Join Liz as she shares her storytelling skills while leading folks in a virtual version of her Beloved Communi-tea she hosts in NYC each week.

Liz Gannon Graydon is Co-Founder and President of What BETTER Looks Like, a nonprofit organization that taps into the creative potential of people to help solve problems in their local communities. Liz taught middle school Social Studies and English for 16 years. It was during her years as a teacher that she gained the inspiration and the tools for the work of What BETTER Looks Like. The core work is to foster the development of Beloved Community.  Understanding that the fastest way to change the world is to change the stories that we tell, her focus is to facilitate circles and workshops that help us connect at the deepest level of our stories. Liz also hosts a weekly tea party in New York’s Bryant Park, where all are welcome to gather and share tea, treats and an experience of Beloved Communi-tea. Liz currently serves as a Board Member for The Peace Alliance.

Experience a guided personal peace practice to feel balanced and grounded.

Kelly O’Brien is from Connecticut and has her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She helps lead the Truth Storytelling group with DJ Chandler through the Peace Alliance and works to gain legislative support for the Department of Peacebuilding Bill H.R. 1111. She uses photography and videography to showcase the good news and beauty of the world. She also authored the book Evolve by KAO on peace, love, happiness, and success, and is now working on a poetry book. She prays for world peace, inner peace, and well-being for us all and believes this is possible through unity and love.

When We All Vote: An Initiative of Civic Nation – Empowering Changemakers for Good

Director of Strategic Partnerships with When We All Vote. She leads When We All Vote’s partnership programs that
deliver voter registration tools and resources to over 500+ corporate, community and local partners across the nation. When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting, and to increase participation in each and every election, by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country
and advance civic education for voters of every age. The goal is to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come.
Ms. Johnson is a passionate advocate and avid relationship builder dedicated to using her skill set of strategic partnerships, project management, crowd and
endowment fundraising, and business development. With previous experience in the Obama White House, the International Women’s Forum, and other national
organizations, Priestley is passionate about advocating for more resources for those
in need and building capacity through access to resources. Priestley is a proud Howard alumna.

Jeffrey and Dan will model how to navigate polarizing dialogues around divisive topics.

Jeffrey Weisberg is a founding member of the Peace Alliance and Executive Director of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding (RPCP). He teaches and models restorative practices and other peacebuilding skills. Jeffrey believes that by training and empowering both youth and adults to learn and practice vital communication skills, we not only create greater connections, but we can “Navigate the Thorns of Conflict” to transform division and differences, and depolarize conversations. Dan Kahn is Executive Co-Director of the Florida Restorative Justice Association, a volunteer with the Community Connections Restorative Justice Program, and former National Field and Program Coordinator with the Peace Alliance. He lives in Tallahassee, Florida where he likes cooking, riding bicycles, playing ultimate frisbee, and watching plants grow.  Dan also enjoys playing music and acting in local theater productions.

Jerrilyn founded Helpful Interventions, a supportive and non-clinical based counseling service, in 1999 to be of service in the Houston community. Her life calling and passion is to help others. She is excited to announce they have a new service line- self-care coaching and counseling for the busy woman who maybe multi-tasking and feeling overwhelmed trying to balance it all. This new service was born out of receiving overwhelming requests on what to do about feeling stressed, anxious, sadness, and frustrated when juggling work pressures, family and career demands. She has combined years of research, being a helping professional, creating stress management techniques while using her own coping strategies to manage day to day life events. She has curated various tools, tips and life hacks to help with stressful and anxious moments. If you are feeling overwhelmed, experiencing sleep problems and worried about a little or lot, she’s here to listen without judgement. She wants to chat with you about it. Schedule a complimentary consultation. Other specialty areas includes:  parent coaching and court ordered adoption evaluations.

This special offering will send the energy of peace around the world and to every state in the U.S. This is a moving and poignant ceremony and ritual, especially meaningful on Election Day as part of our #PeacetothePolls Election Day Vigil.

Master Charles Kim and Jennifer Kim are a husband-and-wife team heading The Peace School, an independent non-profit founded by Master Kim’s father. Master Kim is president of The Peace School and has taught meditation, yoga and traditional martial arts for peace for over five decades. He is author of the book, Peace Breathing: Lessons on Achieving Peace in Everyday Life. Jennifer Kim is director of The Peace School and chairs the Chicago Build the Peace Committee. The Peace School celebrated its 50th anniversary in Chicago this year. A special Peacebuilding Curriculum was made available to students and teachers to honor the 44th anniversary of Peace Day Chicago. Many students participated in the Peace Day celebration and were covered by local news in Chicago. [Start at the 48 second mark.] Jennifer Kim also helped moderate a Peace Day Youth Convergence, a live online dialogue with students in Chicago, Poland, Ukraine and Rwanda. Peace Day Youth Convergence is located under Peace Week Day 5.

