Global Affairs Student Co-Founds First US Institute for Peace Supported Student Group in the Country

Global Affairs Student Co-Founds First US Institute for Peace Supported Student Group in the Country
Amanda Hernandez and Colleen Dowling at Mason's International Week Parade

In the spring of 2016, Global Affairs accelerated MA student Shauna Triplett and Conflict Analysis & Resolution student Mena Ayazi formed Patriots for Peace, a student group working with the US Institute for Peace (USIP). USIP is a non-partisan organization founded by US Congress in 1984 and it is one of the preeminent organizations dedicated to the prevention, mitigation, and resolution of conflict worldwide. Mena and Shauna wanted to start a student group that would enrich their course work and give them a vehicle to address violent conflict around the world. Through a connection with a GMU alum, Mena and Shauna got into contact with the Program Coordinator of the Global Peacebuilding Center at USIP, who is working on creating a coalition of college organizations. Through this opportunity, they were inspired to create Patriots for Peace (PfP), the first college club working with USIP in the country. They have also been given the opportunity to assist in the development of a “College Tool Kit” that can be used as a foundation for future college chapters. Thus far, the club activities include holding dialogue sessions and service opportunities centered around a different social issue highlighted each month. For example, in February PfP members supported the End It Movement’s goal of eradicating human trafficking and in March they were focusing on women’s issues in honor of Women’s History Month. Through USIP, PfP has the opportunity to partner with a college peace club in Afghanistan and a high school club in Chicago. Through these partnerships, Shauna, Mena, and the other PfP members will gain a new perspective on analyzing and solving global and national conflicts, and they are excited to see the club will shape and influence the future of peace clubs throughout our nation and around the world.

For more information on Patriots for Peace, please see the story on USIP’s Global Peacebuilding Center’s website. Prospective members can also contact the founders correctly for more information at mayazi@gmu.edu and striplet@gmu.edu.