The Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship (ICPF) Conference returned to 91����Ƶ on March 13-15 for another year of examining issues of peace and justice. The student-led conference invites students and faculty from historic peace colleges across the U.S., including Mennonite, Brethren, and Quaker colleges, to connect, learn, and grow in solidarity together.

It was the second consecutive year 91����Ƶ has hosted the once-annual conference. The university previously hosted the ICPF in 2020 before it was indefinitely put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of the conference was to create a space where students from different campuses could come together, connect, and share the work they’re doing in their own communities, said Shawna Hurst, a sophomore elementary education major at 91����Ƶ and member of the ICPF 2026 Planning Committee.

“I wanted people to leave feeling energized, supported, and equipped with new relationships and resources to continue work moving forward,” Hurst said.

“I think the conference was a success because I saw a real shift in people over the course of the weekend,” she added. “Many attendees arrived feeling defeated and discouraged by the state of the world, and while those feelings didn’t completely disappear, people left feeling less alone. There was a stronger sense of community, and many felt encouraged and re-energized by both the connections they made and the messages shared by our keynote speakers.”

This year’s conference centered around the theme, “Solidarity, Community, and Resistance in This Political Moment,” with a focus on practical campus organizing. “In a time of extreme political division, rising fascism, and anti-intellectualism, what does campus organizing look like?” reads a description of the theme. “How can we leverage our unique heritages and cultures to better serve the broader culture and nation?”

Hurst said it was challenging to narrow down a theme because “it felt like there was so much we wanted to talk about and focus on.”

“Despite everything going on, our main goal was to bring the community, and specifically college students, together to learn ways to practice resistance and show solidarity on college campuses,” she said.

Emily Welty (left) and Nadia Dames (right) delivered keynote addresses during the conference.

The conference featured keynotes by Emily Welty and Nadia Dames.

Welty, an author and theatre-maker living in the Rockaway Beach neighborhood of Queens, New York, teaches and directs the peace and justice studies program at Pace University. She is also part of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons team that won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Her keynote was titled, “All We Have is Each Other.”

Dames is a local business owner and community advocate in Harrisonburg who believes in the power of community, togetherness, and collective action. She delivered a keynote titled, “From Home in Harrisonburg to Roots in Palestine: Finding Your Why in the Work of Resistance.”

Participants share a meal (top photo) and engage in a drum circle (above right) at ICPF 2026. Alicia Maldonado-Zahra leads a workshop (above left).

Workshops were held throughout the day on March 14 in various locations around the 91����Ƶ Seminary Building. Topics ranged from the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people in North America to the colonization of Puerto Rico as rooted in Indigenous genocide. Other sessions offered information on careers in peacebuilding and explored how Anabaptist understandings of peace have evolved over the past several generations.

The conference also included a prayer vigil in response to the war in Iran and genocide in Gaza, an Amahoro Drumming for Peace circle led by Seminary student Makinto, and a potluck with Harrisonburg-area organizations.

“One of my favorite highlights was the Saturday lunch potluck,” Hurst said. “It was such a meaningful moment to see community members continually show up, bringing crockpots full of food to share. It created a tangible sense of care and connection that felt really special.”

Hurst said that one moment that stuck with her happened on Saturday evening when an attendee told her this was their first experience with Mennonites. “They shared how meaningful it was to see people who care about both Jesus and justice at the same time,” she said. “Hearing that was incredibly encouraging.”

The ICPF 2026 Planning Committee included students from 91����Ƶ, Goshen College, and Bluffton University: Ben Koop, Ciela Acosta, Ellie Shemenski, Logan Daugherty, Mackenzie Miller, Monica Ehrenfels, Micah Wenger, Shawna Hurst, and Dr. Timothy Seidel.

Thanks to everyone who supported and volunteered to assist with the conference, including Eastern Mennonite Seminary, the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, the Orie O. Miller Center at 91����Ƶ, Mennonite Mission Network, and the Mennonite Church USA’s Church Peace Tax Fund for significant monetary support.

Born and raised in the Mennonite church, Rhodes grew up believing she was called to be a peacemaker. But that early understanding of peace, she admits, made her avoid conflict rather than engage in it.

Then, two students, burly Russian men seated near the back of the classroom, began arguing. 

Within moments, the tension shifted. Chairs scraped. Voices sharpened. The exchange turned physical. And Rhodes realized something that would change the course of her life.

“I could talk about peace, but I didn’t actually know how to respond when presented with conflict,” she said. “When I returned to the United States, I knew I needed to learn how to handle conflict.”

