By David J. Smith, October 26, 2015
The final day of the 3rd Annual National Community College Peacebuilding Seminar “Teaching About Global Conflict and Peacebuilding” was held on October 26, 2015. The day was a “field day” with visits scheduled at the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
At the State Department, the program was hosted by Lauren Fisher of the U.S. Diplomacy Center. The new center will open in 2017. After Fisher discussed the center, Sara Cross and Marina Andina shared about State’s work with refugees and the current international situation. Melissa Moreland talked about the efforts of the public engagement office to work with local communities, and the opportunities that community colleges could access to bring diplomacy into their classrooms.
At the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Barbara Schneeman hosted the group. Christie Vilsack provided an overview of USAID’s work with a particular focus on education and women. Gary Bittner talked about workforce training programs funded by USAID,and Jason Porter talked about the Global Development Lab.
After lunch at the National Museum of the American Indian, the program ended at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. JoAnna Wasserman, Sonia Booth, Daniel Solomon, and Christina Chavarria hosted the group. The visit included considering the exhibit Some Were Neighbors: Collaboration and Complicity in the Holocaust.
The seminar ended at 5:30 p.m. Next year’swill be held in October 2016. If you are interested in attending or presenting at the seminar, please contact me at davidjsmith@fulbrightmail.org.
David J. Smith Consulting, LLC 