These classes and practices will help you develop community-building and collaboration skills that expand your leadership capacity and help you offer your deepest gifts.
Week 13: The 21st Century Peace Ambassador as Evolutionary Leader and The Summer of Peace 2013
(Feb. 12)
Faculty: James O’Dea and Philip Hellmich, The Shift Network’s Director of Peace, author of recently released God and Conflict (full bio)
Throughout the Peace Ambassador Training, James will highlight the strengths and capacities of an evolved peace leader. In this session, James will review these leadership skills and then invite you to step up in your own way. In addition, Philip Hellmich will outline the accomplishments from the Summer of Peace 2012, a collaborative initiative that reached tens of thousands of people in 133 countries.
As James writes, “In a time of upheaval such as we are now witnessing on planet Earth, unprecedented opportunities arise for creativity and new leadership…. The emerging leader is you! Without you, there is no collective audacity to create the tipping point in human evolution.”
In this session, you will:
- Understand the leadership skills needed to be an evolved peace leader
- Activate your part in the larger global shift to a culture of peace
- Determine what role you may play in the Summer of Peace 2013
Week 14: Revolution of the Heart (Feb. 19)
Guest Faculty: Velcrow Ripper, award-winning philosopher filmmaker, director of Scared Sacred, Fierce Light, Occupy Love, speaker and writer (full bio)
In this session, Genie award-winning filmmaker Velcrow Ripper will share insights into peacebuilding actions taking place on a global scale witnessed while filming his trilogy: Scared Sacred, Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action and Occupy Love (to be released in April 2013). Velcrow will talk about the process of moving from personal despair to collaborative action inspired by deep spiritual wisdom and shared human values. For more info visit VelcrowRipper.com and OccupyLove.com.
Week 15: The Principles and Processes of Activating and Coordinating for Peace from Local to Global (Feb. 26)
Guest Faculty: Dot Maver, educator, peacebuilder, President of the National Peace Academy that supports, advances and nurtures cultures of peace (full bio)
Dot Maver is a pioneer in peace education and community organizing who is a master at inspiring cooperation on behalf of the common good.
In this session, you will:
- Discover the practical principles and processes you can apply in organizing your own peace work whether in your school and/or community
- Learn about successes from the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding in Gainesville, Florida, including activities you can join and/or replicate in your own community
Week 16: Final Session - What is Your Peace of the Puzzle? (Mar. 5)
Faculty: James O’Dea (full bio)
This final class is an opportunity for you and your fellow Peace Ambassadors to interact and share what you have learned and how you have been transformed during this training. You will also have the opportunity to share your personal peace projects and initiatives for creating peace in yourself, family, schools, community and our world.