She scuttled her previous plans to pursue a graduate degree in English and instead studied conflict analysis and resolution at George Mason University, earning both a master’s degree and a PhD. While at graduate school, she was hired by Professor Emeritus Dr. Vernon Jantzi ’64 to help coordinate the newly launched Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) at 91����Ƶ. 

For 34 years, Rhodes has taught at 91����Ƶ, primarily in its world-renowned Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP). Today, she serves as academic director of CJP and professor of peacebuilding and conflict studies. She also teaches courses in conflict transformation and peacebuilding for the undergraduate program and the master of nursing program. 

Rhodes has led semester and summer intercultural programs in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Russia, South Korea, and the Navajo Nation. She has served as department chair of 91����Ƶ’s Applied Social Science Department, administrative director of SPI, and as a program assistant for the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution.

With SPI turning 30 this year, we sat down with the long-tenured professor to talk about the values-based education offered at CJP and how students are bringing more peace and justice to the world.

The following responses are from an interview that Rhodes conducted with photographer and videographer Macson McGuigan ’17. A video from their interview will publish later this spring. These responses were edited for conciseness.

What’s unique about CJP?

Many other programs teach basic communication or mediation skills, but what we add at 91����Ƶ goes deeper. Our focus is on who you are and what you bring. Beyond the technical skills of conflict transformation, students engage in deep reflection and introspection around questions of:

• Who am I?
• What are my values and identities?
• What do I uniquely contribute to this work?
• And where do I fit in creating a more just and peaceful world?

We challenge students to connect their personal growth with leadership. They consider how to bring these skills and values into the places where they already work and lead. That combination of skill and self-assessment is the value we offer.

What can CJP grads do with their degrees?

There are generally three directions our students take. 91����Ƶ a third go into direct practice, often working with nonprofit or non-governmental organizations anywhere in the world. These roles can include mediation centers, community outreach, or other supporting positions where they apply skills like facilitating discussions and bringing together diverse groups to meet community needs.

Another third pursue further education. Many go on to doctoral programs to study conflict more deeply, contribute to policy, or prepare to teach in this relatively new field. 

The final third continue in their current careers in positions ranging from ministry, health care, business, and government. They’re drawn to CJP because they want to improve how people work together, make decisions, and solve complex problems.

Why should people study at CJP?

We are truly about creating a learning community together. This isn’t a place where you come to be filled up with knowledge. You come because you want to explore your part in making the world more peaceful, and together, we figure out how to bring more peace and justice to the world. 

We can’t do it alone, and no single set of skills fits every situation. That’s why our approach is based on mutuality and learning, where everyone’s experiences and knowledge matter. Students contribute what they know, and at the same time, gain practical skills they can use in their own contexts.

Our focus is on practice, not just theory or research. We care about what people can do to make the world more peaceful and just. CJP is a place to learn, share, and build that future together.

What kinds of hands-on experience is offered at CJP?

Our curriculum is intentionally designed to include hands-on practice in the community. For example, in the facilitation course, our graduate students are contracted by local groups and organizations to help facilitate meetings or support decision-making processes. While students are learning and practicing new skills, the organizations also benefit from their work.

At the end of the master’s program, students can choose a traditional thesis, but most complete a practicum. These opportunities are diverse, ranging from restorative justice and trauma healing to mediation, facilitation, and training. Alumni often connect current students with new practice opportunities, ensuring a rich network of real-world engagement.

What is the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI)?

Part of how we support our students is by offering courses in the summer, not as traditional summer school, but as a training institute. These courses and trainings, held in May and June, allow anyone to explore topics related to conflict, restorative justice, and other areas of practice. Courses generally last five to seven days, and multiple courses run simultaneously over the two-month period. 

SPI is intentionally designed as a learning community. Students live in dorms, attend classes and lectures, and learn from one another, all while experiencing what it means to live together in a diverse community. It’s both a retreat and a training space. As one alum described, SPI is like a well where people can take a drink of water. It’s not going to feed them forever, but it’s nourishment they can take back into their work and communities.

A new $11,905 grant from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) will expand capacity at the 91����Ƶ Free Food Room to meet sharply rising demand. 

Funding will also provide enhanced outreach, better data tracking and reporting methods, and other improvements to the access and security of the campus food pantry.

Rising demand

Data collected from a door counter at the Free Food Room indicates that demand has risen sharply over the past two years. Average monthly usage (August through May) was 256 visits in 2023-24 and 318 visits in 2024-25, and is projected to reach 630 visits in 2025-26.

