Student Summit for a Department of Peace 

Justin Kadich, Julia Simon-Mishel, and Aaron Voldman

Report by Aaron Voldman
National College Director of the Student Peace Alliance,
Student, Brandeis University

On Saturday, March 4th about 40 students, professors, and activists met at Brandeis University for the first ever Student Summit for a Department of Peace. Attendees included students from six universities (St. Joseph's College, Brandeis University, Tufts University, Regis College, Salem State, and Wellesely College) and one high school (Carlyle High School). The day began with Patty Roeding, Education Director of the Peace Alliance Foundation, who presented on Governing Ourselves in a Culture of Peace, and the Department of Peace. Next, a panel presentation followed which included Dr. Dan Shapiro, of The Harvard Negotiation Project; Dr. Gordon Fellman, Chair of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at Brandeis University; and Grove Harris, from The Cambridge Peace Commission. They each gave compelling and insightful presentations of their field and work.

Participants greatly appreciated the adult panelists and speaker, but particularly enjoyed the student-facilitated and student-lead sessions during the second half of the day. During the second half of the day students broke out into small groups to reflect on the Department of Peace. The students ended the day by facilitating activist training sessions which were informing and engaging.

Following the summit students spoke about the possibility of contacting the Congressmen who have yet to co-sponsor the Department of Peace bill, and ask to meet with them concerning the legislation.

The student summit for a Department of Peace was the first student summit in the nation in support of the bill. It marked the first event of the newly emerging Student Peace Alliance, which is the national student group allied with the Peace Alliance in support of the Department of Peace. The Student Peace Alliance will move forward by reflecting on the lessons learned and skills garnered at the summit to plan out and implement a national student strategy to pass the Department of Peace Bill.

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