{"id":7450,"date":"2016-10-05T10:51:12","date_gmt":"2016-10-05T14:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/?p=7450"},"modified":"2016-10-07T13:59:56","modified_gmt":"2016-10-07T17:59:56","slug":"the-practicum-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/2016\/10\/the-practicum-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"The Practicum Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"peace-2\"<\/a>
Second-year CJP students engage in practica as the capstone of their peacebuilding education. Rebekah \u201cBex\u201d Simmerman, MA \u201816, who is fluent in the Sudanese dialect of Arabic, came to CJP after six years of working in Sudan. Interested in interfaith dynamics and the roots of anti-Islamic sentiments in the United States, Simmerman completed her practicum with EMU\u2019s Center for Interfaith Engagement. Harrisonburg is 7 percent Muslim and 15 percent foreign-born, with students who speak more than 50 languages in attendance in local schools. Her broad-ranging project identified long-standing interfaith ties in the community and also loci where these connections could be strengthened. She is applying for grant-funding to continue the project. (Photo by Joaquin Sosa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

JACQUES MUSHAGASHA MA \u201816<\/strong><\/p>\n

FROM BUKAVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO \/ LIVING IN HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA \/ SERVES AS PRESIDENT OF THE CONGOLESE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION<\/em><\/p>\n


\n\"peace-3\"<\/a>PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE:<\/strong> I introduced restorative justice concepts to the Congolese community, which includes 140 refugees.<\/p>\n

ACTIVITY:<\/strong> The 27 adults in the workshop learned the difference between restorative justice and penal criminal justice; the principles, values and practices of restorative justice; and how these practices might be used to resolve conflict, repair broken relationships, and strengthen their community. At the end of the training session, they learned how to organize a circle process, the role of the facilitator and the use of a talking piece. Eight young people ages 14-17 also attended as listeners.<\/p>\n

WHAT THEY LEARNED:<\/strong> Many participants were very fascinated by the role that a talking piece can have in a conversation. Most of them promised to use the talking piece in their conversation at homes. They also promised, in case of a conflict, to explore restorative justice practices before referring the matter to the legal criminal system. This practicum allowed me to enhance my skills in facilitation and production of curriculum for training or workshops.<\/p>\n

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE:<\/strong> I have always dreamed of going back to Congo to work in the area of peacebuilding education and trauma healing. My vision for the Congolese community of Harrisonburg is a community of people well-integrated, both culturally and financially, into the larger Harrisonburg community. I would like to see a community of responsive and productive citizens ready to give back to their native country as well as to the welcoming society.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JODIE\u00a0GEDDES MA \u201816<\/strong><\/p>\n

FROM THE BRONX, NEW YORK \/ NOW LIVING IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA \/ EMPLOYED AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZING COORDINATOR WITH RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR OAKLAND YOUTH (RJOY)<\/em><\/p>\n


\n\"peace-4\"<\/a>BEFORE THE PRACTICUM:<\/strong> As a first-year student, I was a conflict trainer with the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisonburg. My role was to provide peace education and conflict de-escalation skills. I facilitated small-group discussions and processes for community organizations. Each of these experiences created a larger picture of the Harrisonburg community while connecting me to its residents.<\/p>\n

HEADING WEST:<\/strong> As a black woman, I was seeking to be in a place that affirmed my being while engaging with some of the communities most disproportionally affected by systemic harm. Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth provided me with the opportunity to engage in the use of restorative justice as a cultural shift while internalizing these practices for my self-care and healing.<\/p>\n

WORKING ALONGSIDE YOUTH:<\/strong> During my practicum, I designed and implemented community organizing training for and with youth. The trainings consisted of political education, journaling and storytelling. I also helped build relationship with community organizations that seek to interrupt the cycles of violence facing black and brown youth\/communities.<\/p>\n

PERSONAL GROWTH:<\/strong> I recognized the importance of stories and the way narratives inform systems change, especially when speaking with those that do not see the symptoms of oppression. I was challenged by the way forms of oppression became normalized in the telling of some stories. I believe we have all been taught to sit with oppression, as a comfort.<\/p>\n

THE FUTURE:<\/strong> I believe I was led to RJOY and I am grateful to be continuing this journey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AARON ODA MA \u201816<\/strong><\/p>\n

FROM AUBURN, INDIANA \/\u00a0NOW LIVING IN HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA \/ EARNING AMEDIATION CERTIFICATE<\/em><\/p>\n


\n\"peace-5\"<\/a>TO MYANMAR:<\/strong> I spent my practicum in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)\u00a0with People In Need (PIN), an organization committed to working with\u00a0local communities in solving problems using the creative resources\u00a0already available. This included many indigenous and creative ways\u00a0for healing, resilience, storytelling and relationship building in order\u00a0to transcend the atmosphere of violence. I was primarily interested in\u00a0working with arts-based peacebuilding methodologies, addressing\u00a0sectarian and identity-based violence, and studying and analyzing the\u00a0current conflicts in Rakhine State. I had prior connections to Myanmar,\u00a0having worked in the past with Burmese refugees in Georgia and\u00a0Indiana.<\/p>\n

DOCUMENTARY FILM:<\/strong> I conducted research into how arts-based\u00a0peacebuilding approaches are addressing ethno-religious conflict\u00a0in Myanmar. The case studies \u2013 collected with interviews of local\u00a0participants working in the conflict transformation field, human rights\u00a0workers, musicians, psychologists, and others \u2013 took the shape of a\u00a0documentary film.<\/p>\n

NEW KNOWLEDGE:<\/strong> My practicum provided me with the analytical\u00a0and relational lens to interact and work alongside people living amidst\u00a0democratic transition. I learned how to address issues of interfaith\u00a0identity conflict in creative ways. In a collectivist, indirect culture such\u00a0as Myanmar, the need for sensitivity and imagination is crucial. I also\u00a0see clearly the need for local voices and agency within peacebuilding\u00a0processes and assessments. I often navigated and mediated the different\u00a0communication and conflict styles between Western folks and local\u00a0Burmese in the office.<\/p>\n

POWER OF THE ARTS:<\/strong> After this experience, I can attest to the power\u00a0of the creative arts and embodied practice as a medium of conflict\u00a0transformation. Having had the opportunity to observe participatory\u00a0theater in Karen State and listen to the countless testimonies of practitioners\u00a0for the documentary film project, I can proclaim how powerful\u00a0the opportunity for storytelling, emotional expression, and creative\u00a0problem-solving is in regard to a holistic understanding of service and\u00a0empowerment in peacebuilding.<\/p>\n

FUTURE PLANS:<\/strong> I am working towards the Virginia General District\u00a0Court mediation certification. After a year or so in the States, I envision\u00a0continuing my work overseas in international peacebuilding involving\u00a0capacity-building and training, arts-based approaches to peacebuilding,\u00a0and facilitating dialogue and bridges of understanding to diverse\u00a0groups of stakeholders involving identity-based conflicts. I would love\u00a0to continue this passion for using documentary film for participatory\u00a0peacebuilding efforts as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

JACQUES MUSHAGASHA MA \u201816 FROM BUKAVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO \/ LIVING IN HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA \/ SERVES AS PRESIDENT OF THE CONGOLESE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION… Read more about The Practicum Experience<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7722,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1073],"tags":[],"issues":[1425],"class_list":["post-7450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-magazine","issues-2016-17"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7450"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7462,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7450\/revisions\/7462"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7450"},{"taxonomy":"issues","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issues?post=7450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}