CJP Impact Report

THE CJP

IMPACT REPORT

A PROGRAM OF EMU | HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA

677

graduates working in 78 countries

TRANSFORM CONFLICT SPEAK TO POWER REDEFINE JUSTICE

86

Fulbright scholars from 28 countries

13

peacebuilding institutes modelled on our Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) started by alumni around the world

3,600

participants from 124 countries have attended SPI

Grant collaborations with United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), W.K. Kellogg Foundation, United Service Foundation, and Telemachus Foundation

A PROGRAM OF EMU | HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA

THE CJP IMPACT REPORT CONTENTS 2

Letter from the Director

4

CJP Highlights 2020-21

6

A New Degree for a New Time

8

Working Together for Systemic Change

10

Impact and Innovation from Alumni and Students

13

New Faculty

14

A New Leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

15

Joining the Zehr Institute

16

Turning to Each Other

18 Bookshelf 20

Dreaming into the Future

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAYNE SEMINARE DOCHERTY, PHD

DEAR CJP COMMUNITY: As we gathered online in June to celebrate the delayed 25th Anniversary of CJP, my heart was filled with gratitude and grief.

Gratitude for the many different ways our students, faculty, staff, and supporters helped CJP thrive in spite of huge challenges. Grief for those lost to Covid-19 and to violence in its many forms.

Covid taught me a new word. When an infectious disease overlaps with underlying noncommunicable diseases in the context of social and economic disparity, the result is a syndemic. In a syndemic, the interaction of factors amplifies and complicates the negative impacts of each problem. Even in Harrisonburg, we could see that lower-income communities paid a far heavier price from the pandemic than middle-class communities where ill family members could isolate inside spacious homes and necessities were delivered every day. Insofar as class overlaps with race, the inequities created by decades of racial injustices were also staring us in the face. Then we all witnessed the impunity of Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds. Something broke open and thousands of people, including many of us, took to the streets saying, “Enough! This has to change.”

Our program started 26 years ago against the backdrop of the hot conflicts popping up around the world at the end of the Cold War. We adapted

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our work through the global war on terror. Now we are asking, “What is required of us as we do justice and peacebuilding education in the context of a syndemic that includes a mutating communicable disease, sustained racism and oppression, poverty and inequality in every country and between countries, the impacts of global climate change, a frightening rise in authoritarian movements, and deep political polarization?” What must change in the way we do our work? What is still valid and needs to be sustained even if in modified forms?

Peace cannot be built on a foundation of injustice and unaddressed pain. There can be no peacebuilding without addressing the trauma of long-standing systems of racism and oppression.

To do justice we must also honor and learn from the resilience of communities that have borne the brunt of violent policies. We must center the voices of those who have suffered injustice and still committed themselves to nonviolent change, which is why we invited Sonya Shah, sujatha baliga,

PEACE CANNOT BE BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF INJUSTICE AND UNADDRESSED PAIN.

and Talibah Aquil MA ‘19 to challenge us at our anniversary alongside Alicia Garza from the Black Futures Lab (view at emu.edu/cjp/anniversary/ video-links). We also brought in the wisdom of communities that have experienced sustained oppression as we revised the STAR curriculum (page 4).

Anniversaries are also about our past. We asked John Paul Lederach to reflect on what made CJP unique at its founding and what we should consider as we take our work into the future. He reminded us that our strength has always been our “proximity to practice.” Our continued commitment to practice is evident in the story on pages 8-9 about CJP graduates, staff, and current students working with others to promote change in the criminal legal system.

Speaking about the future, John Paul observed that the “convening model” of peacebuilding practice – gathering people in one place for conversations and negotiations – is being replaced with a “circulating model” – working with people where they live to transform violence and injustice in that specific location. We are seeing parallel changes in peace and justice education. In recent years, fewer people have been able to attend our degree programs or the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) in Harrisonburg. By shutting down our convening spaces, the pandemic pushed us into a bold experiment with a circulating system of online teaching and learning. It accelerated our launch of the mostly distance-based Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership (see page 6). The impact in the communities where our students live is evident. We would love to combine this degree with the lessons we learned while educating regional cohorts. See page 7 for an invitation to let us know of groups of individuals who would benefit

from studying together while working in their shared location.

CJP has experienced the same kinds of personnel changes that other workplaces are seeing in what one business columnist called “the Covid churn.”

This publication features our newest tenured faculty member, Executive Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Jackie Font-Guzmán, as well as a host of other exemplary faculty, staff, and visiting fellows who join us this year.

It has been exciting to welcome people to campus again, including students who started with us online last year. We are now teaching courses in a hybrid format with some students in the classroom and some on Zoom. The university’s investment in technology upgrades plus our own crash course in teaching technologies have made this blend of convening in one place while also reaching people where they live and work possible. We realize we may never go back to what we had before: Faculty working on curriculum changes now start with the pressing question, “How do we make our programs accessible to the many students who want to enroll?” Expect more news of change and innovation later this year.

As you read this publication, please see yourselves woven through all of the stories. We could never have changed as rapidly and as effectively as we have without your generous support for CJP. Blessings to all of you as we continue to navigate the many challenges of our time.

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CJP HIGHLIGHTS 2020-21 In the spring and summer of 2020, CJP quickly and successfully moved the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) fully online. Our response to the pandemic continued through the 2020-21 school year. At their June 2021 meeting, the EMU Board of Trustees encouraged CJP to continue exploring ways to move online in order to “maximize our global impact at a time of heightened demand and relevance.”

HOW DID WE DO IT? WE RECOGNIZED THAT THE PANDEMIC WOULD DISRUPT HIGHER EDUCATION FOR YEARS TO COME, SO WE...

