The Arts and Peacebuilding

I just returned from a fabulous 10-day trip to Virginia where I attended a class called The Moral Imagination, which was part of the Summer Peacebuilding Institute at Eastern Mennonite University. Taught by John Paul Lederach, author of a book by the same name, the course was an exploration of the role creativity and imagination have in conflict transformation.

To try and summarize the book, or the course, is truly daunting. But I came away from the experience with a profound appreciation for those brave individuals who, when they have the most to risk or lose, manage to step outside the system and find a new way to tackle problems that have plagued humans throughout history. And hope for the future, that we can nurture our curiosity and imaginations to bring about a more just and peaceful world.

Below is a video two of my classmates and I created as our final project. Enjoy!