RJ is an experienced leader, executive coach and development consultant who motivates his clients to move deeper into their leadership roles, and to affect sustainable change. He inspires his clients to access their answers from within and helps them identify practices which lead to their unique leadership presence. People who know RJ often state that his gift is to motivate, inspire and ignite change
in others. RJ assesses his clients across multiple domains which include: leading self, leading others, leading their organization and managing implementation. Each client is unique in their areas of strengths and room for growth and they look to RJ for guidance.
RJ believes that cultivating leadership is not just an intellectual exercise, it is also
an embodiment practice. Developing true leadership qualities empowers the leader
to approach each situation appropriately (i.e. with calm, poise and resolve). As a
result others are motivated by their presence and willing to get on board with a common goal. These are qualities that RJ brings out in his clients. RJ serves on the Board of Directors of The Peace Alliance.

Edwin is founding director of Center for Building a Culture of Empathy. Edwin is a seeker who spent many years traveling around the world. After working in the computer technical field, he started creating documentaries exploring different human values. This led him to find that empathy is the foundation of human connection, caring, community, conflict resolution, compassion, love and all the values that hold society together, as well as, make life worth living. Because of this, he has dedicated himself to raising the value of empathy in his own life and in society. Edwin’s extended bio can be found on the CultureOfEmpathy.com website. The website is a central hub for resources about the values of empathy and compassion. It contains articles, magazines, 100s of expert interviews, conferences, trainings, empathy circle recordings, definitions, history, videos, science and much more on how to nurture empathy.

Jelena Popovic is experienced in beginnings, grounded in mindfulness practice, open to learning from all beings, and deeply passionate about community and igniting its enormous transformative power. She aspires to educate, advocate, and mobilize others in co-creating a culture of peace. As a school psychologist by training and a peacebuilder by heart, Jelena’s passion is holding space for facilitated dialogues that are grounded in mindful awareness and empathy. She is driven by a belief that education is a continuous journey of getting intimate with and exploring the depths and layers of our purpose while uncovering curiosity, biases, joy, and wholeness along the way. Jelena is dedicated to peace education, mindful educational leadership and healing centered pedagogy as a path that supports a shift toward a culture of belonging for all.Jelena spends most of her time in circle with educators and students and is a facilitation trainer for Soliya where she guides others in facilitating virtual cross-cultural exchange dialogues. She serves on the advisory board for the Peace of Mind, Cities4Peace, is a Program Facilitator at Mindful Schools, and in addition to being Practicing Peace in Schools Leadership Council team lead she also co-host Hope Story Circles for the Peace Alliance. Jelena’s guiding principle is summed up in saying “Peace begins with me.” Her daily peacebuilding practice consists of moments of silence and self-reflection and everyday gratitude for small, seemingly ordinary yet extraordinary things. Jelena is especially grateful for her loving family and friends and is honored to serve on the Peace Alliance Leadership Council.

Tamika “Mika” Gadsden is a Charleston-based content creator, media entrepreneur and organizer. The daughter of Jim Crow refugees, Mika has built a significant digital presence as an activist and has built The Charleston Activist Network Media, LLC. which is an outgrowth of the work she led as the South Carolina leader of the state’s Women’s March organization. Mika hosts a daily livestream show on Twitch called Mic’d Up and she is preparing to run for Mayor of Charleston in 2023.

Marianne is a bestselling author, political activist, and spiritual thought leader. For over three decades, Marianne has been a leader in spiritual and religiously progressive circles. She is the author of 14 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times
bestsellers. A quote from the mega-bestseller A Return to Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…” is considered an anthem for a contemporary generation of seekers. Williamson founded Project Angel Food, a non-profit that has delivered more than 14 million meals to ill and dying homebound patients since 1989. The group was created to help people suffering from the ravages of HIV/AIDS. She has also worked throughout her career on poverty, anti-hunger and racial reconciliation issues. In 2004, she co-founded The Peace Alliance and supports the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace(building). She ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020. In 2021 she launched MarianneWilliamson.Substack.com.

Cecilia is an award-winning international recording artist and charismatic Inner Peace Troubador who performs original songs with positive spiritual messages. Translating the Ageless Wisdom Teachings into song, she wraps captivating vocals around philosophy. She blends American roots music that merges Rock, Blues, Folk, and Spirituals, with just a hint of Jazz. Her songs offer a powerful antidote to turmoil in our current times. Cecilia has performed for audiences throughout America and the world for over two decades.

