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The Breakout Session options for Saturday, March 21 are listed below. These sessions will all start at 4:30 PM and will last one hour.
    
If you have already registered for the conference please log back in to your registration page, (check your confirmation email for instructions) and then go to the Agenda Items page and select the breakout session you wish to attend.
If you are attending the conference as a staff member, volunteer or as a scholarship recipient who has not been required to formally register, please
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and let her know which session you would like to attend. Be sure you provide Wendy with your full name.
Quick Links to Session Details:
Speak Your Peace
With Bob Koehler
Unleash the writer within as you get in touch with your own passion for peace and how to communicate it in your personal unique style. Indeed, the pen is mightier than the sword, and at this session, you can gain the confidence to wield it.
About the Presenter:
Bob Koehler is a long-time Chicago-based journalist, editor, teacher, public speaker, poet and fiction writer. He works as an editor at Tribune Media Services and is also nationally syndicated by Tribune. He has won awards for his writing at the local, state and national levels, and continues to generate intense reaction among readers, having been thanked profusely, called a hero of democracy, had his life threatened and been wished an inoperable brain tumor.
Bob writes about politics from outside the unspoken assumptions of mainstream journalism. He sees his column as a means of interrupting the conversation that accepts as given war, poverty, social inequity and environmental degradation, and is an enthusiastic participant in the evolution of human consciousness.
Cultivating Human Generosity: Funding the Dream
With Lynn McMullen
Within each of us, there is a deep longing to give of our spiritual, physical, intellectual, and yes, our financial wealth. We long to contribute to something far greater than ourselves, but too often, no one is showing us how. That’s where the fundraiser comes in. A true fundraiser is someone who passionately cultivates human generosity, providing a desperately needed outlet through which others can express and experience the joy of giving. Bringing financial strength into our network is critical for our long term success. The economic realities of today require us to learn new strategies and develop the right messages for fundraising success. Learn the passion and power of fundraising from a place of partnership, connection and abundance. Not only will you be empowered to cultivate generosity in others, you’ll experience the deep satisfaction of knowing you helped create the financial infrastructure that is funding the dream of peace into reality. Bring your excitement, your questions and your concerns.
About the Presenter:
Lynn McMullen is the Executive Director of The Peace Alliance, to which she brings more than 20 years of experience in grassroots organizing and lobbying.
From 1987 to 2001, she served at RESULTS, a U.S.-based citizens' advocacy network, as the National Grassroots Manager, Development Director and ultimately Executive Director. She has organized and managed numerous successful lobbying and media campaigns to establish and increase funding for a variety of social service efforts, including Head Start early childhood education, food stamp programs, Child Survival foreign assistance, international AIDS prevention and treatment, and microfinance, both nationally and internationally.
In 2003, she co-founded the nonprofit Global Democratic Citizens Union, launching an initiative in South Africa to bring economic literacy and microfinance to AIDS orphans and vulnerable youth in rural areas of KwaZulu Natal and create a replicable model of microfinance for teen youth through the school system.
Lynn has been involved with the Department of Peace Campaign since its inception. She served as National Campaign Manager for The Peace Alliance from 2004 to 2007, and National Campaign Advisor from 2007 to 2008. She returned to full-time status as the Executive Director in October 2008.
Grow Baby Grow: Building and Sustaining Your Local Group
With Jan Atkinson. Christine Elliot, Linda Henderson, and Colleen Mills
The Department of Peace Campaign groups in San Diego, CA, and Michigan’s District
11 consistently bring in more than 40 people to area meetings every month.
What’s the secret to connecting in your community and inspiring this level
of commitment and activity? It’s a secret no more! Come learn and share these
grassroots organizing successes and challenges.
About the Presenters:
- Jan Atkinson and her husband John became
Regional Coordinators for the San Diego County Department of Peace campaign
in 2006, and are now California Co-state Coordinators. Their son, Rob Atkinson,
was the National Student Peace Alliance Communications Director, and then
SPA’s national Legislative Director. Jan has been an attorney in her own
private practice for over 30 years, has a degree in Psychology; has been
a “community organizer”, is a master networker, and at one time worked for
a circus!
- Christine Elliot and her husband John McNeil initiated the California Dept.
of Peace Campaign in 2004, became Southern California Co-state Coordinators,
and now Christine serves on the Board of The Peace Alliance. A former corporate
attorney, sales associate, middle manager, author, trainer and business coach,
Christine is happily retired and focuses most of her time on the Dept. of Peace
Campaign.
- Linda Henderson has worked as State Coordinator for Michigan's Department
of Peace campaign since 2003. Currently in sole practice as an attorney in
Michigan's capital city, Linda has also been involved in supporting the political
campaigns of local judges, state and federal legislators, city councilpersons,
Michigan's current Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, and President Barack Obama.
