In this episode of the Peacebuilder Podcast, host Diego Crespo sits down with CatiAdele Slater, a graduate student at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP), to reflect on her journey into peacebuilding and the experiences that have shaped her path.
Cati shares how her background in peace and global studies, combined with early experiences in law and policy spaces in Washington, D.C., led her to question the distance between decision-making and the communities most impacted by it. This realization ultimately guided her to CJP, where she sought more relational and practice-oriented approaches to justice and peacebuilding.
Throughout the conversation, she reflects on key moments from her time at CJP, including classes like Promise of Peacebuilding and Research Methods. These experiences helped deepen her understanding of peacebuilding as both a professional path and a way of life.
Cati also speaks about the importance of community, curiosity, and adaptability in navigating the field, especially during a time of uncertainty and change. Rather than offering a fixed vision for the future, she emphasizes the value of being present, building relationships, and responding to the needs of the communities around her with intention and care.