J’s career is dedicated to creating collaborative spaces across an intersection of networks, fostering relationships, and maintaining a vision to increase the capacity of those working toward equitable social and transformational justice until freedom dreams are reality. J amplifies Indigenous methodologies as a tool to shift the pervasive violence prevalent in our social, economic and political practices by centering our most vulnerable community members to benefit all. J contributes 30 years expertise as an Executive Management Consultant who earned a Master of Public Administration from New York University, Wagner School of Public Service, and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Columbia University. J is Executive Co-Director of the Florida Restorative Justice Association and serves as the Community Peacebuilding team lead where she has created the Bring the Peace Movement initiative.  Dan Kahn is Executive Co-Director of the Florida Restorative Justice Association, a volunteer with the Community Connections Restorative Justice Program, and former National Field and Program Coordinator with the Peace Alliance. Along with serving as our Executive Co-Director, Dan teaches empathy skills to teenagers and supports them to achieve their goals with the Community Connections Restorative Justice Program in Tallahassee, Dan received his AB from Amherst College, and his JD from Lewis and Clark College’s Northwestern School of Law. He is the seventh of eight siblings, and uncle of many. He lives in Tallahassee, where he loves to swim, bike, play, cook, eat, and watch stuff grow.. 

Taking peace to the elected officials: After the election, we invite you to join us in continuing to build relationships with

Nancy served as a CA State Coordinator for the Peace Alliance/ Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peacebuilding (DoP/ HR 1111), and is a long-standing member of the National and CA DoP Committees. She has been involved with peace and justice issues – including issues relating to the American Indian Movement and Tibet – for many years and has worked with the Peace Alliance since 2004. Nancy has coordinated the work of the DoP groups with Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s (CA) office to introduce and promote a cabinet-level Department of Peacebuilding. She has also worked as part of the mighty CA DoP team to secure endorsement by the CA Democratic Party (CDP) of DoP legislation, inclusion of peacebuilding ideals in CDP Platforms and passage of peacebuilding-related resolutions. Nancy particularly focuses on building a peaceful world for generations to come, including for her four amazing sons and their partners and her completely awesome grandchildren.

Nancy served as a CA State Coordinator for the Peace Alliance/ Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peacebuilding (DoP/ HR 1111), and is a long-standing member of the National and CA DoP Committees. She has been involved with peace and justice issues – including issues relating to the American Indian Movement and Tibet – for many years and has worked with the Peace Alliance since 2004. Nancy has coordinated the work of the DoP groups with Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s (CA) office to introduce and promote a cabinet-level Department of Peacebuilding. She has also worked as part of the mighty CA DoP team to secure endorsement by the CA Democratic Party (CDP) of DoP legislation, inclusion of peacebuilding ideals in CDP Platforms and passage of peacebuilding-related resolutions. Nancy particularly focuses on building a peaceful world for generations to come, including for her four amazing sons and their partners and her completely awesome grandchildren.

Patty shares her book Paws 4 Peace about a program of introducing animals to justice-involved individuals to deescalate and increase healing.

Formerly the Program Director of the non-profit Full Circle Restorative Justice (FCRJ) based in Salida, Colorado, Ms. LaTaille’s professional background revolves around Social Justice and Communications in various venues. She is the Lead Facilitator and Trainer for Victim-Offender conferencing, as well as serving as a Professional Mediator (Keeping The Peace, LLC) privately, and within the Judicial system. Ms. LaTaille is a professional Meeting Facilitator and an international speaker on methods of Non Violent Communication (NVC). Her experience as a Rotary Peace Fellow, in Bangkok, Thailand in 2015, was a pivotal point in her career as an International Peace Professional.Ms. LaTaille enjoys spending active time outdoors and with young people. In prior years, she worked and played at being a ski/snowboard instructor and a white water river guide. She has more than twenty-two years of experience in working with high risk adolescents, in addition to founding and managing a number of sustainable youth programs. She was born and lived in Long Island, New York, and has now resided in the Colorado mountains with her furry family members for 23 years. Patty serves at the Humanizing the Justice System team lead for The Peace Alliance.

Three office-holding members of the Junior State of America will share their experience in their high school chapter of this organization fighting political apathy, and will bring lived experience of the benefit of being taught early to participate in democracy.

Abraham is a sophomore at Dublin High School and Chapter President of the Dublin High Chapter of Junior State of America (JSA), as well as Senator for the East Bay Region. He’s been running the Dublin Chapter of JSA since the beginning of his Freshman year at high school, and it has been an amazing experience for both him and his club members. JSA has taught him many important skills, from empathizing with others with differing opinions, to engaging in political discussion in order to spread awareness about issues affecting youth and society at large. Besides school and JSA, he also practices Kung Fu, lift weights, plays piano, and other hobbies in his free time. Kashyap is a sophomore at Dublin High School and the vice president of their JSA chapter. He joined JSA because it allows him to engage in political discussions about topics that are relevant to our world. He believes JSA teaches important skills that encourage all students to become excellent civic participants. In addition to politics and law, he is also passionate about music and have played the piano for 8 years. Jayanth serves as chapter treasurer and is a sophomore at Dublin High School. He loves to participate in politics, and enjoys coding. He likes to hang out with his friends, and have a good time. He plays the guitar and participates in Karate.