The cost of purchasing food has risen significantly to keep pace, increasing from $189 per month in 2023-24 to $263 in 2024-25, and is projected to reach $371 in 2025-26.

Based on utilization trends and observations, an estimated 25% of 91����Ƶ undergraduates experience some level of food insecurity each year, wrote Jonathan Swartz, dean of students, in a grant application. “Given this data, our best estimate is that approximately 183 undergraduate students use the food pantry each year, most of them regularly,” he wrote.

Partnerships and priorities

The Free Food Room has relied on the dedication of the Food Insecurity Task Force, a group led by 91����Ƶ staff members Brian Martin Burkholder, Celeste Thomas, and Trina Trotter Nussbaum, as well as donations and community partnerships with the local food bank and area farms.

Current funding sources are no longer sufficient to meet demand, underscoring the importance of grant support, Swartz wrote in the application.

Swartz said members of the task force submitted the application in mid-December, expecting to receive between $2,000 and $3,000 in funding. A month later, they learned they had been awarded $11,905.

“The Free Food Room has sustained itself but has had no significant budget, so any amount of money would’ve helped us,” Swartz said. “We’re surprised and grateful to receive almost $12,000, which will help us more strategically increase the food supply.”

Keeping students ‘on track’

91����Ƶ’s grant is among a total $500,000 awarded to 48 colleges and universities throughout Virginia. 

According to a , Shenandoah Valley neighbors received the following funding: Mary Baldwin University, $14,882; Blue Ridge Community College, $11,905; Bridgewater College, $8,928; and James Madison University, $5,952.

The grants allow institutions to establish on-campus food pantries or partner with local food banks to provide food at no charge to students, the release states. In addition, grant funds can be used to increase partnerships and build more sustainable solutions for campus hunger. Funding amounts are based on the percentage of in-state Federal Pell Grant-eligible students enrolled at the institution.

“More than 40% of college students experience food insecurity at some point, which can lead to several adverse outcomes, including dropping out of school. Virginia’s investment in campus food pantries will help keep our students on track to reach their educational goals,” said Scott Fleming, SCHEV’s executive director, in the release.

The grants are funded by the enacted by the General Assembly in 2025. SCHEV published a on campus food insecurity in November 2024 that made several recommendations and offered resources for institutions.

91����Ƶ hosted its ninth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday, Jan. 19, featuring a series of events honoring the life and legacy of the late civil rights leader.

The theme of this year’s celebration was “Beyond the Dream: Social Justice and Ecological Consciousness,” and it focused on the message of Dr. King’s 1967 Christmas sermon, in which he preached about all life on Earth being interconnected. “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly,” he said.

Monday’s events began at 9:45 a.m. with a unity march inside the University Commons. 91����Ƶ two dozen students, faculty, and staff members held signs calling for peace and justice as they completed three laps around the indoor track. Each year, the unity march pays tribute to the many nonviolent marches led by Dr. King and others during the civil rights movement. 

The group of marchers proceeded to Lehman Auditorium, where members of the Black Student Alliance (BSA) and other students shared quotes from Dr. King and reflected on his legacy during Speak Out. One quote that resonated deeply was: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Celeste Thomas, director of Multicultural Student Services at 91����Ƶ and chair of the committee planning the MLK Jr. celebration, said Dr. King imagined a world with community instead of chaos, love instead of hate, and no one going hungry. He imagined a world where families are not separated, where there are no food deserts and everyone has clean water, and where countries don’t bully one another for resources, she added. “Beloved community is sustainability for all mankind,” she said.

Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, director of alumni engagement and community connections at 91����Ƶ, spoke about the theme of the day. “Going beyond the dream means understanding justice is not passive,” she said. “It requires participation, it requires responsibility, and that’s where you come in, 91����Ƶ students. You’re not on the sidelines of this work. You are already shaping the future of communities like Harrisonburg through the choices you make, the careers you pursue, the voices you raise, and the values you carry forward. Don’t just remember him, carry his dream forward.”

Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus spoke about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old who was arrested in 1955 for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, nine months before Rosa Parks did the same. Dycus, who noted that Colvin passed away on Jan. 13, 2026, said the young activist had inspired her for many years. “Both King and Colvin teach us what justice and power look like in necessary ways,” Dycus said. “We gather not out of tradition, not because the calendar tells us to, but because we are committed to taking seriously the work of building equitable, compassionate, and just communities. This is who we are, not just what we do.”

