Celebration of Ambedkar at EMU by Professor Gaurav Pathania

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar [1891-1956] April 14th is the birthday of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar - the messiah for millions of downtrodden people of India. His followers revere him as Baba Saheb Ambedkar and call themselves Ambedkarites. Fighting against the thousands of years of caste hierarchy, Ambedkar became the first educated untouchable who also had … Continue reading Celebration of Ambedkar at EMU by Professor Gaurav Pathania

Gardening as Growth by Jessica Chisolm

Popcorn from the EMU Sustainable Food Initiative (SFI) gardens. With minimal prior gardening experience, I applied to work in EMU’s Sustainable Food Initiative (SFI) gardens during summer 2019. I’d taken care of (and occasionally killed) enough houseplants to think I was capable of such a job. About midway through my first day, my body gave … Continue reading Gardening as Growth by Jessica Chisolm

“Black History is More Than Slavery” by Professor Gaurav Pathania

Karamo Brown in season six of the Netflix series Queer Eye. (photo credit: https://thekaramocollection.com/) Karamo Brown, one of the stars of the show, Queer Eye, wore a t-shirt in a recent episode that simply states, Black History is More Than Slavery. Crediting his grandmother who used to tell him, “Say it on your chest,” Brown … Continue reading “Black History is More Than Slavery” by Professor Gaurav Pathania

‘Lessons Learned from Tutu’ by Professor Andrew Suderman

Following the death of South African Archbishop Emeritus and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu, EMU bible, religion, and theology professor Andrew Suderman wrote this reflection originally published by EMU News. The above photo shows Suderman and his wife, Karen, with children Samantha and James, with Archbishop Tutu in 2019, while leading an EMU intercultural … Continue reading ‘Lessons Learned from Tutu’ by Professor Andrew Suderman

Local and global practicum experiences prepare EMU’s next generation of peacebuilders by Christopher Clymer Kurtz

We are highlighting student experiences and practicums on the PXD Blog and so are re-posting this piece originally published February 7, 2018, at EMU News. Above Ben Rush works with practicum supervisor Jonathan McRay at Blacks Run Forest Farm in Harrisonburg. Rush, a peacebuilding and development major, spent the fall 2017 semester practicing a diverse … Continue reading Local and global practicum experiences prepare EMU’s next generation of peacebuilders by Christopher Clymer Kurtz

EMU hosts Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship

Keynote speaker Erica Littlewolf, Northern Cheyenne from southeastern Montana, speaks at the Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship conference in February 2020. She works for Mennonite Central Committee's Indigenous Visioning Circle. (Photo by Macson McGuigan) This post was originally published at EMU News. EMU hosted the 2020 Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship February 7-9. The Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship (ICPF) is … Continue reading EMU hosts Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship

From Harrisonburg to Denver—by way of the Middle East by Nate Bailey

I had no idea what I was doing when I found myself at EMU my first year. I knew I liked the valley, and the community, but as far as what to study—I looked at the list of majors available and crossed off everything that didn’t seem interesting to me. All that was left was … Continue reading From Harrisonburg to Denver—by way of the Middle East by Nate Bailey

An MLK Day Reflection by Ariel Barbosa

Giving tours this week, I felt within myself a surge of excitement when my group and I walked past the MLK holiday book section in the library. I knew that in the next moment, I’d open my mouth and out would spill my excitement for what EMU did so differently this year. I would smile … Continue reading An MLK Day Reflection by Ariel Barbosa

Grad School Q & A: Larisa Zehr ’11 heads to law school after six years of peacebuilding work in Colombia

Larisa Zehr is a 2011 graduate of Eastern Mennonite University, where she majored in peacebuilding and development, and minored in pre-law, history and social sciences, and political studies. Since graduation, she has worked for the non-government organization (NGO) Sembrandopaz in Colombia – first with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), then directly as a staff member. She … Continue reading Grad School Q & A: Larisa Zehr ’11 heads to law school after six years of peacebuilding work in Colombia

Peace Fellowship: Campus Engagement with Native American Voices and Experiences by Gabby McMillon

Mainstream society highlights and centers various perspectives. In most cases, voices of dominant groups tend to be incorporated into the popular narrative, a narrative that influences people’s worldview and social reality. This creates a misguided and unbalanced narrative that leaves out the voices of marginalized groups. One group that is impacted by this is native … Continue reading Peace Fellowship: Campus Engagement with Native American Voices and Experiences by Gabby McMillon