WE PACED OURSELVES BY…

• Moved all existing degrees and graduate certificates online and committed to those who opted to enroll online that we would get them through a degree or certificate online.

• Launched the newly approved Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership (MATL), a mostly online program for working professionals, in SPI 2020 instead of SPI 2021.

Our message was “Join us for the kind of learning and support that can prepare you to lead in challenging times. If you commit to us, we will commit to you.”

• Postponing the 25th Anniversary Celebration from June 2020 to June 2021.

• Pausing STAR during SPI 2020.

• Using the STAR pause for a long-desired curriculum revision as well as a redesign for online delivery.

WE NOTICED AND MAXIMIZED OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DISRUPTION BY…

Lead Trainer Katie Mansfield PhD and STAR’s advisory group deepened the curriculum’s emphasis on multiple types of violence and injustice and further integrated the wisdom of varied communities of practice. The advisory group includes educators, community leaders, artists and activists who address systemic racism, domestic violence, and historical harms, integrate restorative and transformative justice approaches, and cultivate spaces for healing and truth-telling: Ram Bhagat EdD, Meenakshi Chhabra PhD, Lisa Collins EdD, Johonna McCants-Turner PhD, Donna Minter PhD, and Crixell Shell MS.

• Creating a new “Winter SPI” online training program delivered in February-March 2021.

42 participants took four courses, joining from nine countries, 13 states, and the District of Columbia.

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WE IDENTIFIED OUR CORE COMMITMENTS AND VALUES, SO THAT WE COULD…

• Replicate the essential “CJP experience” online.

• Invite participants to help us experiment with new ways of being a learning community and be unafraid to say when something did not work as expected.

• Moved the summer SPI learning community online for 2021.

18 faculty members taught 14 courses supported by nine tech assistants.

WE WERE REALISTIC ABOUT THE CONTINUING THREAT OF THE PANDEMIC, SO WE…

180 participants signed up for 214 spaces in the courses – 61 for graduate credit and 153 for professional education.

Participants joined from 33 countries, 27 states, and the District of Columbia.

• Celebrated CJP’s 25+1 Anniversary online from June 4-6, 2021.

Visit emu.edu/cjp/anniversary/video-links to see recordings from the weekend’s celebrations, including keynote speaker Alicia Garza.

• Our team members took on new work assignments and learned new skills.

• We hired technical support and instructional design assistance to ensure that our students could participate in high quality online learning.

WE WORKED IN AGILE TEAMS AS A LEARNING ORGANIZATION...

• We developed rapid feedback systems to determine what was working and what needed to be changed.

• We created a mechanism for donors to support ongoing innovation and adaptation in our programs.

An undesignated bequest from the estate of Emily Grace Shenk, received mid-pandemic, led to the creation of an endowed fund, named after Emily, to support CJP’s ability to adapt and respond quickly to major disruptions. Read more on page 20.

• The Zehr Institute completed a strategic plan that involved substantive consultation with leaders in the field.

WE CONTINUED LONG-TERM PLANNING...

• CJP launched a successful bid to become a Coverdell Program partner program. Returning Peace Corps Volunteers can receive support to enroll, beginning fall 2022, in the Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation or the Master of Arts in Restorative Justice program. Coverdell Fellows are supported in programs that prepare them for continued work using the skills they acquired in the Peace Corps. Their internships will connect them to underserved U.S. communities.

• On May 8, 2021 we added 25 graduates from 14 states and three countries to our global network of alumni.

TRANSITIONS AND CHANGES…

• We said goodbye to three faculty members this spring: Dr. Barry Hart to well-deserved retirement; Dr. Johonna McCants-Turner to the Peace and Conflict Studies program, Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo, Canada; and Dr. Carl Stauffer to the US Institute of Peace as a senior expert in reconciliation.

Check out page 13 to see who is joining us for 2021-22 and other plans.

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A NEW DEGREE FOR A NEW TIME

Higher education is changing! Students are looking for programs that fit with their lives and give immediate benefit. In 2019, CJP started working with EMU’s Business and Leadership program to design a new degree in direct consultation with our students and prospective students.

The result was a limited residency 36-hour degree, the Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership.

After launching during SPI 2020, we immediately enrolled 13 students in a program that prepares transformational leaders who can empower, inspire, and support others during challenging times. With core courses from CJP and Business and Leadership, assignments that connect directly with their work, and customizable electives, this program is ideal for the working professional who wants to make the world more just and less violent.

OUR FIRST MATL GRADUATES Makayla Fulmer used her capstone project to create a useful resource for her work: a video to help area immigrants navigate the financial aid system of a local hospital. The video, which will help NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center provide support during a time of constrained resources and increased need, will be available in six languages. Current student Rabab Hasan and recent graduate Aminata Wallet Mohamed MA ‘21 contributed Arabic and French voiceovers respectively. Visit newbridgesirc.org to view the video.

Sidney Morgan decided to give formal education another chance on a recommendation from Jacqueline Roebuck Sakho MA ‘09. Sidney balanced her studies with many other responsibilities, including founding Red Sea Road Consulting, LLC, supervising practicum student Maggie Rake, MA ‘21, and co-teaching Formation for Peacebuilding with Dr. Jayne Docherty during Online SPI 2021.

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“

This degree is perfect for those who want to learn and develop skills to become effective reflective and emergent leaders. Its most unique gift is the opportunity to study intersecting disciplines, for example, organizational development, conflict transformation and business. I have developed greater skills in leading authentically and adapting to change, and I’ve already applied what I’ve learned to do my part cultivating healthy work cultures and contributing to organizational development/strategic planning processes. The projects and assignments from the praxis courses also helped to fulfill organizational needs for my employer!”