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò, an associate professor of philosophy at Georgetown University and a fellow at the Climate and Community Institute, served as the featured speaker for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation. He is the author of Elite Capture and Reconsidering Reparations, a contributor to Greta Thunberg’s The Climate Book, and a past recipient of a Marguerite Casey Freedom Scholar fellowship. His presentation was titled “Becoming Firefighters: Climate Justice and the Fight for a Free World.”

He examined recent actions taken by the federal administration to seize oil assets in Venezuela and spoke about the political and economic power of fossil fuel companies. “The control those people and their allies have over our entire lives depends on the political power they wield and defend with the money they get destroying our air and water,” he said. 

Following the convocation, a ceremony on Thomas Plaza rededicated the 91����Ƶ Peace Pole with a vision for peace, justice, and shalom on Earth, including all living things (represented by a new plaque featuring animal prints). The Peace Pole was recently resealed and painted and has newly installed “May Peace Prevail on Earth” plaques. 

Throughout the day, the conference room inside the Student Life Suite transformed into an aromatherapy space, filled with the scents of soap and essential oils. Simone McKelvey, owner of the Simone & Tuesday skincare brand, led two interactive demonstrations, teaching students, faculty, and staff how to create their own soap from scratch using natural ingredients. “Your skin is your largest organ,” she said, “and a lot of the time, we don’t pay attention to what we put on it.”

Participants worked in pairs at eight slow cookers, melting coconut, sunflower, and castor oils, adding lye to distilled water, and mixing the concoction with a stick blender and essential oils to create bars of soap. “When you go to the store and visit the soap aisle, some of them are soap, but some of them aren’t,” McKelvey said. “Some are detergents made with synthetic chemicals. True soap is what you’re making today.”

The sound of knives chopping onions, horseradish, garlic, hot peppers, ginger, and other vegetables reverberated through the Old Common Grounds space on Monday as participants in two interactive workshops sliced and diced fresh, locally sourced, organic ingredients to create their own jars of fire cider. The apple cider vinegar-based tonic supports immunity and digestion and is packed with  antioxidants, antibacterials, and antimicrobials, making it an ideal remedy for the colder months. In about four weeks, the jars can be strained and used to enhance everything from seltzer water and salad dressing to collard greens, pickles, and hot toddies.

The demonstrations were led by the sister-owners of Kinfolk Farm, a Black women-led farm in rural West Virginia dedicated to nourishing the brilliance, creativity, and legacy of Black and Indigenous people of the Global Majority.

Scroll through a photo album of the day below!

Thanks to Multicultural Student Services, Student Life, and the office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for planning the series of meaningful and educational events to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

This year’s lineup of events includes a convocation with author and philosophy professor Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò, two workshops teaching participants how to create their own handmade soap, and two sessions demonstrating the use and benefits of a spicy, vinegar-based tonic known as “fire cider.” All events are open to the public.

The celebration is themed “Beyond the Dream: Social Justice and Ecological Consciousness” and centers around the words of Dr. King’s “A Christmas Sermon on Peace” speech from 1967:

It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects on directly, affects all indirectly.

The chosen theme closely aligns with the university theme of sustainability for the 2025-26 academic year. “That was intentional,” said Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services at 91����Ƶ and chair of the committee planning the celebration. “This is a good time in our country to remember that not everyone is equally privileged and that we should really pay attention to Dr. King’s quote. We are all interconnected, and it’s a great time to practice self-care and self-awareness, recognizing that everyone’s journey is different.”

Monday’s events start at 9:45 a.m. in University Commons with a Unity March around the indoor track. The march will proceed to Lehman Auditorium, where an open forum-style Speak Out event will be held at 10 a.m.

Convocation

Convocation at 10:15 a.m. in Lehman Auditorium will be led by , an associate professor of philosophy at Georgetown University and a fellow at the Climate and Community Institute. Táíwò is the author of Elite Capture and Reconsidering Reparations, a contributor to Greta Thunberg’s The Climate Book, and a past recipient of a Marguerite Casey Freedom Scholar fellowship. His presentation will be livestreamed on and uploaded to the 91����Ƶ .

“A lot of his work is around social justice reparations and how it connects to sustainability, which we’ll hear in his speech,” Thomas said. “He really fits what we want to do and the message we want to convey.”

Following his convocation, a soul food lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Northlawn Cafeteria. From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Táíwò will lead a Q&A session at the MainStage Theater (University Commons 170). 

