Fighting the fires of social and racial unrest

Mariam Aburdeineh — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 20:16:18 +0000

Fighting the fires of social and racial unrest Mariam Aburdeineh Thu, 01/21/2021 - 15:16

In This Story

To honor the memory of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and recognize those on campus who actively live out his vision, George Mason University will host the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Evening of Reflection and awards ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

“This year, it is particularly important to continue on with the Evening of Reflection, as we consider the state of our nation,” said Hamal Strayhorn, director of the Office of Coalition Building and Diversity Education at Mason. “Our nation has experienced the loss of 400,000 lives to COVID-19, social and economic disparity in full view, the continuation of black bodies being murdered by police without accountability and racial unrest. On Jan. 6 we all witnessed a failed insurrection in our nation’s capital, which was rooted in divisiveness and racism.”

“Our hope is that students and attendees will understand that in our nation and world there is still a lot of work to do around issues of social justice, equity and inclusion and that ‘the time is always right to do what is right,’” Strayhorn said, quoting Dr. King.

Mason President Gregory Washington will be the event’s keynote speaker and will address this year’s theme of “The Burning House,” which comes from another Dr. King quote:

“I’ve come upon something that disturbs me deeply. We have fought hard and long for integration, as I believe we should have, and I know we will win, but I have come to believe that we are integrating into a burning house…”

“How will our commitment to anti-racism work be like the ‘firefighters’ preventing the ‘house’ from burning completely down?” Strayhorn said. “[President Washington] will also look at how the work of anti-racism touches and affects our students, professional members, the local community, the commonwealth and eventually our nation.”

Following the keynote address, representatives from the student body will have the opportunity to ask questions relating to the theme, the work the university is doing around anti-racism, or how they can play a part in keeping Dr. King’s vision at the forefront of social change, Strayhorn said.

Students, faculty and staff who are doing influential work centered on Dr. King’s vision will also be honored with the Spirit of King Awards.

“The MLK Evening of Reflection shows that George Mason University is committed to diversity, excellence, and inclusion and to addressing the hard questions of where we are as a people and nation,” Strayhorn said.

Topics

Spirit of King awards

anti-racism

Racism

systemic racism

President's Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence

Campus News

ARIE

Mason’s Carter School prevails in pandemic. Here’s what is on the horizon for its first year.

Mariam Aburdeineh — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Mason’s Carter School prevails in pandemic. Here’s what is on the horizon for its first year. Mariam Aburdeineh Fri, 09/18/2020 - 01:00

The name change to the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution serves as a tribute to the Carters’ steadfast commitment to peacemaking through nonviolence and the transformative role of dialogue and diplomacy in conflict resolution. Photo courtesy of The Carter Center.

In the midst of a pandemic that pushed the spring 2020 semester online, George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR) was undertaking the largest change in its 40-year history—becoming the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

It was a move that put the school’s expertise to the test.

“The renaming of an institution could easily be a dividing process, but we managed to use our own expertise in conflict resolution and peacebuilding to make our renaming process a peaceful one,” said Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem. “The most amazing part of this story is that we have done all this in the midst of a pandemic.”

The switch also occurred during changes in senior leadership, as Mason transitioned between provosts and university presidents. In the process, the school has emerged “more united and with a clearer vision for our future,” Özerdem said.

That vision is inspired by the school’s namesakes, he said.

“With the emphasis on ‘peace’ in our title, we are re-defining our vision in light of the Carters’ legacy in peacemaking, human rights protection and socio-economic development of vulnerable populations,” Özerdem said. “Our future work will integrate peace and justice in a symbiotic relationship.”

What’s going to be different about the Carter School?

“The main change is to ensure a much greater engagement with different actors outside academia, whether they are state departments, legislators, civil society organizations, the private sector or the general public,” Özerdem said. “My goal is for the Carter School to become the go-to place for all matters of peace and conflict resolution, whether for study, research or community engagement.”

One highlight is the new Peace Labs initiative, which will facilitate collaboration between the Carter School and Mason’s other schools and colleges.

The focus will be on cutting-edge research, Özerdem said, such as a Peace Engineering Lab in partnership with the Volgenau School of Engineering to explore new ways of using big data and artificial intelligence for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Other areas for collaboration may include work around climate change with the College of Science, and a lab on social justice with Mason’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Carter School will also be playing a role in Mason President Gregory Washington’s Anti-Racism Task Force

Other new initiatives include:

A collaboration with Arlington County and Fairfax City on police, justice and education reform programs;
The Carter School Political Leadership Academy, which will train citizens running for office in conflict resolution skills;
A new graduate certificate in contemporary dispute resolution, focusing on resolving disputes that arise in home and work environments;
The Carter School Buddy Program, through which new students from undergraduate to doctoral levels are being paired with a student mentor; and
Carter School Peace Week, which aligns with the United Nations’ International Day of Peace on Sept. 21 and includes events on peace and justice.

“To ferry S-CAR through the Carter School name change has been the most exciting leadership experience,” Özerdem said. “We showed we can work together, overcome challenges and excel—that’s what I’m really proud of.”