Educators and social activists from Toledo and around the world met Wednesday for a community dialogue focused on peaceful urban revitalization.
The public forum was part of the 2015 International Institute on Peace Education, a weeklong conference dedicated to the same mission, and was hosted by the University of Toledo Peace Education Initiative.
The forum opened up the conference’s dialogue to the broader Toledo community.
The events were anchored by an afternoon panel that included commentary by Romules Durant, superintendent of Toledo Public Schools; Guisselle Mendoza, executive director of Adelante; and Alicia Smith, of the Junction Community Organization. International perspectives came from Rosa Jimenez Ahumada, director of the Observatory for Forced Displacement of the University of Cartagena in Colombia and Sakena Yacoobi, founder and executive director of the Afghan Institute of Learning.
Ms. Ahumada and Ms. Yacoobi discussed challenges to bringing peace to their respective nations, both highlighting the risk of physical harm to women and children. Ms. Yacoobi also discussed her organization’s use of traditional Afghan literature and poetry to bring people together peacefully.
Ms. Smith stressed the importance of an informed community and personal connections for urban revitalization and in combating racial and economic inequality.
“Unless this world comes together, it’s the demise of all of us,” she said. “Each individual in this room is a partner in the education of our children, a partner in the development of our community.”
During the presentations, some listeners jotted down reactions or questions on paper tablecloths designated for brainstorming.
Susan Cannon, a middle school teacher from the Philadelphia area with more than 30 years’ experience in education, traveled to Toledo to attend the conference. After the panel concluded, she spoke to others seated near her and praised the panelists’ diverse perspectives.
“We were really struck that these were people who saw a need and did something about it,” she said.
Dale Snauwaert, a professor at UT and an organizer of the event, also credited the variety of experiences of the participants.
“We learn from each other, and we get exposed to different perspectives, different practices,” he said. “That’s always enriching.”
The conference has 65 participants from 16 countries. About 200 attended Wednesday’s event. The panel was preceded by a morning of group dialogues and lunch.
The afternoon continued with workshops on topics such as financial stability, youth leadership, and neighborhood development.
International Institute on Peace Education is a weeklong conference held in a different city every year. Recent conferences have been in Puerto Rico, Japan, and Colombia. This year’s program runs through Saturday.
Contact Lauren Lindstrom at llindstrom@theblade.com, 419-724-6154, or on Twitter @lelindstrom.
First Published July 30, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
