91短视频

Annette Lantz-Simmons has been named 2018 Peacebuilder of the Year by the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at 91短视频.

The annual award recognizes 鈥渁lumni who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to its mission of supporting conflict transformation, restorative justice, trauma healing, development, organizational leadership and peacebuilding efforts at all levels of society,鈥� said , executive director of the (CJP).

Lantz-Simmons is the executive director of the (CCR) in Kansas City, Missouri, and first attended the CJP鈥檚 Summer Peacebuilding Institute in 2005. She earned a master鈥檚 degree in conflict transformation in 2009.

All of the 615 alumni who have earned master鈥檚 degrees or graduate certificates in conflict transformation or restorative justice from CJP are eligible for the award. The first was conferred on Ali Gohar MA 鈥�02 in 2015, founder and executive director of Just Peace Initiatives in Pakistan. The 2016 recipient was Tammy Krause, MA 鈥�99, an expert in restorative justice, and in 2017 it went to Jean Claude Nkundwa MA 鈥�14, who works for peace in his native country of Burundi from exile in Rwanda.

Lantz-Simmons, Byler said, 鈥渉as led CCR鈥檚 commitment to a workplace environment that is reflective of its mission in the community and expanded the traditional work of a mediation center by promoting a holistic mission that focuses on prevention, education and restoration.鈥�

She has also mentored multiple students and graduates from the CJP and its programs, some of whom are now members of her staff.

A growing array of settings

Lantz-Simmons is overseeing the expansion of her organization鈥檚 presence into a growing array of settings, working with other staff members who are also CJP trained.

Debbie Bayless, set to earn her master鈥檚 degree in restorative justice in May, leads Neighborhood Accountability Boards. The program gives youth arrested for fighting in schools 鈥渁 chance to be accountable for their choices and take responsibility for themselves,鈥� said Lantz-Simmons 鈥� and creates opportunities for their families to 鈥渟ee a different aspect of law enforcement and community members who are there to support them.鈥�

With support from peacebuilding institute participant Jackie Buycks, CCR is providing training and facilitation for the ongoing transition of the Kansas City Public School system toward using discipline techniques rooted in restorative justice. It鈥檚 an arm of the nonprofit that is 鈥済rowing fast,鈥� said Lantz-Simmons, who was featured in a recent about the school system鈥檚 move to restorative discipline.

And through the efforts of Greg Winship, the first graduate of the MA in restorative justice program, restorative justice and conflict resolution training work is extending into prisons. The trainings are not only for prison residents: a minimum security prison is planning to train its staff, too. Eventually, Lantz-Simmons said, the prison will offer the CCR training to both residents and staff 鈥� together.

Trainings and programs such as these are 鈥減lanting seeds,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople often do what they know, even if it doesn鈥檛 work or is very uncomfortable for them. We offer a different mindset and practical skills to do conflict in a new way.鈥�

An ongoing journey

It was at a Missouri peace colloquy featuring CJP鈥檚 as keynote speaker that Lantz-Simmons first met CCR founder Diane Kyser, a 2006 CJP graduate. Their 鈥渋nstant and strong connection鈥� was affirmation of Lantz-Simmons鈥� trajectory toward her current work.

That journey had begun earlier, after Lantz-Simmons talked with a friend about being the go-to listener for 鈥渆veryone鈥� around her with a problem. Her friend replied, 鈥淢aybe that鈥檚 what you are supposed to do with your life.鈥�

Now, nearly 16 years after coming to the conflict resolution field, the work continues to be 鈥済ratifying,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 encouraged and gain strength when I see participants in a training or a mediation have a 鈥榣ightbulb鈥� moment, see something in a different way or soften their judgment toward another person. I love the phrase, 鈥極K, I see what you鈥檙e saying鈥� coming from someone who seemed unwilling to budge a minute before.鈥�

The comes with a free course along with travel expenses and lodging. Lantz-Simmons said she has chosen to attend 鈥�.鈥