THIS PROGRAM CONCLUDED IN SPRING OF 2021. WE WISH TO THANK ALL STAFF MEMBERS, PARTNERS, AND COLLABORATORS FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THIS IMPORTANT WORK.

BACKGROUND

While the global Covid-19 pandemic has forced many international aid staff to evacuate conflict zones and curtailed in-person meetings, many local peacebuilders remaining in these spaces experience significant challenges perpetuated by the sudden loss of social and institutional support. Given the severity of the COVID-19 crisis on both the physical and psychological well-being of fragile communities, the work of mediators and local peacebuilders transforming conflict and trauma is urgently needed.

Increasing the solidarity and support of international organizations for local peacebuilders and partners is crucial during this time. Furthermore, psychological stress experienced by international peacebuilders and local peacebuilding staff must be urgently addressed through psychosocial support.

ABOUT THE TASK FORCE

The Task Force on Psychosocial Support for Peacebuilders Coping with Covid-19 was initiated by the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation and is comprised of leading mental health professionals and peacebuilders aiming to streamline psychosocial resources and support to peacebuilding NGOs and networks.

TASK FORCE OBJECTIVES

1. Compile Online Resources: An online database is being compiled including free resources on psychosocial support and self-care for peacebuilders.

2. Mobilize Peer Support:  A Peer Support Program (PSP) will be piloted to provide accessible and inclusive weekly peer gatherings guided by an experienced facilitator.  The PSP will initiate virtual gatherings that provide opportunities for shared learning, self-reflection and the promotion of personal well-being.

3. Engage peacebuilding organizations and networks: Peacebuilding organizations will be engaged in learning exchange and training opportunities to advance best practices in providing psychosocial care to their local staff and field-based employees.

Task Force Members:

Co-Chairs:
Rowda Olad 
Annalisa Jackson 

Coordinators:
Aimee Lace, Organizational Training Workstream 
Angelina Mendes, Peer Support Workstream 
Nicholas Sherwood, Resource Database Workstream 

Angelina Mendes is a Ph.D. candidate in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. Her doctoral research focuses on issues of reconciliation, gendered violence, peace and conflict discourse, collective trauma and healing, ethnic and religious minorities, and the gendered dynamics of peacebuilding. With over a decade of experience as a certified Yoga and meditation facilitator, Angelina's research and practice integrates creative approaches to building sustainable peace, including working towards intra-personal transformation and creating spaces for the elaboration of peace and conflict narratives. Angelina is certified practitioner of Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR Levels 1 and 2), and has experience living and working in over ten countries including Guyana, India, Indonesia, Israel, Malta, Myanmar, and Peru. She holds an M.S. in sustainable development and project management from the University of Leeds, and a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in international development and globalization from the University of Ottawa.

 Nicholas Sherwood (Nick) is a doctoral student at George Mason University’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict. Nick holds an MA in Anthropology of Peace and Human Rights (University of Alabama at Birmingham) and BAs in Psychology and Political Science (Christopher Newport University). Nick currently serves as a graduate research assistant at the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation and the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution. He is also on the Board of Directors for The Parachute People.Nick’s conflict resolution practice includes promoting mental health at live music events, facilitating trauma- and resilience-informed workshops for peacemakers, and citizen diplomacy. Nick’s research primarily focuses on the psychology of transformation, namely the interplay between resilience, mental health, and reconciliation

Antti Pentikainen Alongside directing MHCR, Antti is working as a visiting scholar at the US Institute for Peace. Before his work at MHCR, Antti established the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers with the U.N. (2015-2019) while also serving as the special envoy for Finland’s Prime Minister on the Refugee Crisis (2015-2019) as well as advisor to the U.N. Assistant Secretary-General on Prevention of Genocide (2017).For over a decade, Antti led the efforts of Finn Church Aid (2004-2015) as its executive director, and assumed multiple leadership positions including Special Advisor for President Ahtisaari, director at Crisis Management Initiative (2000-2004) and Religions for Peace (2010-2011). Antti holds experience in peace processes and reconciliation in Somalia, South Sudan and Libya. His efforts now focus on developing support mechanisms to connect insider reconcilerswith state level political processes.