- When Colleen Mills retired after teaching school in Detroit for 35 years,
she dedicated her energy to becoming a peacemaker. She has been the Department
of Peace campaign District Leader for Michigan’s 11th District since 2003 and
is the President of “Citizens for Peace”, a group working to create a culture
of peace by focusing on inner peace, education and encouraging the passage
of the DOP bill.
 Download a handout for this session. 57.98 Kb
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Overcoming the My Face Twitters: Using Social Networking for Grassroots Organizing
With Kimberly Kemp and Ted Nunn
Online Social Networking is a powerful and too-often-untapped tool for spreading
the word about the Department of Peace, and connecting with others around important
violence-reduction and prevention-issues, and growing the grassroots campaign.
From blogging to “tweeting,” embarking on this new terrain alone can be scary;
but when we all go in together, it can be fun and exciting! Share in this co-creative
exploratory session looking at various online social networking tools, finding
what works, and helping build the basis of an online community for the Department
of Peace Campaign. You don’t have to be a “geek” to get it!
About the Presenters:
- Kimberly Kemp works as a human performance support technologist,
helping clients solve their business problems by using technology to improve
processes and workforce performance. Working with clients throughout the
world in the consumer products, manufacturing, government, communications
and pharmaceutical industries since 1997, she specializes in supporting clients
in implementing enterprise-wide information systems. She oversees project
teams that implement global learning strategies that encompass training and
documentation, blended learning, multi-media, online performance support,
and change management solutions designed to accelerate the comprehension
and use of complex technology. Prior to 1997, Kimberly was a Chinese-Mandarin
Language Translator and Instructor. She developed courseware using Instructional
Systems Design (ISD) methodologies; completed the Air Education and Training
Command’s basic instructor training and practicum; and performed the duties
of a National Security Agency, National Cryptologic School Adjunct Faculty
member. Kimberly is excited about bringing her experience and enthusiasm
to her volunteer efforts in support of the Department of Peace campaign
- Ted Nunn is the Maryland State Coordinator
for the Department of Peace Campaign, and has recently volunteered to take
on the role of Online Activism Coordinator for The Peace Alliance. Ted joined
the Campaign in 2005 because “Nothing is more important” (to quote Azim Khamisa)
in making sure his two teenage kids have a safe, secure future. He works
as a project manager for an IT company, but his real passion is leveraging
technology to catalyze political activism. Ted is an “experienced” online
social networker, learning everything he knows about Facebook and MySpace
from his kids. He is a frequent contributor to the Dept. of Peace idea site
on Change.org and writes under the pseudonym of “Violence B. Gawn” for the
Peace Geek blog. If Ted can do it, anyone can do it.
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Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices
With Carol Hillson, Martha Lasley and Pam Steager
Come learn about the emerging fields of Restorative Justice and Restorative
Practices which are being utilized within the areas of criminal and juvenile
justice, child welfare, education, community organizations and families,
and could easily be used within advocacy groups like state or district DoP
campaigns. This interactive session will provide an overview of this exciting
and growing field and its connection to peace building and nonviolent communication,
and will allow participants to experience the circle process which is at the
heart of this movement.
About the Presenters:
- Carol Hillson's biography will be posted shortly.
- Martha Lasley is a certified trainer for the Center for Nonviolent
Communication and a founding partner of Leadership that Works, a firm
that trains and coaches visionaries. She coaches leaders and social
change activists to develop a compelling vision and improve
interpersonal communications..She wrote the book Courageous Visions and
is finishing another book Facilitating with Heart. She has taught NVC
in prisons, college campuses, NGOs, corporations, intensives,
teleclasses and public workshops. She especially enjoys her NVC
training with social workers in India where Gandhi’s philosophy
permeates the culture.
- Writer, trainer, consultant, performer and state coordinator for the Department of Peace Campaign in Rhode Island, Pam Steager has spent 30 years in the prevention, education and human service fields, primarily in the prevention of substance abuse and family and community violence. In the past decade she has incorporated media literacy, cultural competence, community dialogue and restorative justice into her efforts to create safe and healthy individuals, families, communities and nations. In 2003-04, she went global as the only North American in a Masters degree program in Gender and Peace Studies at the United Nations’ University for Peace in Costa Rica. She has recently studied at the International Institute for Restorative Practices and Suffolk University’s Center for Restorative Justice, and believes that shifting our current justice system from retributive to restorative is an essential building block of a culture of peace.
Download a handout for this session. 1.26 Mb
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Expose Yourself! Mastering the Media Interview
With Marianne Perez
In real estate it’s “location, location, location.” In communications, it’s
“repetition, repetition, repetition.” In media, it’s “practice, practice,
practice.” Come share your experiences, learn from others, and hone your
interviewee skills as we release those media fears and master the media
interview.