“

“

One of the professors said, ‘You did a really good job on completing the works assigned, but I felt that your voice was muted throughout the assignments.’ It made me remember that all along the way in my K-12 education, I was not asked to say what I thought about anything. No one wanted to hear me or my opinions or ideas. When she said, ‘I want to hear your voice,’ I almost didn’t know how to speak or respond. In this program and my time at CJP, I found the words to speak to my experience. This degree gave me language for the purpose I know I have. I needed the words.

“

LOOKING FOR COHORTS EVALUATION AND CHANGE As we shape the future of this program, our students and their experiences help orient us towards growth and improvement.

Through surveys, interviews, a focus group, and other conversational mechanisms, our students have shared positive feedback: • Appreciation for the flexibility and adaptability of the program • Gratitude for supportive CJP staff and the ability to show up with “whole selves” • The value of experienced classmates who add richness to the learning experience.

We also heard that we need to continue working on: • Making manageable and meaningful assignments, especially in a program designed for working professionals • Clarifying and integrating the MATL core across programs • Expanding the menu of electives available for MATL students, including course offerings from Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

We learned the power of educating students in cohorts through the former Women’s Peacebuilding Leadership Program. The women who earned certificates together with others from their region continue to work together to advance positive change. The MATL is an ideal program for groups of change leaders from the same organization or community. They can study together while working on applied projects that have immediate impact in their location with the benefit of faculty support and guidance. The most recent adaptation of the program – adding courses from Eastern Mennonite Seminary – came out of conversations with church leaders who are considering supporting multiple staff members in their studies.

If you know of a group that might want to send three or more students, please contact Scott Eyre (scott.eyre@emu.edu).

A generous anonymous donation supports US students who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). *We use global majority in recognition that the majority of the world population is not of white, European descent.

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WORKING TOGETHER

FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE “Tough on crime” prosecutors are a key driver of mass incarceration described accurately by Michelle Alexander as “the new Jim Crow.” Prosecutors, known as Commonwealth's Attorneys in Virginia, make decisions about who gets prosecuted for what crimes and who gets a plea bargain with little or no public scrutiny or accountability. The result is a system that has perpetuated social, racial, and economic injustices across generations.

A network of CJP alumni and others are trying to change this system.

2019 NEW LEADERSHIP

Retired public defender Jim Hingeley is elected Commonwealth’s Attorney (CA) in Albemarle County. He promises to use restorative justice to reform the criminal legal system.

2020 LEGAL CHANGES FOR DIVERSION PROGRAMS

In response to advocacy by progressive CAs, the General Assembly makes some changes to the Virginia criminal code allowing for easier diversion of cases for alternative dispositions including restorative justice.

2020 NEW STAFF

Hingeley hires Samantha Markley and Shannon Pollock Neal MA ‘11 as Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys based on their experience with restorative justice.

“In many criminal cases the parties agree about what happened, and the questions change from what happened to: What can be done about it, how can we fix this?

What is the harm, and how can the parties address it? In restorative justice people have an opportunity to take responsibility and make things right. Restorative justice offers a more human approach than our current criminal legal system provides.”

Shannon Pollock Neal

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EARLY 2020 COVID-19 DISRUPTS TRAINING PLAN

FALL 2020: CASES DIVERTED TO RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ONLINE

Shannon Pollock Neal provides a training for the CA office staff to introduce concepts and goals of restorative justice. With Susan Painter, a victim witness advocate with the Albemarle County police department, Shannon plans to attend a multi-day training sponsored by the Department of Criminal Justice Services and supported by the FairField Center.

The training is canceled.

Charlottesville-based restorative justice facilitator Bob Garrity facilitates two cases on Zoom.

Everyone is surprised and delighted with the results in the online setting.

Bob Garrity teaches in EMU’s Restorative Justice in Education graduate program.

PROBLEM IDENTIFIED

• Without a budget, the defendants have to pay for the restorative justice option.

• Are we just replicating the social injustices of the system?

A BANDAID ON THE PROBLEM

CAN CJP HELP?

David Saunier MA ‘04 facilitates some cases pro bono.

David Saunier has been a leader in the restorative justice movement in the Charlottesville area for almost 20 years.

Shannon Pollock Neal connects with Amy Knorr MA ‘09, CJP’s peacebuilding practice director, for help. They co-write a grant proposal that includes training from the FairField Center and a mentored program for CJP students to facilitate cases.

SUMMER 2021 FUNDING IS FOUND

BUILDING IN TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

The CA office submits the proposal to Charlottesville Area Community Foundation’s BAMA Works Fund.

Shannon Pollock Neal and her colleague Samantha Markley organize a community oversight committee. Executive Director Jayne Seminare Docherty and Amy Knorr agree to serve on the committee.

“Building a diverse oversight team is a high priority. This should be a community-led effort that is fair and inclusive of all perspectives. The committee includes the Public Defender, a Spanish interpreter, a victim witness advocate from the police department, and a member of the area's re-entry committee.” Shannon Pollock Neal

• The Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice at CJP agrees to provide $7,500 toward training and monitoring.

• The FairField Center contributes by discounting their training rate.

FALL 2021 A NEW MEMBER OF THE TEAM

• CJP’s Visiting Associate Professor of Restorative Justice Tarek Maassarani agrees to work with the project. He brings prior experience with similar projects.

“Support from CJP and the Zehr Institute will strengthen the Albemarle project and provide the academic channels by which to evaluate and propagate its successes to other jurisdictions.” Tarek Maassarani

“Our proposal was based on legal clinics run by law schools. We are excited about this opportunity for our students to practice restorative justice facilitation and participate in a significant effort to reform the criminal legal system.” Amy Knorr

SPRING 2021 LOOKING FOR MONEY

• Charlottesville Area Community Foundation’s BAMA Works Fund awards the CA office $9,000.

