africa
During the 1990s and 2000s, John Paul worked extensively in different regions and countries in Africa. Of note would be support to accompany colleagues and students who were developing the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and in offering support for direct conciliation initiatives in Somalia and Kenya. John Paul's involvement in peacebuilding in Somalia unfolded during his tenure with the Mennonite Central Committee and more specifically the Mennonite and International Conciliation Services. In collaboration with the University of Waterloo's Horn of Africa Project and regional partners, John Paul was involved in a range of mediation initiatives. For example, he served as a convener/facilitator with the Somali Peace and Consultation Committee and a consultant to the Life and Peace Institute's initiatives in support of the United Nations' reconciliation process in Somalia. John Paul’s direct participation in peacebuilding efforts in Kenya were most notably as an advisor for the National Council of Churches of Kenya and the Nairobi Peace Initiative, with a particular emphasis on evaluation and program design. Beyond these direct engagements, John Paul has practiced alongside and provided accompaniment to extraordinary Kenyan peace practitioners. The stories of peace practitioners like Rose Barmasai, Dekha Ibrahim, Hizkias Assefa, Sam Doe, and Emmanuel Bombande feature prominently in John Paul’s writing and speaking. More recently, in his role as Senior Fellow at Humanity United, John Paul has been working with The Unyoke Foundation, founded by Nomfundo Walaza and Chris Spies, alongside youth networking and initiatives for peace in South Sudan.
A collection of stories, reflections, and wisdom offering insight into the challenge of facing down toxic polarization layered with violence and the surprising ways everyday people found to shift harmful patterns of violence that had lasted decades.
Through circular, dynamic, and non-linear metaphors, this book offers a promising new approach to healing for communities impacted by conflict, violence, and trauma.
A travelogue reflecting on what it means to be fully engaged in the world.
A book weaving thoughts and insights about the nature, challenges, and possibilities of constructive social change.
An exploration into the spiritual foundations that undergird John Paul's work as a practitioner and scholar of peacebuilding.
John Paul's contributions to the Upaya Zen Center's Varela Symposium 2018, which explored the theme, "Transforming Conflict: From Science to Real World Applications."
John Paul's contributions to the Upaya Zen Center's Zen Brain conference in 2017, which explored the theme, "Mind, Brain, Social Perspectives of Views, Values, Ethics."
A contribution to the W. David Baird Distinguished Lecture Series at Pepperdine University's Seaver College.
An article exploring challenges of inclusivity in peace processes and proposing a shift in metaphor to enhance inclusivity.