locally-led peacebuilding
The majority of John Paul's peacebuilding initiatives came through accompanying people and communities working at the grassroots level. This has led to a key lesson and ethical stance: Believe in the unique knowledge of local communities about their own context and in their capacity to engage and innovate.
Locally-led peacebuilding centers the knowledge, skill, and vision of community-based individuals and organizations as the foundation of networks and processes that create durable change. In John Paul’s writing and practice, this approach been referred to under various names: elicitive, bottom-up, grassroots, and now more commonly locally-led. The content in this section includes stories, reflections, and insights gathered through John Paul's accompaniment of local peacebuilding leaders and processes across diverse areas of protracted conflict.
John Paul shares a story and reflections from his experience accompanying a conflict transformation movement in Nepal with Duke Divinity School's Summer Institute for Reconciliation.
The final session of a book study of Reconcile, hosted through Let's Talk About Culture, in which John Paul features as a guest.
A speaking notes for a conference presentation delivered in Nepal on mediation, institutionalization, and reflective practice, drawing on experiences accompanying local community mediation networks.
Article 3's celebration of Human Rights Day 2021, honoring Leymah Gbowee.
A presentation shared for the Virtual U.S. Speaker Program on Peace and Conflict Issues hosted by the Institute of Peace Studies at Prince of Songkhla University.
John Paul’s reflections on the legacy of Colombia’s Truth Commission.
A contribution to Peaceworks' series entitled “Peace & Jesus” in which John Paul shares about recent experiences alongside women and politicians working toward peace in Nepal.
A keynote speech at the 2016 Alliance for Peacebuilding Conference reflecting on accompaniment of peacebuilding and conflict transformation in Nepal across a decade.
Remarks delivered on the occasion of the 25th anniversary celebration of Eastern Mennonite University's Center for Justice and Peacebuilding.