ONGOING WORK

CJP has submitted one grant and will continue seeking funds to strengthen the mentoring, learning, evaluation, and documentation activities.

“If we had room for pictures, everyone would see a problem with this. Until recently, CJP students from the US have been predominantly white. So, our US alumni are predominantly white. It is extremely easy for well-intentioned white people to engage in reform ‘for’ others and simply replicate the systems of oppression due to their own blind spots. From the start, Shannon and Amy put this problem at the center of the project. Fortunately, our current students will bring more diversity to the diversion program and we are able to partner with local leaders in the community. As a university, we can also support continuous learning and improvement practices and provide tools for monitoring and evaluating programs to catch and correct problems early.”

JAYNE SEMINARE DOCHERTY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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IMPACT AND INNOVATION FROM OUR ALUMNI AND STUDENTS Bshara Nassar MA ‘14 was named as an awardee of The Arab American Foundation’s “40 under 40” class of 2021 in July 2021. He was recognized for founding and developing the Museum of the Palestinian People in Washington, DC and for his work with his family’s educational farm Tent of Nations in Palestine. With his wife, Kiersten Rossetto Nassar EMU ‘14, he also founded Keffiyeh Masks, a company that makes masks from traditional Palestinian scarves.

Najla El Mangoush MA ‘15 became the first woman to serve as the foreign minister of Libya. The appointment was announced March 10, 2021 when Libya’s parliament endorsed a new unified government.

Fabrice Guerrier MA ‘15 was one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 honorees in the field of art and style for 2021. Guerrier founded the sci-fi and fantasy production house Syllble in 2017 to promote and mentor the

Bshara Nassar MA ‘14

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voices of Black and indigenous authors and other writers of color through a collaborative storytelling process. “The industry and traditional pathways to get published are hard. There’s [a] lack of representation in the stories that are out there,” Guerrier explained. “We are changing the game. Our hope [is] that we can turn their best ideas into the next best TV and films.”

Jails and prisons were hotspots for infection in the pandemic.

When long-time supporter and retired attorney Ruth Stoltzfus Jost EMU ‘72 approached CJP for help getting at-risk incarcerated individuals released, current students Conner Suddick, Helen Momoh, Samantha Pearl, and Simelwe Dlova volunteered to work on research and communications for the COVID-19 Compassion Release Project.

Art Stoltzfus MA ‘16 continued to lead Faith in Action of Harrisonburg while

Maggie Rake MA ‘21 led communications efforts for the organization. Faith in Action, the largest faith-based advocacy coalition in the Shenandoah Valley, is expanding its reach using a grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Amy Knorr MA ‘09, the CJP peacebuilding practice director, co-authored the grant.

Robert Redsteer, a Navajo peacebuilder and activist, traveled with 12 EMU undergraduate students, biology professor Jim Yoder, and his wife Kathy, a garden-based educator, for an intense three-week exploration of the Navajo (Diné) and Apache culture during July and August. Redsteer connected with EMU and CJP professor Gloria Rhodes through the Summer Peacebuilding Institute several years ago. When Rhodes and Yoder were planning the first intercultural trip to the region in 2017, Redsteer became an invaluable contributor, guide and mentor.

Najla El Mangoush MA ‘15

Amy Marsico MA ‘09 helped to lead localized peacebuilding efforts in Syria with MercyCorps.

The Investing in Syrian Humanitarian Action (ISHA) program approaches localized peacebuilding by supporting local Syrian NGOs’ capacity to deliver humanitarian assistance in the immediate term, while building sustainable, local capacity and continuing civil society work in the long-term.

Jonathan McRay MA ’13 is EMU’s sustainability and social justice curriculum consultant. As co-founder of Silver Run Forest Farm in Harrisonburg, McRay has hosted practicum experiences for undergraduates majoring in peacebuilding and development and CJP students. He is also a member of Cambium Collective, an organization that “offers a range of services, skills, and processes that are grounded in an understanding of power that resists oppression so we can nurture liberating relationships.”

Fabrice Guerrier MA ‘15

DIGITAL MEDIA INNOVATORS Tim Rasmussen MA ‘21 started PopViolence, with funds he won in the CJP annual grant writing competition. He has posted ten episodes reviewing films through critical perspectives about violence, justice, conflict, and peace. Visit anchor.fm/tim-rasmussen Patience Kamau MA ‘17 produced the second season of the Peacebuilder podcast while chairing the committee to organize the CJP Anniversary events. Find the podcast at emu.edu/cjp/peacebuilder

Tim Rasmussen MA ‘21

Katrina Gehman MA ‘15 launched BothBelong: An Appreciation Campaign Reducing Polarization in the U.S. on Facebook prior to the November 2020 election (facebook.com/BothBelong).

Robin McLamb MA ‘21 used Photovoice, a participatory research process, to empower young adult Congolese refugees in Roanoke, Virginia, to share their stories of moving to a new community and navigating a new culture. “Participants of this study were viewed as co-researchers actively engaged in data gathering, analysis, and action,” she shared in her capstone presentation.

Patience Kamau MA ‘17

START-UPS Bridget Mullins MA ‘15 took her passion for process design into the Zoom world through her new company, Bridget Mullins Consulting. CJP hired Bridget multiple times during the past year for alumni networking events during the pandemic (see page 16) and the anniversary celebration.

Kirby Broadnax MA ‘20 and Yasmiene Mabrouk MA ‘20 launched Stone and Water Collaborative, LLC, offering conflict coaching, mediation, and circle processes guided by “a heart-centered approach that creates space for healing and transformation.”

