On September 21st, we held our annual International Peace Symposium with the help and support of Elizabethtown College and our board member Jesse Waters. Attendees of this full-day event were treated to the expertise and knowledge of our speakers and panelists, who covered a range of topics from the war in Ukraine to racial tensions and community building.
Our first speaker was Colonel Chase Metcalf, a faculty member at the U.S. Army War College. Colonel Metcalf provided a detailed overview of global instances of instability that could erupt into wider conflict, affecting peace here in the United States if left unchecked. His presentation, while bleak, kept us apprised of the ongoing work necessary to protect peace around the world.
Next, we had a panel of speakers covering various interconnected topics that all impact peace and stability. David Commins, an expert on the Middle East from Dickinson College, provided an overview of the conflicts occurring in that region. Dr. Cristina Ciocirlan, a professor at Elizabethtown College, described the importance of small changes that can make a big impact when it comes to climate change. Chad Dion Lassiter, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, discussed the rise of white supremacy groups and racial tensions in our region, emphasizing the importance of creating and cultivating a “beloved community” and reaching out to those who may not initially want to engage. Finally, Dr. Najiba Benabess, Dean of Business at Elizabethtown College, talked about artificial intelligence and how it may offer important avenues for peacebuilding, including real-time translations, sounding boards, and future modeling.
Rich Harwood, founder of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, closed the event by sharing stories from his work traveling the country and the world to provide support and frameworks for community building. He has worked in some emotionally charged situations, including with the Sandy Hook community and locally in Reading, to bridge divides and show that we all have more in common than the things that separate us.
The day concluded with the honoring of this year’s Peacemaker in Our Midst honorees. Each year, organizations and individuals are nominated by members of the WACH community who are working toward peacebuilding in our local community. We are honored to celebrate this year’s remarkable recipients: Peace Promise, Love Inc., Lancaster, Rotary International District 7390, The Rev. Warren Eshbach, & Mrs. Theresa Eshbach.
Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s Symposium. We hope you take the insights you gained back to your “beloved communities” to share and discuss.
