JANUARY 2014

A very happy 2014 to you and yours!

From the National Peace Academy's point of view, the year is already shaping up to be an exciting one. For one thing, we'll be celebrating our fifth birthday this year. It's hard to believe that five years has already passed since NPA's Stakeholder Design Summit at Case Western Reserve University in March 2009.

Also, we'll be pursuing four new initiatives this year, some of which have already garnered enthusiastic responses from key audiences and partners. These programs emerged from a process of reflection and evaluation undertaken last year by NPA's staff, board, and trustees, which was motivated by the question, "In these times of accelerating opportunities for transformation, how can the National Peace Academy multiply its effectiveness for national impact?"

The four initiatives are:

Community Peacebuilding: Building Safe, Healthy, Sustainable Communities
School Teacher and Administrator Training in Peace Education: Countering Violence in Schools and Communities
Communities-of-Practice Intensive: Learning and Planning for Change (this is the next evolution of our highly successful Peacebuilding Peacelearning Intensive - PPI)
National Dialogues: Convening Community Conversations about the Issues Important to Us and that Shape Society

And, of course, we are continuing our series of teleconference dialogues and serving as the secretariat for the 30-year-old International Institute on Peace Education (this year to be held in July in Lithuania) and the Global Campaign for Peace Education.

You'll be hearing more about these exciting programs in this newsletter and as the year unfolds. In the meantime, I invite you to help us bring them to full realization as quickly as possible by donating even more than many of you already have, perhaps even by becoming a sustaining donor and helping increase the level of our steady monthly income.

Finally, I want to say how excited and humbled I am to be assuming the reins of NPA Chairman of the Board from Lou Ensel. Lou has served as chairman from the beginning, and, while thankfully remaining on the board of NPA, is handing off the chairmanship to enable him to bring his big heart and talents to organizations working for the common good in his local community. So, deep, deep gratitude to Lou!

Peace and blessings,

FOUR NEW INITIATIVES

With help from your feedback and reflections, new things are happening with the 4 initiatives!
Click here to learn more.

UPCOMING

5th Birthday!

Happy Birthday NPA! March 4th marks the anniversary of the creation of the National Peace Academy. We will always be grateful to the nearly 200 people who came together 5 years ago at Case Western Reserve University with the support of David Cooperrider to bring a long-time dream into reality. Celebrate our 5th birthday with us! Join us on March 4th from 8-9pm eastern for a phone call birthday party facilitated by NPA President Dot Maver. Hear from alumni, edulearners, partners, and trustees about how NPA continues to change the world; learn about the continued evolution of the field of peace education and peacelearning from peace educator and NPAs Vice President of Academic Affairs, Tony Jenkins; and help us welcome a VERY special surprise guest. To receive the call-information for our birthday party please click here.

Peacebuilder Teleconference Dialogue

We are excited to host another session in our Peacebuilder Teleconference Dialogue series. Join us on Wednesday, February 26th at 7pm eastern for a conversation on community peacebuilding. In conjunction with our Community Peacebuilding initiative, we will bring together experts in the field of peacebuilding and community organizing to share their perspectives, strategies and learnings. Join the conversation here.

NPA VP for Academic Affairs Presenting at UN Conference

On January 31, Tony Jenkins, NPA's VP for Academic Affairs, will be facilitating a workshop with 400 educators at the United Nations for the 15th annual Committee for Teaching About the UN Conference (CTAUN) with the theme of "Promoting Peace Through Education." Other presenters include Virginia Gamba, Director and Deputy to the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs; Dr. George Lopez, VP of the Academy for Conflict Management and Peacebuilding, United States Institute of Peace; Cora Weiss, President, Hague Appeal for Peace; and Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary. Click here for more information.

Conference on "Reconstructing Peace Studies"

Co-organized by NPAs Vice President for Academic Affairs

Supporting NPA's efforts to further develop academic peace studies, Tony Jenkins, NPA's VP for Academic Affairs, is helping to organize the conference "Reconstructing Peace Studies: Assessing New Knowledge & Outcomes." The conference, co-organized by the Peace and Justices Studies Association (PJSA) and the Baker Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies at Juniata College, will take place March 20-23 in Huntington, PA. This collaborative project will be conducted as a small, working conference that explores how we identify, name and assess the knowledge, attitudes and skills that students studying in a Peace Studies program should encounter and develop as part of their studies, as well as assessment strategies at both course and program levels. Registration is still open!

International Institute on Peace Education 2014 - Lithuania

Now Accepting Applications

The 2014 International Institute on Peace Education (IIPE) will take place in Vilnius, Lithuania from July 6-13, 2014. This year's Institute is being co-organized in partnership with the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences and the NPA (home of the IIPE secretariat). For over 30 years, the IIPE has brought together educators, professional workers and activists in the field of peace education from around the world to exchange experiences and learn with and from each other in an intensive, short-term learning community that embodies the practices and principles of critical, participatory peace pedagogy. IIPE 2014 participants, many whom will be drawn from Lithuania, Europe, and Western Asia will be joined with representatives from other world regions. The 2014 IIPE, taking place during the centenary of World War I, will weave together experiential and theoretical contributions of participants to illuminate diverse views, explore educational applications, and assess possibilities for practical steps toward addressing the theme of "transcending a century of worldwide wars." Click here for more information and to apply.

IN MEMORY: LOIS RUSKIN

Lois Ruskin was a true champion of peacebuilding. Her visionary leadership and staunch support of the principles and practices of peace, friendship and character helped not only to create and sustain the Biosophical Institute but was also instrumental in the founding of the National Peace Academy in the USA. Lois would often share a poem, sing a song or share a story, as she had a deep love and appreciation of culture and the arts. She will be missed. Our hearts unite across distance as we remember a life well lived with an attitude of positive thinking, support, encouragement, and loving kindness.

RECENT NPA AND NPA PARTNER OFFERINGS

Did you know?

NPA offers many resources on our website. From news to faculty postings, to educational resources, you can expand your knowledge of peace, peace education, peacelearning, and more! Check it out!

The Invisible Yet Existent Culture of Peace
Article written by Dot Maver in the Fall/Winter edition of Kosmos Journal

ed 2

World Peace Radio Hour

Dot Maver is interviewed on this weekly program

NPA ripple, the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding (RPCP) videos:
Overview of the work of RPCP

RPCP PSA

JOIN THE SUSTAINING SUPPORTER TEAM

As you know, during our summer sustaining supporter campaign we were striving to reach a goal of bringing in $2000 per month in recurring donations from people like you. We didn't hit our goal then, but wouldn't it be great to celebrate our 5th year by reaching that number? We believe $2000 per month will allow us to continue offering terrific programming without the constant worry of fundraising.

Becoming a sustaining supporter (monthly donor) is one of the easiest and most supportive ways you can be involved in the NPA community. Consider giving $5 per month for our birthday!

Click here to join the Sustaining Supporters community at the National Peace Academy.