For two weeks in November, the Women PeaceMakers visited the University of San Diego campus to participate in events, share their experiences with each other, speak in Kroc School classes, prepare to conduct original research, and more.
What this year’s Women PeaceMakers have in common is that they are all members of a diaspora, and they work to build peace and justice in their communities around the world. This year’s Women PeaceMaker Fellows include Bochra Laghssais, who focuses on Indigenous Amazigh women’s peacebuilding leadership in the Netherlands; Mariia Levchenko, who builds connections between diaspora communities in Germany; and Temi Mwale, who focuses on Black women’s leadership in the racial equity space in the United Kingdom.
Women PeaceMakers Temi Mwale, Bochra Laghssais, Mariia Levchenko; and Program Officer Briana Mawby
During the annual Women PeaceMakers event on November 14, Program Officer for Women, Peace and Security Briana Mawby moderated a discussion with the Fellows about their peacebuilding work. Each Fellow shared their visions for peace in their communities. They also shared resources for the audience to support their efforts, including the Anou online store that supports artisans from Morocco. Watch the event recording here.
Women PeaceMakers speaking in Kroc School Foundations class, taught by Professor Topher McDougal
The Women PeaceMakers were also invited to speak in different Kroc School classes, such as Dialogue and Facilitation, Gender, Power and Peace, and Foundations.
Bochra Laghssais helps Kroc School students write their names in the Tamazight language
During the residency, each Fellow also had the opportunity to present their own lunch lecture on a topic of their choosing.
Temi delivered a lecture about abolition and building communities rooted in healing and justice. During the lecture, she shared several resources for attendees to do further research into abolition work, including the website One Million Experiments and the book We Do This 'Til We Free Us by Mariame Kaba.
Mariia spoke about the spread of disinformation in Ukraine, and invited attendees to reflect on propaganda and disinformation in our US context.
Bochra shared her Indigenous Amazigh culture through an activity, teaching attendees how to write their names in the Tamazight language.
The Women PeaceMakers and USD students at the student event
The residency wouldn’t have been complete without dedicated time for connecting with USD students! The Women PeaceMakers student event was designed and coordinated by Kroc School students: Kroc IPJ Practice Fellow Ren Flanders and the Women PeaceMakers student committee. On November 21, USD students gathered in the Garden of the Sea for an afternoon with the Women PeaceMakers. The event included a panel conversation with the Fellows, followed by a reflective art practice and meditation.
Visit to the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center, hosted by USD Professor Dr. Pulido
In between events and research preparation, the Women PeaceMakers had the chance to explore the San Diego community. They visited La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach, and Chicano Park.
Now that the Women PeaceMakers residency is complete, the Fellows will conduct research on peacebuilding within the diaspora. Follow the Women PeaceMakers for updates!