Katia Ornelas Nunez MA ‘13

Katia Ornelas Nunez MA ‘13 launched Ornelas Konsultant, providing services in Spanish or English.

Matt Tibbles MA ‘18 co-founded Generative Futures Consulting, LLC with Carolyn Stauffer PhD, offering organizational change consulting, trauma transformation and resilience coaching, transformational leadership coaching, facilitator training, restorative justice coaching, and monitoring & evaluation. The organization is partnering with the State of Maryland to train facilitators in communities across Maryland to increase constructive dialogue on historical/current harms, multigenerational trauma, racial injustice, and trauma transformation. Collaborators on this project include Sidney Morgan MA ‘21, Ram Bhagat EdD, GC ’19, and Melody Pannell MSW, MDiv., GC ‘19.

Matt Tibbles MA ‘18

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CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY ONLINE NOW SAMPLE A CLASS FROM ONE OF OUR ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS • Doctor of Nursing Practice • MA in Education: Curriculum and Instruction • MA in Education: Restorative Justice in Education • MA in Education: Trauma and Resilience • MA in Human Resource Management • MA in Organizational Leadership • MA in Transformational Leadership • MBA • MS in Nursing

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2020-21 NEW FACULTY TAREK MAASSARANI JD, VISITING PROFESSOR OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and the Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice Tarek Maassarani will teach at CJP and in SPI, advise graduate students in practica, staff the Zehr Institute, and consult on a pilot program sponsored by the Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney (see page 8). He is assisting in establishing restorative diversion programs, facilitating restorative justice processes with a focus on cases of sexual harm, directing a religious peacebuilding project in Chad and Cameroon, and offering training for the United States Institute of Peace. He holds a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University and a juris doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.

GAURAV J. PATHANIA, PHD, VISITING PROFESSOR

Social Work and Center for Justice and Peacebuilding Guarav Pathania brings research and teaching expertise on social justice and critical inquiry, with special interest most recently in the South Asian diaspora in the United States. His ethnographic research examines the intersection of caste, class and ethnic politics and explores issues of education and health among socially marginalized communities. Pathania holds a doctorate in sociology and two master’s degrees in the sociology of education and sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, as well as master’s degrees in public administration and English literature from Kurukshetra University.

ASHOK XAVIER MA ‘04, PHD

Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence Social Work Ashok Xavier comes to EMU from Loyola College in Chennai, where he has been head of the social work department since 2014 and a faculty member since 2000. He is the current academic director of the Caux Scholars Programme, Asia Plateau. Xavier has consulted and provided training within projects related to human rights advocacy, capacity building, organizational structures, peacebuilding and mediation, and social and microcredit enterprises. He is also a documentary film producer. Xavier earned an MA in conflict transformation while a Fulbright Scholar at CJP, and also holds a master’s degree in social work and a PhD from University of Madras.

FLORINA XAVIER MA ‘04, PHD

Practitioner In Residence Center for Justice and Peacebuilding Florina Xavier balances teaching roles at the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute, Philippines, and in the Caux Scholars Program, Switzerland with regular consulting work. She recently worked in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Myanmar for the Australian organization ACT for Peace. Xavier is a graduate of CJP who also holds a master’s degree in social work from Madras College and a doctorate in social work from Osmania University. She is a Fulbright Scholar and Oxford Fellow.

LOOKING AHEAD

EMU is engaged in an innovative new “cohort hire” approach that will fill multiple tenure-track positions for the 2022-23 academic year. Scholars who bring a creative and innovative desire to work across disciplines are specifically sought. “This creative approach puts CJP’s needs front and center,” said Provost Fred Kniss, who is co-chairing the coordinating committee with EMU’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Jackie Font-Guzmán. For more information visit emu.edu/hr/cohort

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A NEW LEADER IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION JACQUELINE N. FONT-GUZMÁN IS EMU’S FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND A PROFESSOR AT CJP. THE FOLLOWING PERSPECTIVE WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN ANABAPTIST WORLD MAGAZINE.

ON A WALL in my childhood home in Puerto Rico hung a framed quote by the Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore.

Today the same quote is pinned on the bulletin board in my office at Eastern Mennonite University: I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and — behold! — service was joy.

This quote embodies a guiding principle for me: I am called to serve others by including all voices and speaking truth to power. This Christian imperative shapes my role at EMU as the first executive director for diversity, equity and inclusion.

I am passionate about advancing DEI at EMU because of its potential to break down barriers so that people can be their authentic selves and celebrate their shared humanity. I hope to guide the campus community to live more fully into its identity as a faith-informed peace and justice university and its commitment to cultivating a robust and inclusive community of learners.

In March, my husband and I relocated from Omaha, Nebraska, where I worked at Creighton University. I was drawn to EMU’s Anabaptist tradition to “follow Jesus’ call to bear witness to truth, serve with compassion and walk boldly in the way of nonviolence and peace.”

Similar institutional values attracted me to Creighton 15 years ago. Creighton is affiliated with the Jesuits, a Catholic order also known as the Society of Jesus. (Pope Francis is a Jesuit.) Jesuits are known for their passion for social justice, service rooted in justice and love, using one’s gifts to serve others, and commitment to education.

I see a strong connection between Jesuit and Anabaptist approaches to education. Both aim to make a more inclusive and just world, to respect every person and to see all aspects of life as opportunities to realize our God-given gifts. Both understand that serving others is for a

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engagement, I discovered that advocating on someone’s behalf was gratifying, but creating a safe space for people to advocate for themselves was exhilarating. The power to co-create a space that allows people to be heard and seen, and to transform their relationships, energizes my work with conflict engagement and peacebuilding. I entered academia intending to teach others how to co-create these brave spaces so that together we could build just, inclusive and equitable communities.

higher purpose: the glory of God. After even a short time here, I can affirm that my intuition about the university was accurate. EMU is serious about becoming a more just and inclusive campus. The community is genuinely working to decenter privilege and whiteness as we live in a more diverse nation.

