Professors at local colleges are tackling the tough topics with their students. Melody Pannell, a professor at Eastern Mennonite University, said the blackface controversy with Governor Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring has been a significant part of her lectures in her "race and gender" class. ... read more about Race and gender class discusses controversy in Virginia from WHSV-TV3
Adam Starks, businessman and father of three, penned a memoir, "Broken Child, Mended Man," in 2013. He recently returned to Rappahannock County to speak to high school students. ... read more about Adam Starks ’03 returns to Rappahannock high school with inspiring story of hard work and resilience from Rappahannock News
Mazhun Idris, of Nigeria, took "Peacebuilding Approaches to Violent Extremism" with Lisa Schirch at last summer's Summer Peacebuilding Institute. His participation was sponsored by the organization hosting his 1-year appointment, the Center for Islam and Religious Freedom in Washington D.C. ... read more about Atlas Fellow from Nigeria reviews SPI experience from Medium
The newly published Palestine and Rule of Power, edited by Alaa Tartir and Timothy Seidel, explores how the rule of power relates to the case of occupied Palestine, and examines features of local dissent and international governance. ... read more about This Week in Palestine reviews book co-edited by Professor Tim Seidel from This Week in Palestine
Hero Anwar Brzw was born on May 25, 1971 in Sulaymaniyah in Kurdistan, Iraq. She got her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1992 at Salahaddin University in Erbil, Iraq, and an MA in conflict transformation from CJP in 2009. She is the Deputy Country Director for REACH (Rehabilitation, Education and Community Health) in Iraq. ... read more about Hero Anwar Brzw MA ’09 remembers sanctions in Iraq from Counterpunch
...In my childhood in Pakistan, I was never taught that Islam advocates for violence and hatred against anyone. As I have been learning more about the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself, I see how he was mistreated multiple times by the non-Muslims and never even responded back in the same way, but instead advised to be calm and humble in response. These real life examples set by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were revolutionary and are at the heart of our faith. So then, why have many Muslims adopted violent responses to issues like blasphemy, smashing the true spirit of Islam identifying its followers with violent public riots and extremism? ... read more about CJP student Muhammad Akram on ‘Pakistan, Blasphemy and a Way Forward’ from Arc of the Universe
Coming to the Table chapters have increased from 10 local groups across the country to 32, including three in the Baltimore area. They initially focused on white-black relations but have expanded to others affected by racism. ... read more about Baltimore Sun: Coming to the Table’s growing presence in Maryland from Baltimore Sun
Starting off the new year, the Central Kansas Community Foundation and Hesston Community Foundation partnered to host “Understanding the Tapestry of Trauma” at Hesston’s Dyck Arboretum in two sessions in early January. ... read more about STAR training seminar in Kansas addresses growing needs from The Kansan
CJP Executive Director Daryl Byler argues that Virginia, and the United States, can do better than its current high rate of incarceration. "We can do better," he says, for our budgets and all of our communities by engaging with those who have learned from their mistakes. ... read more about J. Daryl Byler column: On criminal justice reform, Virginia should move past Congress’ ‘First Step’ from Richmond Times-Dispatch
Online news platform Daily Nurse covers the EMU nursing program expansion. ... read more about Daily Nurse: EMU nursing program expands from Daily Nurse