Soapmaking

In the afternoon, two “Skin Sabbath” soapmaking sessions led by Simone McKelvey of Simone & Tuesday will be held in University Commons 211/212. The first session will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the second session will be from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. Limited space is available for participation and advance is required. Seats will be available for unregistered participants who can watch the demonstrations.

Simone & Tuesday is a natural skincare solutions company founded on the belief that healthier skin should be natural, affordable, and for everyone. Through her soapmaking sessions, McKelvey teaches small groups how to make their own all-natural, personal care products.

“We held an event called ‘Hairitage’ last February with BSA during Black History Month, where students made their own hair products, and it was packed,” Thomas said. “That helped me realize that this generation of students responds well to hands-on activities. They enjoy the opportunity to take something home with them when they leave.”

Fire cider

A pair of fire cider workshops led by Kinfolk Farm will be held at the Old Common Grounds space (University Commons 177) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. Limited space is also available for participation in this event and so advance is required. Seats will be available for unregistered participants who can watch the demonstrations.

The Black woman-led farm in rural West Virginia is dedicated to nourishing the brilliance, creativity, and legacy of Black, indigenous people of the Global Majority. At Kinfolk Farm, food sovereignty, land liberation, and healing justice are daily practices woven into the way they plant, harvest, cook, and gather in community.

Participants in these two interactive sessions will learn the history of fire cider along with its traditional wellness practices. They’ll also be invited to try a sample! The spicy, tangy folk remedy is often used to support the immune system and is typically made by infusing apple cider vinegar with ingredients such as horseradish, ginger, garlic, onion, hot peppers, and honey. 

Climate simulation

A world climate simulation facilitated by Levi Clymer ’25, 91����Ƶ event operations coordinator, will be held from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. at the University Commons Student Union. Participants in this interactive exercise will act out the roles of international delegates at a United Nations summit and negotiate a global agreement to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. is also needed to participate in this event.

In case of changes to events due to inclement weather, visit for updates.

She is recognized as this year’s Young Peacemaker, an honor given to “a young adult or teenager who has already demonstrated a clear devotion to peace and justice work,” according to an Aug. 28 from MC USA announcing the award recipients.

Acosta is involved in Mennonite Action, 91����Ƶ Peace Fellowship, and the 91����Ƶ Chamber Singers. She credits her participation in a nonviolent civil disobedience action on Capitol Hill with Mennonite Action as a pivotal moment in her vocational call. 

Joe Roos, a founder of Sojourners magazine who served as its publisher, was honored by MC USA as this year’s Legacy Peacemaker. 

MC USA’s Bring the Peace awards are designed to draw attention to the peace and justice work that people within the denomination are doing and to encourage and inspire more people across the country to engage in similar endeavors, according to the release.

WCSC provides a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on professional experience in their respective fields through meaningful internships at nonprofit organizations, government agencies, advocacy groups, and other institutions across the city. These internships are carefully matched to each student’s academic background and career interests, offering them practical skills and real-world insight that extend far beyond the classroom.

In addition to their internships, students live together in a residential community that fosters collaboration, personal growth, and mutual support. As they navigate the challenges and opportunities of living in a large and vibrant urban setting, they also engage in reflective seminars and community-building activities designed to deepen their understanding of social justice, civic engagement, and career development.

Through this holistic experience, WCSC not only helps students advance their professional goals but also encourages them to think critically about their roles in society and the impact they can make in their future careers.

Read on to learn more about the Summer 2025 WCSC students and their internship placements.

Kimberly Mojarro Gamino, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is an 91����Ƶ nursing major and psychology minor interning at . At her internship, Kimberly’s main duties include conducting a research project on hospitals, organizing baby pantry rooms, and shadowing a nurse while conducting home visits. Kimberly is hoping to expand her knowledge on lactation by observing lactation consults.

Meredith Atkinson, from Mechanicsville, Virginia, is an 91����Ƶ political science and psychology major who is interning as a law clerk at . Through her internship, Meredith is assisting with case research, drafting, and document preparation along with attending court cases and conducting ward visits. Meredith plans to take advantage of every opportunity during her time in D.C. as she’s exposed to so many different people.

Logan Daugherty, from Bradford, Ohio, is a Bluffton University student studying biology and chemistry with a minor in psychology. This summer, Logan is interning at the medical clinic. Logan’s primary role this summer is to assist with the referrals team, help send referrals to doctor’s offices, and schedule patients for appointments. Logan is hoping to gain better skills in communication and working with others, as well as getting a better idea of what it’s like to work in the medical field and what goes on behind the scenes from a patient’s first to their last appointment.

