May/June Updates and News!
May/June 2017
Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
NEWSLETTER
Dear Colleague:

Summer is upon us!   Today in the DC area the high temperature is suppose to reach the low 90s! As is typical, we have a brief whiff of spring, then deep into the heat of summer.  

The last few weeks have been busy for me with trips to Penn State, the Virginia Association of Financial Aid Administrators conference, Virginia Tech, Montgomery College, the Rockville Human Rights Commission workshop for youth,  and Sandy Spring Friends School in Maryland.  I'm now starting to focus on fall travel. Because of conferences, I will be in the Dallas, TX and Birmingham, AL areas in the fall.  If you are interested in a talk to students, a public group, or educators about peacebuilding, including careers, let me know!

Summer is good time to catch up on reading, spend meaningful time with family and friends, and recharge one's batteries.  I hope your summer is a restful and peaceful one!  We have a daughter we are sending off to college in the fall, so much of our summer will be preparing her (and us!) for this big step.

Have a great summer!

Best regards, 

David J. Smith
May 17, 2017

PS: If you feel that you are receiving this newsletter in error, I apologize.   You can "unsubscribe" using the button at the bottom of the page. 

Forage Center for Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Education November 2017 Coastal Hope Field Training Exercise

The Forage Center for Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Education, Inc. has for 16 years (through its predecessor groups) offered a multi-day simulation for those interested in experiencing what it would be like to work in a humanitarian crisis characterized by conflict and natural disaster.  If you are engaged in or teaching in fields where knowing about refugees, international law, conflict, global health, culture, militarization, disaster assistance,  team building, and group dynamics are important, than you might consider joining us for  the Coastal Hope Field exercise (formerly the Atlantic Promise Field Exercise) in Fellsmere, Florida. Our upcoming exercise will be held November 2-5, 2017 in Fellsmere.   This  is not your typical professional development activity! You would be joined by up to 30 professionals and graduate students, as well as 40 role players, where you will role play as a member of a non-governmental organization charged with responding to an international crisis. You will live like NGO workers for 4 days  - sleeping bags, austere conditions,  bland food. This will be a learning experience that you will not soon forgot!  If you are interested, contact the Forage Center for more information. Read here about our recent March field program.

How Do Americans Feel About Higher Education?  Looking at Community Colleges and Higher Education Overall
Registration Now Open for the 5th Annual National Community College Peacebuilding Seminar, October 20-23, 2017 

The  5th Annual National Community College Peacebuilding Seminar “Teaching About Global Conflict and Peacebuilding”  will be held October 20-23, 2017 at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, VA.   Attendance is limited to 40 . Registration closes 9/8.  The seminar is designed as an opportunity for educators interested in and working in community colleges to build capacity for teaching about conflict and peace-related issues. Faculty (full and part-time), administrators, and staff from community colleges are invited to attend.  In addition, educators and graduate students interested in community college work, are also invited to attend.   This is the only national educational program for community college professionals in Washington, DC that examines issues of peacebuilding, conflict resolution, international affairs, social justice, war, and violence.  Educators from all academic fields are invited.  In the past, educators from the social sciences, humanities, health sciences, business, arts, and natural and mathematical sciences have attended.  Internationals are welcome, however, they must pay the cost of attendance including all travel expenses and the registration fee of $300.  You can read about last year's seminar here.

FEATURED BLOGS
Teaching About Conflict and Peacebuilding:
From High School to Graduate School
With a Special Emphasis on Careers!
(Pass on to new graduates)
Peace Jobs: A Student's Guide to Starting a Career Working for Peace
  Peace Jobs was recently reviewed by the  Global Campaign for Peace Education. 

"Peace Jobs  is a book that peace educators have been waiting for. It captures the front edge of the field in its inclusive attention to differences of gender, sexuality, class, and race, and in its unpacking of peacebuilding as an expansive framework for education and career planning. The book will be of value to guidance counselors, career centers, academic advisors and mentors, peace teachers, and faculties planning the development or enhancement of programs of study." 
Information Age Publishing has recently reduced the price of Peace Jobs to make it more affordable to students.  It is now available for $33.99.  It can also be ordered in a  Kindle edition .   
Career Coaching

Are you looking to make a career change in 2017 and looking at the international education,  peacebuilding or conflict resolution fields?  I am career coaching younger and mid-career professionals who are looking to make change. 




"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace"
                                                              
-John Lennon
 
Upcoming Talks, Workshops, and Programs

Point of View Retreat Center (George Mason University), Lorton, VA          June 2-3, 2017

Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement Meeting, Baltimore, MD             June 8-10, 2017

World Affairs Council, Leadership Academy, Washington, DC, July 19, 2017

George Mason University, Youth Summit, Fairfax, VA, July 20, 2017

Association for Conflict Resolution Conference, Dallas, TX, October 11-14, 2017

5th Annual National Community College Peacebuilding Seminar, Northern Virginia Community College, October 20-23, 2017

Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference, Birmingham, AL,     October 25-28, 2017


Let me know if you are interested in a visit!

David J. Smith Consulting | davidjsmith@davidjsmithconsulting.com| http://davidjsmithconsulting.com