Given what Anabaptist education stands for, those who know me are not surprised by my eagerness to join the EMU community. My career choices have been motivated by my belief that we have a Christian duty to serve others. This belief moved me to work in health care, the justice system and academia.

As a lawyer, I partnered with my clients in their quest for justice and ­equity. Those who had lived in slum-like apartments could secure new housing and compensation. Those unlawfully dismissed from their jobs due to their political affiliation or gender identity were reinstated. Those in prison were guaranteed high-quality medical treatment. I treasured these relationships with clients. What a blessing it was to be in their space of desperation and see them slowly move out of it!

As I moved from litigation to conflict

HOW CAN WE ADVANCE DEI AT EMU? • By expanding our moral imagination: getting better at connecting with each other and simply becoming curious about each other.

• By engaging in relationships of respect and empathy with those who are different.

• By raising awareness and naming how we may unintentionally sustain inequity, racism, misogyny and exclusion.

• Initiatives this year include: • Delivering implicit-bias training to faculty who will serve on faculty search committees; • Developing and launching inclusive excellence grants seeking proposals from the EMU community to advance DEI priorities; and • Holding a workshop that introduces cabinet members to a relational approach to DEI. I hope to inspire a culture in which we connect with our deeper selves, deepen our compassion for one another and celebrate our shared humanity, modeled after the teachings and actions of Jesus. I envision a community where we promote social justice, gender equity, religious diversity, racial justice, community service and peace.

Font-Guzmán’s work is supported by EMU’s new DEI Fund, which raised $82,750 in one day and now totals $111,263 in pledged donor support.

To learn more, visit emu.edu/diversity

JOINING THE ZEHR INSTITUTE JONATHAN SWARTZ MA ‘14 Associate Director, Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice Jonathan Swartz joins the Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice in a co-leadership role. He is director of student accountability and restorative justice at EMU. In his work with Zehr Institute, he will develop new opportunities for teaching, training and consulting, and connect the institute and CJP to restorative justice on campus. Swartz brings experience partnering and collaborating with many of CJP’s programs, including with ZI, the Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) program, and with graduate students in practica for both the conflict transformation and restorative justice programs. Swartz holds a master’s degree in conflict transformation from EMU, a Master of Divinity degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and a BA in psychology from Bethel College.

JOAO SALM, PHD

Visiting Fellow, Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice Joao Salm, a native of Brazil, is an associate professor of criminal justice at Governors State University in Illinois. He will join EMU in the spring semester for a number of activities, including class visits and the presentation of a university colloquium on the application of RJ to environmental conflicts in Brazil. He holds a PhD in justice studies from Arizona State University, and a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in law from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Salm is a co-founder, with noted expert Elizabeth Elliott, Brazilian judges, and the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of an international cooperative agreement between Canada and Brazil in restorative justice. He was also a consultant to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and the United Nations Development Program in the area of restorative justice in Guinea Bissau and Fiji.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OPTIONS STAR

Our Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience program is now online. Check the website for dates of trainings. We can design an online or in-person training for your organization. Unsure of what you need? We’re ready to help assess your needs with no obligation.

SPI

Join more than 3,600 participants in gaining professional skills on a wide range of peacebuilding and conflict resolution topics. A spring session online and summer session in person will be offered.

Check our website for updated information.

Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice A slate of spring webinars is planned. Check zehr-institute.org

emu.edu/cjp/professional-training

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TURNING TO EACH OTHER

LIVING IN A TIME OF PANDEMIC, global unrest, climate change and racial injustices, our network of CJP alumni can be a strong source of sustenance, wisdom and life-giving connection. We’re growing our digital and virtual capacities to foster shared visions, mutual community, and radical change. Hear these contributors and participants:

"It was terrific sharing ideas with peacebuilders globally. Racism is structural and systemic. For us, as peacebuilders, we feel that we are immune to the situation, but the reality is that we carry our bias which might influence us. Recalling the concept of white fragility, it is easy not to acknowledge or appreciate our role in the situation. The discussion was an excellent tool for selfreflection on our role in the scheme of things!"

COLINS IMOH MA '12 teaches in the criminal justice department at California State University, Sacramento.

"We wanted to create a virtual space where alumni could show up, across geographies and professions, with all of the joy and messiness of today’s world. As the gathering unfolded, I watched faces light up with the sheer delight of seeing beloved classmates and professors. I have no doubt that the (re)connections that were sparked will continue to ripple out in unexpected and beautiful ways."

BRIDGET MULLINS MA '15 is a facilitation and process design consultant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

"I imagine that, together, we can do more than we can do separately, and it's a way of really helping to bring forth more of the world that we're wanting to create."

CATHERINE BARNES teaches strategic peacebuilding and public policy at CJP.

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"As we were designing this process, I kept thinking, 'If we can't be together, what better way to celebrate the CJP 25th anniversary during a pandemic combined with a global uprising against racist systems than gathering to learn from each other. The wisdom is in the community! Let's tap into it.'"

JAYNE DOCHERTY is the executive director of CJP.

"The pandemic was and is hard for all of us in different ways.

For myself, I would have been completely lost without the CJP community. It looked different online, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to work in these relationships.

LINDSAY ACKER MA ‘21 CJP Community Building Coordinator, took on the challenge of building and sustaining community in the online world for all of 2020, including SPI 2020, and spring semester 2021. Lindsay now works with the Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition in Pennsylvania, where she did her practicum.

CONNECT WITH US! We have over 600 alumni working all over the world.

