Marquette Center for Peacemaking

2012-2013: Libby Hoffman

January 30 - February 1, 2013

Libby is the founder and President of Catalyst for Peace, a Portland, Maine based private foundation that mobilizes locally-owned and led peacebuilding and reconciliation in conflict and post-conflict settings, and pioneers in storytelling to share the lessons of this work with the world.

She co-founded Fambul Tok (Krio for "Family Talk"), which brings victims and perpetrators from the civil war in Sierra Leone together for the first time in village-level, tradition-based ceremonies of truth-telling and forgiveness reknitting the torn fabric of the community in the process. She produced the award winning documentary film about this work, Fambul Tok, and is the lead author of the book of the same name, published by Umbrage Editions-both released in 2011.

Libby has been active in peacebuilding for 25 years in a variety of capacities - professor, trainer, facilitator, program director, consultatnt and funder. A former Political Science professor at Principia College, she left academia to focus on the practice of conflict resolution and peacebuilding. She has dveloped and led conflict resolution training programs in corporate, congregational, educational and community settings.

2011-2012: Sara Terry

March 29-30, 2012

Sara Terry is a filmmaker and a former award-winning reporter for the Christian Science Monitor (and founding member of Monitor Radio, the Monitor's public radio program) who has documented the aftermath of war in Bosnia and Sierra Leone. She made a mid-career transition into photojournalism and documentary photography in the late 1990s. She is the founder of The Aftermath Project, a non-profit grant program that helps photographers cover the aftermath of conflict, and builds educational outreach and partnerships around the understanding that “war is only half the story.” She is currently in production on her second documentary, FOLK, about three singer-songwriters trying to make it in the changing sub-culture of American folk music. She visited Marquette in March 2012 and hosted a screening and discussion of Fambul Tok, her first, award-winning documentary.

2010-11: Jim Douglass

January 30-February 4, 2011

Jim Douglas is a theologian, activist and noted author on nonviolence and Christian theology. Along with his wife Shelley, he co-founded the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action in Poulsbo, Washington and Mary's House, a Catholic Worker house in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1997 Jim and Shelley were awarded the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award, a Catholic peace award. Douglass' latest book, JFK and the Unspeakable, explores how JFK was martyred as a peacemaker by forces within the Government. He is also the author of The Non-Violent Cross: A Theology of Revolution and Peace and The Non-Violent Coming of God.

2009-10: Nomfundo Walaza

April 5-9, 2010

 

Nomfundo Walaza, Chief Executive Officer of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre, gave a presentation on her work in reconciliation. She is a clinical psychologist who started out her career at Valkenberg Hospital where she worked for 5 years and then moved on to become the Director of the Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture in Cape Town which she headed for 9 years. She was actively involved as a commissioner in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.

 

2008-09: Christopher Ahrends

October 22-29, 2008

Christopher Ahrends, former chaplain to Archbishop Desmond Tutu and U2U Foundation consultant, spoke in classes and with student groups, led a meditation session, and presented the Theory W program in three installations to Marquette and the wider community.

What people were saying:

"Chris provided us with time to be, to reflect, and to grow."

"His advice on creating a vision statement that helps us to achieve our dreams was very important."

"Chris encouraged us to embark on our own adventure."

"He just connected. It's hard to explain it. I feel like he shares things than many of us ache to hear."

"He offered actual, applicable ways to change ourselves."

"He didn't give us a presentation, he guided us on a journey."

"He talked about tangible ways in which we can transform the inner-self and then go on to serve others."

Co-sponsored by Marquette's Office of International Education, Manresa Project, and College of Professional Studies.

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2007-08: Kathy Kelly

April 4, 2008

Kathy Kelly of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, a three time Nobel Peace Prize nominated group, spoke in classes, to the Muslim Student Association, and presented to a Marquette - Milwaukee audience.

What people were saying:

"It was great--the stories and storytelling style, non-judgmental of military, but clear stance, some practical applications, acceptance of personal responsibility (not just finger pointing)."

"Hearing from someone with personal experience in Iraq. The message of inclusivity--even those who we might consider our enemies or want to demonize." 

"Simple but impressionable--the singing of the names [of Iraqis and Americans who've died in Iraq] in remembrance."

"Amazing! The Whole Thing."