The International Institute of Peace

Commitment to Action

The International Institute of Peace

Commitment by

Forest S. Whitaker

In 2011, Forest Whitaker commits to launch the International Institute of Peace at Rutgers University. The mission of The Institute is to foster a global culture and practice of peace by strengthening the human potential for peace through dialogue, negotiation, education and training. Its goal is not only to raise awareness but also begin implementing programs, such as strategic community building in urban areas affected by violence and organized crime, empowerment of women and youth, and mediation support, which will reduce violence, increase opportunities and maximize peace and reconciliation education. By pioneering innovative research and educating the next generation of peace building leaders through a Master's and Doctoral program, the Institute will reorient societies marked by destructive conflicts towards sustainable peace rooted in human rights, the appreciation of cultural diversity, and the alleviation of poverty. In addition, it will explore known issues (i.e., regional disputes, terrorism, political persecution, famine) that contribute to social conflicts as well as those caused by climate shifts and their relationship to environmental and other types of social conflict. The Institute, which will have an annual budget of $3,000,000, will during its first year also launch programs in Columbia, Monterrey, Mexico, Newark, New Jersey, and South Central, Los Angeles.

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Tabs

Overview

Summary

Commitment

The International Institute of Peace

Launched

2011

Est. Duration

3 Years

Estimated Total Value

$15,000,000

Region

Latin America & Caribbean, Africa, Northern America

Countries

COLOMBIA, MEXICO, UGANDA, United States

Commitment by

Forest S. Whitaker

Partner(s) of the Commitment Maker(s)

Rutgers University

Details

APPROACH & METHODOLOGY
The institute is built on the pillars of Education, Research and Practice. Practice will be influenced by research. Research will build on lessons learned from practice. Education will utilize lessons from both research and practice in its two-year Master's program and the trainings offered by the Institute.
-Education: The Institute, in partnership with the Master's Program in Conflict and Peace Studies at Rutgers University, will provide a holistic and interdisciplinary education with in-depth field experience. This will include certificate programs, training in conflict resolution and strategic non-violent action. The Master will enroll 20 students by Fall 2012.
The institute will design and facilitate trainings in peace building in Paris in partnership with UNESCO in October 2011. In Medellin, Colombia and Monterrey, Mexico, in March 2012.
The Institute will start a 'training of trainers' in Colombia in 2012 in partnership with the Familia Ayara Foundation, a national network of hip-hop artists for peace.
-Research: The Institute will its the first Annual Conference in September 2012.
- It will have our first public policy seminar on citizen security in March 2012.
It will design an action-oriented research program with youth at risk in Newark.
-Practice: Institute faculty will provide consulting in strategic communities, mediation support to parties in conflict, and conflict resolution workshops. The Institute will also launch Place of Peace - 'The Hub' - a digital forum for global participation in the Institute's programs that provide a unique resource for peace building and conflict resolution training anywhere in the world. An initial version of The Hub will be launched in October 2011 during the UNESCO Youth Forum in Paris. A complete version will be available in the spring of 2012. The Hub will offer teleseminars and online courses in conflict resolution.
IMPLEMENTATION, TIMELINE, & DELIVERABLES
During the first year (September 2011-September 2012) the Institute will design and implement pilot programs in Newark, Colombia and Mexico. It will also hire personnel, such as 2 executive assistants, a development director and a program director for the program on strategic community building. It will strengthen its partnerships and within a year it will have field offices in Colombia and Mexico.

Background

In an increasingly interdependent world, often marked by conflict and violence, there is a need to create a space where individuals can come together to imagine and create a future of peace and reconciliation through dialogue, education and training. In Colombia, especially in Bogota and Medellin, in partnership with The Familia Ayara Foundation and the Mi Sangre Foundation, the Institute will train peace building leaders in urban areas affected by violence. In Monterrey, it will work in the neighborhood Colonia Independencia in a program on Arts and Peace building, engaging youth at risk in workshops and trainings. In Uganda, the Institute will work on reintegration of former child soldiers.