Claire Hurst, from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a public health and environmental science major at 91����Ƶ and a recipient of the Climate Cohort Scholarship. This summer, Claire is a climate advocacy intern at of Mennonite Central Committee. Claire has been working on several different projects, which include creating a one-page informational handout for MCC on climate and peace, helping to plan a lobby day in Washington, D.C., leading a workshop about effective communication strategies for talking with senators, putting together a workshop for MennoCon in North Carolina and attending that conference for a few days. Claire is excited to learn more about political activism in D.C. and hopes to develop skills in organizing large groups of people and becoming more comfortable with talking to representatives.

Dibora Mekonnen, from Silver Spring, Maryland, is an 91����Ƶ student studying political science and social work with a pre-law minor. This summer, Dibora is interning at as a policy researcher. Dibora’s duties include picking up different immigration cases, working closely with historically Black colleges or universities in Maryland to help advocate for marginalized people, and advocating for the passage of bills among state delegates and the House of Representatives. The skills that Dibora hopes to gain are networking with different people and learning how to communicate professionally.

Alessandra Nagarajaan, from Newton, Massachusetts, is a sophomore at Suffolk University in Boston. She is an environmental studies major and one of the recipients of the Climate Cohort Scholarship. This summer, she is an intern with as a social media and advocacy intern. Her main duties are analyzing the organization’s social media accounts to find ways to boost engagement, running online campaigns for different bills they support, attending lobbying events, and supporting their interfaith coalition. Alessandra believes that her most significant learning experience will be in finding ways to engage local communities in issues that directly impact them and learning how to best address those needs.

Sergio Arteaga Torrez, from Sterling, Virginia, is a rising 91����Ƶ sophomore studying biology (pre-med track). This summer, he is interning at, where he is working on medical records and referrals, as well as shadowing a doctor. Sergio is also learning about the processes involved in making referrals to hospitals in the area.

Guadalupe Tenorio Ramirez, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is an 91����Ƶ student majoring in accounting and business administration. This summer, Guadalupe is an intern at the. The projects she is working on include cleaning up outstanding checks, conducting compliance checks of vendors in the System for Award Management (SAM), assembling invoice packets from grantors, and assisting with accounts payable tasks. Guadalupe hopes to gain a deeper understanding of how financial operations function within a real-world organizational setting. She is also learning the importance of accuracy, time management, and collaboration, all of which are essential skills for a successful career in accounting.

Emily Jones, from Mount Vernon, Ohio, is a Bluffton University junior majoring in studio art and pre-art therapy. Emily is a recipient of the Climate Cohort Scholarship and is completing her internship at where she is designing digital art for flyers, banners, and signs, working with the Birds of Prey Program, and helping with youth media art and habitat restoration. Through her time in D.C., Emily believes that her most significant learning experience will be learning how to expand her opportunities in a work environment.

Isaac Greenleaf, from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, is an engineering and computer science major at 91����Ƶ. This summer, Isaac is interning at the Service Desk where he helps users with their IT questions and needs. His duties include assigning tickets that come in, working on some of the tickets himself, and troubleshooting various software issues. Isaac also answers the phone and takes calls to assist users. Through this, he is hoping to learn better customer management skills.

Jacqueline Jackson, from Staunton, Virginia, is a nursing student at 91����Ƶ. This summer, Jackie is interning at , a nonprofit organization that provides medical services to homeless men in the D.C. area. Through her internship, Jacqueline is practicing her skills in treating wounds and identifying infections. She also believes that her most significant learning experience will be interacting with a health population that she has never worked with before.

Rebekah Copeland, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is an 91����Ƶ student studying computer science with a minor in English. This summer, Rebekah is an intern with the where she is becoming familiar with interfaces between databases, various file types, and webpages. Rebekah is also practicing HTML for webpage design along with formatting across various email platforms.

Damon Morgan, from Anniston, Alabama, is an 91����Ƶ senior studying digital media and communications. Damon is completing an internship as a videographer/editor at . Through his internship, Damon hopes to make connections with professionals in his field while working in an actual digital media studio.

Alexander Belisle, from Newport News, Virginia, is an 91����Ƶ political science and biology major. Alex is a recipient of the Climate Cohort Scholarship and is working as a publishing intern at on an upcoming issue focused on the impacts of climate change on human health. Through his internship, Alex has researched potential funders for the issue and compiled a list of key issues in the realm of climate change and public health.

Students interested in spending a semester in the nation’s capital should go  for more information or to apply today! Be sure to also check out the WCSC  account to see what our students are up to.

