Mission Statement (Approved June 29, 2009)
The National Peacemaker Museum Constellation will encourage peaceful conflict resolution between human beings in every corner of the world. It will honor those courageous and innovative individuals and institutions who work toward peace rather than conflict, foster harmony amongst humanity rather than division, and embrace the rich tapestry of human difference while building bridges upon our commonalities. The National Peacemaker Museum will challenge, inspire, educate, and enable visitors from around the world to be peacemakers themselves, to contribute as they can to the ability of the human race to solve our problems creatively and collaboratively, and to craft solutions that are fair, compassionate, and wise. National Peacemaker Museum will accomplish this mission through a diverse array of partnerships and outreach techniques, both virtual and tangible, in an ongoing effort to reach the full diversity of humanity, speaking in a way that each listening ear can hear.
The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) is supporting a coalition of organizations to establish a National Peacemaker Museum. In November 2007, ACR Immediate Past President, Marilyn S. McKnight established a Taskforce to launch this effort and appointed Forrest (Woody) Mosten to serve as Chair. This Taskforce recognizes that there is an exciting, vibrant peace community comprised of a diverse array of organizations and individuals. The Taskforce is committed to reaching out to these organizations and individuals and to exploring the possibilities building a coalition comprised of a broad array of partners.
Since its inception, the Task Force has established dialogue with the United States Institute of Peace which is building a Peace Educational Center on the Mall in Washington D.C currently in construction (opening scheduled for 2010-2011) and is exploring funding for on-line exhibits as a first step to a web-based museum as well as regional and traveling exhibits.
A National Peacemaker Museum in its ultimate format will serve as a permanent and tangible venue for the public to learn about and become engaged in peacemaking and will support efforts to foster peacemaking and conflict resolution in our society.
The Goals of the National Peacemaker Museum Taskforce shall be to:
- Define and Continually Reassess the Project’s Scope and Develop a Sustainable Strategic Plan
- Seek Funding for a Prototype On-Line Museum Exhibit and Regional Peace Museums
- Collaborate with USIP in the Development and Promotion of the USIP Peace Educational Center in DC
- Creation of Link (and preparation of content) on ACR Website for the Task Force
- Support Development of Model Peace Education Courses, Modules, Writing Contests and Other Public Peace Education Activities
- Support ACR Conference Keynote or Plenary Program for ACR 2010 ACR Annual Meeting in Chicago. Keynote/Plenary with following workshops would be a call to action and formation of a concrete agenda by the field for increased Public Education on Peacemaking.
- Identify Potential Partner Organizations
- Build a Coalition of Museum Partners and Supporters
- Identify and Cultivate Potential Funding Sources
- Develop Initial Exhibits and Programs
- Identify Ongoing Operations
Other Goals as shall be determined by the Task Force
National Peacemaker Museum Task Force
Michael Aloi, ACR President
Doug Kleine, ACR Executive Director
Forrest Mosten, Chair, Task Force
Jerome Barrett, Author and ACR Archivist
Mark Bramford, Public Policy Mediator
Guy and Heidi Burgess, Co-Directors, Colorado Conflict Research Consortium
Rita Callahan, ACR Board Member
Marci DuPraw, Facilitator and Mediator
Katrina Everhart, Museum Consultant
Fernaunda Ferguson, ACR Board Member
Francisco Laguna, International Legal and Business Mediator
David Matz, Professor of Dispute Resolution, University of Massachusetts, Boston
Marilyn McKnight, Past President, ACR
Josh Moore, Associate Director, International Education at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin
Catherine Morris, Director, Peacemakers Trust, Canada
June O’Connor, Professor of Religious Studies, University of California, Riverside
Jim Rosenstein, Immediate Past ACR President
Jocylen Wurtzburg, Mediator, Memphis, Tennesee
Lela Love, Liaison, ABA Dispute Resolution Section
Ronald Supancic, Liaison, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
Andrew Schepard, Liaison, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
Ken Cloke, Liaison, Mediators Beyond Borders
For more information
Please contact National Peacemaker Museum Taskforce Chair, Forrest Mosten and/or visit www.acrnet.org.
The Taskforce shall issue recommendations and coordinate with participating organizations in respect to these goals.