Cherie Bridges Patrick, PhD, MSSW, LISW-S is a licensed clinical social worker and utilizes somatic psychotherapeutic practices that create mind-body spaces for healing around oppression-based trauma, intimate partner violence, and complex trauma. Her multiracial and multiethnic clinical and educational experiences include extensive work in community mental health and with Somali immigrant families around the complexities of global displacement and resettlement. Cherie is the founder of Paradox Cross-Cultural Consulting, Training and Empowerment, LLC. Clients include The Episcopal Church–Diocese of Southern Ohio Becoming Beloved Community movement, the National Association of Social Workers–Ohio Chapter, The Buckeye Ranch, and other non-profit organizations.Cherie recently published her doctoral thesis titled Navigating the Silences: Social Worker Discourses Around Race. Dr. Bridges Patrick’s study explores how subtle racial dominance found in discourses worked to produce dynamics that preserve and support hegemonic structures and status without intent. The study offers lessons and tools for social justice leadership and antiracism practices and can be found on her author page. https://www.socialchangecoaching.com/

Paula M. Donovan M.A (Econ),  MSW, LCSW combines her current career as a clinical social worker with her past career in international development at the World Bank to support: local and global mental health issues; short term and longer term human development perspectives; and individual agencies as well as broad strategic partnerships.  She has worked with individuals, groups and families providing mental health support including for major traumatic events, anxiety, depression, grief, loss and relationship challenges. Ms. Donovan’s clinical focus is on supporting each person in their particular environment through a holistic framework that seeks to integrate the biological, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual experience of each client with their own deep inner knowledge and wisdom.  She continues to be inspired and humbled by the resilience and resourcefulness of her clients over her 15 years in clinical work. She holds BA and MA degrees in Economics from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and the University of British Columbia, Canada and a Masters degree in Social Work from the Catholic University of America, Washington DC.  She is a Licensed Clinical Social worker holding practice licenses in DC and Virginia. She is originally from Ireland and worked in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern and Southern Europe, during her World Bank career that spanned close to 30 years.  She currently lives in Washington, DC USA.

Michèle Lewis O’Donnell, PsyDis a consulting psychologist based in the Geneva, Switzerland area. She grew up in both the US and Europe and for the last 30+ years has worked internationally from four European countries. Her professional emphases include working across sectors in individual and family wellbeing, Third Culture Kids, transition and grief; stress and trauma; global mental health; and integrity/anti-corruption. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology and theology from the Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University, USA. She is the COO of Member Care Associates, an organization dedicated to staff wellbeing and effectiveness (WE), and a representative to the United Nations for the World Federation for Mental Health. Her publications include several jointly written articles and resources in the member care and mental health fields. She has also helped edit three of the foundational books in the member care field.

Pat Drew LCSW
provides resilience training to journalists at media companies including The New York Times, CNN, McClatchy News, Getty Images, Global Journalists Security, Committee to Protect Journalists and others. She is senior executive coach, psychotherapist, and has taught "Managing Change" for twenty years. You can see her work at www.patdrew.org. 

Manal Tayar is a trilingual development professional and founding member of Unconventional, a network for young women peacebuilders. She recently completed a master of International Development Policy with a focus on Conflict and Peace at Duke University. Previously, Manal worked in the Middle East and North Africa with local and regional stakeholders to address causes of fragility and violent conflict.

Charles Hauss (Chip)has spent fifty years as an author, activist, and mentor. He currently serves as Senior Fellow for Innovaction at the Alliance for Peacebuilding and Visiting Scholar at the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation. He has taught at Colby College (Maine), University of Reading (UK), and George Mason University (Virginia). He is the author of eighteen books, five of which deal with peacebuilding, most recently, From Conflict Resolution to Peacebuilding.. He received his BA from Oberlin College and his MA and PhD from the University of Michigan.