Building Trust to Prevent Conflict

Hosted by: Carter School in collaboration with Rotary Club of Washington Global, Rotary Districts 7620 and 7610, and PeacePlayers International

The event activities and discussions are designed with ages 18–35 in mind.

Students and young professionals play critical roles in shaping more peaceful, inclusive, and resilient communities. Rotary Districts 7620 and 7610, the Rotary Club of Washington Global, other local Rotary clubs, the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and PeacePlayers International are partnering to build a network of emerging youth peacebuilders. This initiative begins with a half-day interactive leadership program designed to strengthen practical peacebuilding skills through experiential learning, dialogue, and collaborative reflection.

The morning session, A Peacebuilding Toolkit for Global Youth Leaders: Building Foundations for Peace — Identity, Listening, and Transformative Dialogue, introduces core peacebuilding skills focused on:

•    Identity awareness and understanding how identity shapes perspectives and conflict

•    Active listening and communication practices that foster empathy and trust

•    Conflict transformation approaches that support constructive dialogue

•    Reflection and case study analysis connecting theory to real-world peacebuilding

•    A collaborative “Conflict Transformation Museum” activity that translates learning into shared creative expression

The afternoon session will be led by PeacePlayers International, PeacePlayers will guide attendees through three interactive activities that introduce them to the organization and bring each of its core values to life. Through hands‑on, team‑centered experiences, participants will explore how these core values can serve as catalysts for shaping positive social change and building more peaceful, equitable communities.

Welcome:

• Alpaslan Özerdem, Dean, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
• Mandy Warfield Granger,District Governor Rotary District 7620
• Ravi Cooper, Governor Rotary District 7610 
• Rose Cardarelli, E.D, Rotary Representative to UNICEF, District Governor Nominee Rotary District 7620 2027-28, Carter School Affiliate
• Mari Clark , Chair Rotary District 7620 Peace Committee Chair, Carter School Affiliate

Facilitators:

• PeacePlayers International https://peaceplayers.org/
• Carlos Guiza Rotary Club of Washington Global
• MAZ Tinmau Rotary Club or Washington Global
• Isabella Cuevas, Carter School, M.A. Graduate from the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, outreach coordinator Better Evidence Project and facilitator
• Pushpi Weerakoon, Rotary Peace Fellow and recipient of the prestigious 2025 ‘Rotary Alumni Global Service Award’, the highest honor presented to a Rotary alumnus