Make connections on the CJP Alumni Directory at emu.edu/now/peacebuilder/cjp-alumni "Graduates of CJP seem to have a shared language that makes any engagement with alumni refreshing and reinforcing – it reminds me that there are so many practitioners doing great work. The Open Space process gave me the chance to engage in some critical questions around RJ that my colleagues are encountering too. It was invaluable."

Update your information at emu.edu/cjp/alumni/update Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

AARON ERB MA '15 is a school-based restorative practice coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh.

ILLUSTRATION BY RANDI B. HAGI '14

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BOOKSHELF David Brubaker, professor and dean of EMU’s School of Social Sciences and Professions, has published When the Center Does Not Hold, a new guidebook for leadership in fraught times (Fortress Press, 2019). Carolyn Yoder, the founding director of the STAR program, and author of Little Book of Trauma Healing (SkyHorse Publishing, 2020), was a contributor.

Timothy Seidel, professor of international development and director of EMU’s Center for Interfaith Engagement, co-edited Political Economy of Palestine: Critical, Interdisciplinary, and Decolonial Perspectives (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021) along with Alaa Tartir and Tariq Dana.

The authors argue that economic and political analysis cannot be separated if we want to understand the situation in occupied Palestine.

Listening to the Movement: Essays on New Growth and New Challenges in Restorative Justice (Cascade Books, 2021) is an anthology inspired by a series of dialogues sponsored by the Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice. Former CJP professor Carl Stauffer MA ‘02 is one of the book’s editors. Contributors include Kathy Evans, professor of education, and CJP graduates Valerie Luna Serrels MA ‘10 and Barb Toews MA ‘00.

Johonna Turner, former professor and co-director of the Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice, was among the contributors to Colorizing Restorative Justice: Voicing Our Realities (Living Justice Press, 2020), a collection of 18 essays penned by various authors of color: practitioners and scholars of restorative justice who explore the issues of racism and colonization within the field.

Phoebe Kilby GC ‘04 and Betty Kilby Baldwin are the co-authors of Cousins (Walnut Street Books, 2021), a story of racial reconciliation and the founding of Coming to the Table.

STAR for Sexual Harms is a new free manual developed by co-authors Carolyn Stauffer, Joy Kreider, Rhoda Miller MA ‘20, Rachel Roth Sawatzky, and Ram Bhagat GC ‘19. It is available for download at emu.edu/peacebuilder.

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Our alumni are involved in many projects including and beyond those in print. Are you involved in projects that we should know about? Please stay in touch and share your work with us, whether that’s a book, essay, article or a major project - and remember to update your alumni profile page at emu.edu/cjp/alumni

We plan to update our website to make it easier for graduates to share their publications and resources across the CJP network.

Stay tuned for more information!

Caitlin Morneau MA ‘19 led Catholic Mobilizing Network in creating a new restorative justice guide for Catholic Communities called Paths of Renewed Encounter. It is available online at catholicsmobilizing.org/guide/ paths-renewed-encounter and will soon be released in hard copy.

Elena Huegel MA ’07 and Mercedes Margarita Cadena Olguín are co-authors of De Renacuajos a ranas: reencuentros intergeneracionales con la naturaleza para nutrir la resiliencia y la dignidad (Instituto de Estudios e Investigación Intercultural, A.C., 2020), or From Tadpoles to Frogs: Intergenerational gatherings with nature to nourish resilience and dignity. Illustrations in the book are by Marisa Castro Mc.Conegly.

Emily E. Stanton MA ‘00 has published Theorising Civil Society Peacebuilding: The Practical Wisdom of Local Peace Practitioners in Northern Ireland, 1965– 2015 (Routledge, 2021), an exploration of the value of local knowledge for peacebuilding based on empirical qualitative research.

Saudi Arabia and Indonesian Networks: Migration, Education, and Islam (Bloomsbury, 2020) by Sumanto Al Qurtuby MA ‘07 examines the deep intellectual and religious connections that exist between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia due to the presence of Indonesian educational migrants and intellectual travellers in Saudi Arabia.

Restorative Justice: Healing Our Society (Peacebuilding Books, 2020) is a Koreanlanguage book by Jae Young Lee MA ’03, based on his experience introducing restorative justice into a variety of contexts in South Korea.

Drick Boyd, current student and professor emeritus of urban and interdisciplinary studies at Eastern University, has published Disrupting Whiteness: Talking with White People About Racism (Arch Street Press, 2021).

Encouraging a conversational rather than combative approach to discussing racism, the book is also an invitation to reflect more fully on our racialized experiences and socialization and how they shape us.

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DREAMING INTO THE FUTURE This past year was a chance to extend our 25th anniversary and continue our anniversary theme to “celebrate, reflect, and dream” together. In a year that brought many changes and challenges, taking time to celebrate, reflect, and dream became a meaningful grounding ritual for me, both personally and professionally. Our anniversary speakers - which I highly recommend watching, and re-watching provided important context as we honor the past, especially the many important people who have shaped CJP, as well as dream of a powerful future.

students, faculty and staff. Contributing to this fund is one way for CJP and EMU supporters to amplify the work of EMU’s new DEI director Jackie Font Guzmán (see page 14) and others working to build inclusive spaces on campus, such as our student-led affinity groups.

Many of these dreams are already growing into reality, animated through the generosity of our community of supporters.