The two-part workshop series was held during both the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters, offering students and staff practical tools for resolving interpersonal conflict in healthy and constructive ways. The sessions emphasized peaceful communication, self-awareness, and community accountability—skills that extend far beyond the shared WCSC house.

Kirstin and Merwyn De Mello bring deep experience and commitment to this work. Kirstin serves as the climate advocacy and education coordinator with Mennonite Central Committee’s National Peace & Justice Ministries office. Merwyn works as a peacebuilding consultant, supporting various organizations in the D.C. metro area and internationally. Together, they model a lifestyle rooted in nonviolence, community organizing, and harmony with the natural world.

Each semester, up to 15 students participate in the WCSC program, which includes not only internships and academic coursework but also intentional community living. Students share cooking responsibilities, manage a collective food budget, and work together to maintain their home. These responsibilities are often an intercultural learning experience, as participants navigate diverse communication styles, expectations, and traditions.

“WCSC students consistently report that during the program they become more comfortable interacting with people who are different from themselves, and supporting our students in doing the brave work of living in community with people they didn’t know is something we take seriously,” said Ryan Good, WCSC program director. “This training was an excellent opportunity to expand their toolbox for working through misunderstandings and conflicts.”

The WCSC program continues to prioritize personal growth, cross-cultural understanding, and peacebuilding as central components of its mission.

The auditioned touring chamber choir was one of five ensembles chosen from around the world—joining groups from Indonesia, Kenya, Paraguay, and Switzerland—to perform songs at the event, The Courage to Love: Anabaptism@500, hosted by Mennonite World Conference. 91����Ƶ 3,500 Anabaptists gathered in Zürich for the celebration, including about 1,200 worshippers who filled the Grossmünster church for the service, while many tens of thousands more watched the event live online. 

The 24 members of the Chamber Singers performed nine full concerts, two church services, and several impromptu outdoor gigs along their 2½-week European tour. In addition to their singing, the group’s 91����Ƶ students and alumni visited museums, joined walking tours and history lectures, and explored Anabaptist heritage sites, a concentration camp, and the Anne Frank House.

Chamber Singers Director Dr. Benjamin Bergey ’11 said the choir performed for large crowds at nearly every concert and left a visible impact on many audience members through the quality of their singing and the poignancy of their message of hope and unity. “Several pieces moved dozens of people to tears, including ‘Prayer of the Children’ and ‘Ukuthula,’” he said. “Many audience members came up afterward to share how much hope it gave them to see so many young people so deeply invested in both the music and the message.”

Members of the Chamber Singers said their transformative experiences on the tour deepened their faith and strengthened their commitment to peace & justice. In Zürich, they shared meals with singers from around the world and traveled by bus and rehearsed together. “It was a wonderful intercultural experience,” Bergey said.

For Emma Nord ’25, an alto from Greenville, Illinois, one particularly memorable moment during the 500-year celebration came while witnessing Anabaptist and Reformed Church leaders wash each other’s feet at the service. “Their humility and desire for reconciliation was beautiful,” she said. “It was the experience of a lifetime, for sure.”

Joshua Stucky, a rising senior from Princeton, New Jersey, who sings bass in the Chamber Singers, also toured Europe with the choir in May 2023. But he said the music on this most recent trip resonated even more deeply with audiences. “I think our message of hope and unity crosses language barriers,” he said. “It carries so much weight right now.”

Thank you to all the alumni, friends, family, and donors who supported the tour in so many different ways!

Watch a recording of the Chamber Singers in the video above
and read more about the event in the Anabaptist World post below.

The mural was the result of a collaboration between WCSC staff and Spring 2025 students in an effort to counter narratives of exclusion and reclaim public space for inclusive representation. The mural also reflects the journey of WCSC students from 91����Ƶ into D.C. and the impact that life in the city has on them.

Spearheaded by WCSC’s artistic genius and associate director of student life and program administration, Ann Butwell, the mural project was a semester-long effort that invited deep reflection and creative expression from all involved. More than a visual installation, it became a community-building experience rooted in storytelling, identity, and social justice.

“The mural encapsulates the experience students have in putting together the pieces of their journey through the city,” said Butwell.  “The community response has been overwhelmingly positive; 25 neighbors have taken the time to have conversations with us. They are excited about having a new piece of local, communal art, and they are feeling inspired to do something similar to their property.”

