A Decade of Inspiration Our graduates have made us proud
Lynn Roth
Like a large percentage of the rest of the world, we at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding spend much of our work time busily occupied with pressing tasks and obligations. We also carve out some time for strategic planning. In other words, we work hard to address current needs, to anticipate forthcoming needs, and to project our future direction over the long term. Through all of this we probably don’t spend enough time reflecting on all that has been accomplished. We probably don’t give ourselves enough space to simply savor the progress we, our alumni, and our partners have made. So, please savor this issue of Peacebuilder, which looks back at what happened to the first three dozen people who earned master’s degrees or graduate certificates in what was then called the Conflict Transformation Program. By any standards, this group has made a huge impact. They have founded new institutions, including the powerful West African Network for Peacebuilding, written or edited influential books, such as Critical Issues in Restorative Justice, and risen to the leadership of existing organizations, such as the Peace Corps and Habitat for Humanity. But, as a group, they have also declared that their peace work will not be conducted at the expense of those closest to them. In various ways, they have made sure to honor their families and communities of origin, to pay attention to the well-being of their children, and to remember the Spirit that guides us all. It is inspiring that they are living out the vision that CJP has for wholistic peacebuilding work. This is a thick magazine issue; it is built around 36 mini-bios, one for each alumnus who graduated in 2000 or earlier. I recommend reading it the way you would a special issue of Time magazine, slowly and reflectively. This way, you will have a source of inspiration until the spring/summer issue of Peacebuilder arrives in your hands about six months from now.
Lynn Roth Executive Director