflict Transformation by Peaceful Means: The TRANSCEND Approach" (UNDP 2000). He has published more than 1000 articles covering a wide-range of fields, and more than 100 books translated into dozens of languages.
Listen to the Keynote Here!

Forum 1 A. What is Conflict Resolution and What Does a Conflict Resolution Group Do?
Mery Rodriguez - Human Rights Activist, professor at the Catholic University of Colombia. PhD candidate, ICAR
Jennifer Strauss - Undergraduate Student, AU SIS. Treasurer, Society for Peace and Conflict Resolution
Sarah Woodside - Student Interest Group Coordinator, Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School
Listen to the Forum Here!

Forum 1 B. What Is International Development And What Do International Development Groups Do?
David Alpher - PhD Student, ICAR. Coordinator of conflict mitigation Programs, Winrock International
Mohammed Abu Asakar - Executive Director, Tomorrow International

Forum 2 A. From the Beginning: Recruitment, Publicity, and Organizational Branding
Katelyn Archer - D.C. Coordinator, Mobilize.org
Josh Goldstein - Global Youth Partnership for Africa
Josh Marcuse - President and CEO, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy

Forum 2 B. Sustaining the Movement: Leadership Styles, Building Institutional Memory, and Managing Turnover
Akanksha Hazari - Middle East Strategy Group, Aspen Institute
Matt Kavanagh - Executive Director, Global Justice
Ben Wikler - Campaign Director, Avaaz.org
Listen to the Forum Here!

Forum 2 C. Fundraising and Advocacy: Paying for the Projects You Want to Work
Ari Rabin-Havt - MoveOn.org
Saul Garlick - Student Movement for Real Change
Listen to the Forum Here!

Forum 2 D. Fostering Increased Collaboration and Communication among Academic Programs
Faculty and administrators from a number of DC area campuses including Georgetown, George Mason, Catholic and American Universities attended this session.

Closing Session - Dr. Cynthia Irmer
Dr. Irmer is a conflict resolution specialist and attorney with expertise in conflict resolution, peace making, public participation, dispute systems design, mediation and capacity building, and problem-solving method and trust-building techniques, as well as conflict and situation assessment and program design. She is currently working in the Office of the Coordinator of Reconstructive and Stabilization. She is currently managing two task orders awarded under USAID’s Managing Africa Conflict contract, i.e., the Northern Uganda Peace Initiative and Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution with Key Constituencies in the Casamance in Senegal and is also providing technical assistance, such as conflict resolution/peace-making program and activity design and implementation, on those task orders.

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Sponsored by Various Student Groups of the Washington University Consortium

For More Information Please Contact:
Sean McDonald, SPCR@American.edu
or L Gabriel Rojo, lrojo@gmu.edu.