By: Hannah Adamson
Last year the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation began as a small, committed team with ambitious goals to contribute to global reconciliation efforts. Now, just one year later in the midst of a global pandemic, this budding organization has provided psychosocial support to peacebuilders during COVID-19, supported the Sami people of Finland with indigenous reconciliation processes, launched a Transformation and Reconciliation Lab, been recognized at the UN Security Council, and so much more. On October 14th MHCR virtually celebrated this incredible journey with key team members, supporters, and community members. This event offered both an opportunity for reflection and for envisioning the years to come.
The celebration began with remarks from Dean Alpslan Özerdem of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Conflict Resolution. Last November Dean Özerdem briefed the UN Security Council on MHCR’s contribution to reconciliation processes and the Carter School has been instrumental in supporting MHCR’s development over the past year. During his opening statement, Dean Özerdem spoke to the bravery of those working towards reconciliation, “...they are the bravest people because they are building peace”. While in so many cases, peace can seem like an intangible goal, peacebuilders are implementing their skills, empathy, and courage to transition it to reality.
MHCR Founding Director Antti Pentikainen emphasized the importance of maintaining hope during this time, “...we have hope because we know that reconciliation is possible and we come with this message of hope from war zones and from post-genocide situations… reconciliation is not easy... but it is hope that provides you mechanisms to move forward.” Throughout this first year, the MHCR team has activated this sense of hope to propel their reconciliation efforts both in the United States and abroad. Pentikainen expressed gratitude to the Hoch family for their gift to establish MHCR and how he hopes the key achievements and resilience through this first year continue to honor Mary Hoch’s legacy.
Event attendees had the chance to learn about MHCR’s key initiatives including providing fellowships for insider-reconcilers, psychosocial support to peacebuilders, healing and justice projects, research in the Transformation and Reconciliation Lab, and support to the US movement towards truth-telling, racial healing and transformation. For many peacebuilders, this work is so much more than a job. Betty Bigombe, an internationally known mediator from Uganda and MHCR fellow, shared more about what this work means to her, “It’s just something within me...when I see… peace, when I see people living in harmony and dignity. It’s basically what drives me”. It is this drive that pushes Bigombe to drive over nine hours weekly in the midst of a pandemic to continue peace negotiations in South Sudan, and it is this drive of so many peacebuilders that changes peace from a distant possibility to a feasible reality.
Director Antti Pentikainen, Research Affiliate Colette Rausch, Associate Director Annalisa Jackson and Dean Alpaslan Özerdem
Some of these inspiring peacebuilders include MHCR Research Affiliates Colette Rausch and Eduardo Gonzalez. At the celebration, both Rausch and Gonzalez shared more about their work throughout the past year, their current projects, and their messages for this ever-changing time.
Colette Rausch has over twenty years of experience of peacebuilding experience in a variety of countries around the world. Prior to joining MHCR, she established the Neuroscience and Peacebuilding Initiative at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). Currently she is exploring this connection between the human mind, trauma, and peacebuilding through her affiliation with MHCR. She shared that it is key for peacebuilders to “...be mindful that trauma is always in the room” in order to foster sustainable peace and true reconciliation. MHCR is grateful to be working with Rausch to incorporate this vital element of wellbeing and healing into peacebuilding initiatives.
During his remarks, MHCR research affiliate Eduardo Gonzalez shared more about his work with indigenous people around the world and his recent work in the US to support Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation commissions. With over twenty years of experience in transitional justice, Gonzalez explained how creating forums for truth-telling and accountability are essential for reconciliation. One of his key messages was that,
“Reconciliation cannot be a one-way route. Reconciliation cannot exist without justice, truth, reparation. It cannot exist without a horizon of recognition”.
Eduardo Gonzalez speaking at the MHCR First Anniversary Celebration
With this mindset, Gonzalez, in partnership with MHCR, is excited to support racial healing processes during this crucial moment in the United States.
After learning more about these key initiatives and listening to these messages of hope, everyone shared a toast marking this important milestone. MHCR is truly grateful for this dedicated team and community of change-makers working to foster reconciliation both locally and abroad.
MHCR is committed to expanding its work in support of practitioners leading the way towards justice, peace and reconciliation within their communities. We invite you to learn more about our projects throughout this year by clicking here to view our annual report. If you would like to join us in expanding this vital work, please click here to donate. We appreciate any gift you may be able to give. You can contact MHCR Director Antti Pentikainen (apentika@gmu.edu) or Annalisa Jackson (ajacks51@gmu.edu) if you would like to discuss the impacts of your donation in more detail.