About the Presenter:
- Marianne H. Perez is an educator and peacebuilder. She currently volunteers with the campaign to establish a federal-level Department of Peace within the U.S. government. For the campaign, she organized roundtables and wrote a position paper on proven, effective violence prevention and conflict transformation techniques. In parallel, she is developing workshops on peace journalism and moving media towards a culture of peace for various student and activist groups. Marianne obtained her masters degree from the European University Center for Peace Studies (Stadtschlaining, Austria) and her undergraduate degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University (Washington, DC). Aside from her peace work, Marianne also teaches and tutors middle school and high school students, and does French-English interpreting for U.S. Immigration Court hearings and a variety of translation work.
Download a handout for this session. 28.63 Kb
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Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP): How Does Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping Work?
With David Grant
Why wouldn't a gunman shoot civilians if unarmed civilian intervenors are
present? Worldwide, governments and civilians are accustomed to relying
on armed solutions to respond to violence or the threat of violence. Can
unarmed intervention protect the human rights of civilians committed to
maintaining the nonviolent nature of a conflict?
Learn about Nonviolent Peaceforce’s work and participate in a simulation where
“teams” of international civilian peacekeepers discuss and choose the actions
most likely to protect civilians from harm, based upon field experiences of
NP teams. Learn also about NP’s nonviolent conflict intervention training in
the United States, focused both on community peacekeeping and on daily life
situations.
About the Presenter:
- David Grant is responsible for Nonviolent
Peaceforce new project development in six world regions, and liaisons with
the United Nations. Recently he organized briefings in New York for UN agencies
and representatives of UN Missions, including those on the Security Council
and Peacebuilding Commission. Before joining Nonviolent Peaceforce, David
lived in the Netherlands where he worked as Coordinator of International
Fellowship of Reconciliation’s Nonviolence Education & Training Program;
Trainer for Dutch observers to the Middle East; and Intercultural Specialist
for the Royal Tropical Institute. In the early 1990’s, David was Director
of Rural Southern Voice for Peace, including developing “The Listening Project”.
David’s background includes conscientious objection to the Vietnam War, public
television producing and directing, homesteading, coordinating a soup kitchen,
creative writing and performance. David has special interest in “nonviolent
struggle using the cultural arts”, including development of large-scale simulations.
David lives in Washington, DC.
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Mobilizing Youth for a Department of Peace: Campus and Community Organizing
With Miranda Fisher, Julia Simon-Mishel, and Aaron Voldman
Join Student Peace Alliance as we teach each other the ins and outs of building
a sustainable youth chapter. This breakout will be useful for those new to
youth organizing, to old hats, and for anyone in between. We will discuss
how to start a chapter on a campus, recruit, facilitate a meeting, empower
and motivate youth; and we provide ample time for any questions about youth
organizing. Both youth and adults are welcome in this breakout!
About the Presenters:
- Miranda Fisher is a junior at Colorado State University where
she is majoring in Journalism, with a minor in Sociology and a certificate
in Peace and Reconciliation studies. She has been working with Student Peace
Alliance for a little over a year and was a state and regional organizer before
becoming the National Field Organizer. Miranda is passionate individual who
truly cares about establishing relationships people of all walks of life. She
currently works with people with developmental disabilities in a variety of
different capacities and cofounded a student organization called Universities
Fighting Hunger. Born and raised in Colorado, she enjoys snowboarding, spending
time outdoors, and going to as many concerts as possible.
- Julia Simon-Mishel is a senior at Brandeis University double majoring in Politics
and Women and Gender Studies, with minors in Legal Studies and Peace, Conflict
and Coexistence Studies. She has been working with Student Peace Alliance since
co-founding the organization with Aaron Voldman in March 2006. She cherishes
every minute that she spends working with Student Peace Alliance members and
always goes through intense withdrawal following national events! You probably
know her as the logistics and detail guru, but she also shares the greater
vision of a better world (details included). Julia grew up in the unique town
of Takoma Park, Maryland and loves the atmosphere of metropolitan DC. Outside
of SPA she leads her college Mock Trial team which reached the National Championships
in 2008. She loves reading, almost any type of sport (go Eagles!), and hanging
out with friends (duh).
- Aaron Voldman is 21 years old and hails from South Burlington, Vermont. He
organized locally for a Department of Peace during high school and now attends
Brandeis University (2009) where is majoring in Philosophy and Politics, with
a minor in Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Studies. He has worked with Student
Peace Alliance since co-founding the organization with Julia Simon-Mishel in
March 2006. He also currently serves on the Board of The Peace Alliance, the
partner organization to SPA that empowers civic activism for a culture of peace.
Aaron is passionate about positive social change and transformation and is
inspired by the organizers and peacebuilders of all ages whom he has met through
his work with the Department of Peace campaign. In his spare time Aaron enjoys
eating hummus, salsa dancing, and the great outdoors.
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