The Michael J. Sharp Peace and Justice Endowed Scholarship Fund began as a commitment from family and friends to honor the legacy of murdered peacebuilder and EMU alumnus MJ Sharp. Through initiatives like an EMU crowdfunding campaign, the MJ Dream Hike to the peak of Kilimanjaro in 2019, and even a specially crafted beer, more than 530 donors have contributed over $215,000 towards the scholarship. The MJ Sharp fund has already supported two Congolese students at CJP - David Nyiringabo MA ‘20 and current student Yolanda Emedi - and will continue to provide need-based aid to graduate students from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A new university-wide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fund builds on CJP and EMU’s commitment to foster a sense of belonging and community for all students. This fund is one piece of our “Forward Together” campaign (emu.edu/ campaign). Our goal is to raise $100,000 each year to invest in training events and similar efforts that enhance diversity and inclusion among EMU

To strengthen CJP as a resilient, flexible and innovative program, a robust endowment is essential. One of our newest endowment funds, the Emily Grace Shenk Endowment Fund for the Center for Justice & Peacebuilding was created in 2020 through a generous bequest. The fund provides annual support for CJP operations, giving us more flexibility to respond to the needs of the moment and seize opportunities when they arise. One example - the sudden need to shift entire courses online for SPI 2020 due to the pandemic opened opportunities to increase online offerings across all CJP programs into the future. An additional bequest this past year means that the fund is at $120,000, and we hope to grow it to $1 million within the next 5 years.

These glimpses of CJP living into its future - through the stories you’ve read here, and the funds named above - are just a few examples of the potential for healing, hope and positive change made possible by an incredible network of CJP students, alumni and supporters. We invite you to become a part of bringing these dreams to fruition. Your support through annual and planned giving is essential to benefit CJP students and grow our programs in response to the world’s great needs. I am always available to talk with you about how your charitable gift can have the most impact. Thanks to each one of you!

LINDSAY E. MARTIN Associate Director of Development for CJP lindsay.e.martin@emu.edu 540-432-4581

Contact Lindsay or EMU’s Development office to discuss any of these giving options. Thank you for your past and future partnership with CJP!

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THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS! FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020-21, ENDING JUNE 30, 2021

PARTNERS IN PEACEBUILDING ($1000+ to CJP Annual Fund) Anonymous (5) Alper Family Foundation Inc. Devon and Teresa Anders Marcia Augsburger and Stephen Goff Jake Baer III and Alicia Spence Rose Ann and Gerald Baer Murl Baker Elva Bare Lena and Michael R Brown Barbara Brubaker E Lynn Brubaker and Debra Hutchinson Hero Brzw Paul and Esther Bucher David Bucher and Sharon W. Hoover Daryl and Cynthia Byler R Bradley and Mary Ellen Chewning Melvin and Lorna Claassen Paul and Esther Clymer Angela Dickey Jayne Docherty Bill and Diane Elliot Bruce and Jeanette Flaming Fred and Gail Fox Bob Gillette Elizabeth Gingrich James and Joan Gingrich Stan and Susan Godshall Nancy Good Steven and Judith Harder Herb and Joanne High Nelson Hoover Horace W Goldsmith Foundation Bob and Eloise Hostetler Alden and Louise Hostetter Pat and Daniel Hunt Helen and Elvin Hurst Phoebe Kilby and Barry Carpenter

Bruce and Paula Brunk Kuhns Wayne and Kathleen Kurtz Wendell Lantz and Doris Weaver Ruby Lehman Ruth and Emerson Lesher Allen and Sara Jane Lind Joe Longacher Lindsay Martin and Nathan Musselman Lois M. Martin Tom and Barbara Melby John and Adeline Metzler Brad Miller and Jessica Yoder Nathan Miller and Viola Mullet Miller J Phillip and Betsy Moyer Herb and Sarah Myers Larry and Janet Newswanger Mark and Judith Nord Linda O’Brien Elmo Pascale Patricia Patton Daryl and Jane Peifer Portland Mennonite Church Krista and David Powell Kay Pranis Barbara and Alan Robbins Douglas and Barbara E Root James and Gloria Horst Rosenberger Henry and Charlotte Graber Rosenberger Lynn and Kathleen Roth Clarence Rutt Verne and Carol Schirch Erma Schnabel Sewickley Presbyterian Church Hollis and Martha A Showalter Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa Donald and Mary Sundberg Stirling Dan and Angela Stoltzfus Barbara and David Swan Telemachus Foundation Paul Thomas Vaughn and Inga Troyer

United Service Foundation Inc. James and Jeannine Uzel Valley Friends Meeting Samuel H. and Margaret Weaver Bob and Lena Wenger Mary and Raymond Whalen Marshall and Julie Yoder Marion and Eleanor Yoder LaVern and Mary Jane Yutzy Pearl E. Zehr Donald and Priscilla Ziegler Cheryl Zook

DONORS TO OTHER CJP FUNDS OF $1000+ Anonymous Alper Family Foundation Inc. Jacob Baer Jr. Bia Echo Foundation Donald and Judith Bender Clement and Donna Haldeman Esther Harder and Carlos Bustamante Harder Lois Kenagy Phoebe Kilby and Barry Carpenter Klingstein Foundation John Kreider Marge Maust and Sandy Bahr John and Adeline Metzler Nathan Miller and Viola Mullet Miller Fae Miller Mount St. Francis Krista and David Powell Anthony Pratkanis Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth Norm Rittenhouse John Schaller Jerry and Ethel Shank United Service Foundation Inc. Jay and Nancy Yoder

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SUPPORT A GLOBAL NETWORK OF PEACEBUILDERS “What I have experienced as a student at CJP has not only given me language to express ideas I have always had about healing and justice, but it has also solidified that my experience with the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding will be invaluable as I pursue my goal of helping individuals and communities heal from harm.”

Gabrielle Bradshaw, second-year graduate student (restorative justice)

Please consider making a gift today! emu.edu/cjp/donations Your gifts to CJP support Gabrielle and other students at CJP as they expand CJP’s global network of peacebuilding practitioners and social justice leaders.