Peacebuilding Practice at CJP

Engaging in peacebuilding practice is an essential aspect of the CJP experience. As we seek to prepare reflective practitioners for the field, CJP offers a diverse range of practice opportunities for students. We encourage students to take advantage of some of these opportunities during their time here. Peacebuilding practice is the skills, knowledge and processes we use to make the change we want to see happen. For CJP, peacebuilding practice at its best is based on long term engagement.

Areas of Peacebuilding Practice

CJP takes a broad view of forms of peacebuilding practice. These areas include, but are not limited to:

Peacebuilding & conflict transformation Conflict analysis Advocacy and activism Circle processes Monitoring and evaluation Project design and management Listening projects Organizational development Restorative justice

Dialog facilitation Peacebuilding and the arts Mediation Leadership coaching Trauma awareness training Training in peacebuilding Action research Peacebuilding through theater Telling peacebuilding stories through media

The Practice Director

Students work closely with peacebuilding practice director Amy Knorr. Amy ensures seamless and excellent practice-focused accompaniment of all CJP MA students from orientation to graduation. She works closely with local, national and international organizations to build relationships for potential practice and practicum opportunities. As CJP seeks to prepare peacebuilders for their work/lives following graduation, Amy advises, supports and champions the professional development of CJP students as they prepare for their careers.

Practice Opportunities

Practice opportunities are different than the practicum as they occur during the student’s first three semesters at CJP. While the majority of practice opportunities are located in the Harrisonburg area, students have done practice work internationally. Practice may be a required component of a particular CJP class or it may be above and beyond a student’s course load. In some cases, these opportunities are paid, often by a CJP grant.

Past practice opportunities include:

• Leading conflict resolution and nonviolence training for youth at the Harrisonburg Boys and Girls Club
• Accompanying members of the Bergton community through organizing and research as the community begins to adopt environmentally friendly stream management practices
• Recommending restorative options for hazing violations to the Office of Judicial Affairs at James Madison University
• Facilitating strategic planning for a network of mental health providers in Shenandoah county
• Leading circle processes for Harrisonburg City School District teachers and administrators as well as members of the police force at a training on restorative justice
• Conducting a developmental evaluation on a social justice carnival
• Designing and facilitating a CJP conference on restorative justice

Practicum

Both MA degrees prequire practicum experiences to prepare you for your career with hands-on experience and interaction with people outside the classroom.  Learn more.