The mural features several student-designed elements, including a striking image of a woman originally doodled on a whiteboard by WCSC student Genesis Figueroa. When staff saw the sketch the next morning, it immediately inspired the final composition and became one of its central figures. The mural also bears a powerful message—“May you never forget how desperately the world needs you”—a quote contributed by WCSC student Meredith Lehman ’25 and selected from several options she proposed.

“The mural was an opportunity to showcase the diversity and different parts of the city everyone captured during the semester,” said one student participant. Another shared, “Working on the mural made me feel like a part of me will always be in D.C.”

The piece culminates in a symbolic garden—not filled with painted flowers, but with the handprints of WCSC students and staff, representing their shared labor, presence, and legacy.

By transforming a blank wall into a bold statement of inclusion and solidarity, the WCSC mural stands as a lasting reminder of the center’s mission: to cultivate justice, community, and intercultural understanding through lived experience and creative collaboration.

Check out the WCSC  account to see what our students are up to!

Restorative Justice in Education Conference
Date: Tuesday-Wednesday, June 24-25, 2025
Location: Campus Center at 91����Ƶ, 1200 Park Rd, Harrisonburg, Virginia
Cost: $350 for full-program registration. $100 for virtual access.
Online:

For the past decade, the annual Restorative Justice in Education (RJE) Conference at 91����Ƶ has drawn participants from across Virginia, the U.S., and as far away as Canada and South America to learn how to apply the values and concepts of restorative justice in their classrooms and school divisions.  

The gathering has grown in size over those years and expanded in its offerings, but its purpose remains the same: to provide a space where RJE scholars and practitioners, teachers, educators, and 91����Ƶ faculty and staff can connect, learn together, and encourage one another in the work they’re doing.

“It’s all about fostering conversations among practitioners,” said 91����Ƶ Professor Kathy Evans, a member of the conference planning team. “We’ll have classroom teachers who are completely new to restorative justice sitting alongside folks who’ve written books and conducted scholarly research on RJ. Together, we’ll share ideas and explore how we can collaborate to bring about the kind of world we all want to see.”

The 10th annual RJE Conference, held Tuesday and Wednesday, June 24-25, is available to attend in-person and online. All events will be held at 91����Ƶ’s Campus Center. Visit for more information and a conference schedule.

The conference includes a keynote address, breakout sessions, and a welcome reception held at a local vineyard. The event will conclude on June 25 with a closing reflection circle at 3:45 p.m.

Keynote speakers

The theme for this year’s conference is “Language Matters: Exploring the Role of Discourse and Communication in Restorative Justice in Education,” which is drawn from the scholarship of . Her work has been integrated into 91����Ƶ’s Graduate Teacher Education program in RJE.

Keynote speakers Bella Finau-Faumuina and Dwanna Nicole will open the conference with their address, “Stolen Language: Restoring Indigeneity in Restorative Justice Practices” on June 24 at 10 a.m. Finau-Faumuina is an advocate and educator dedicated to implementing Hawaiian culture, history, and practices into public schools across Hawaii. She is part of the Office of Hawaiian Education, and promotes traditional Hawaiian knowledge as context and content throughout the state’s Department of Education. Nicole is executive director of the Restorative Justice Partnership, where she works within school communities throughout the country to assist in developing strategies to create more positive school climates for students, educators, and families. She also provides training and support in the implementation of restorative justice in schools. 

Their address will touch on the resurgence of cultural practices, including language, land, and restorative justice, within Hawaiian communities, and will highlight how one educator is using restorative justice to heal the cultural trauma that students experience and bring into the classroom.

Noting that restorative justice practices are rooted in Indigenous traditions, Evans said that this year’s theme feels especially timely. “I’m excited to have them here to set the tone for the conference,” she said. “It’s a powerful opportunity to reflect on how language shapes our efforts to build a more just and equitable world.”

Breakout sessions

Conference sessions will include offerings for newcomers of RJ as well as veterans of the field. Participants can choose between four sessions for each 90-minute block of time. 

One session, led by Tonya Walls, the executive director for Code Switch: Restorative Justice for Girls of Color, will explore the transformative power of language and communication in fostering healing and empowerment for girls of color in educational settings. Another session, titled “Using Language of Competence within Restorative Special Education,” will consider the ways in which ableism gets perpetuated through language.

The language we use to describe our students truly matters, Evans said. “It shows up in the way we refer to our students with special needs,” she explained. “Do we call them students with disabilities? Students with different learning styles? Or students who are neurodivergent? The words we choose shape how we see them and how they see themselves.”

Welcome reception

To kick off the conference, a special gathering at Bluestone Vineyard in Bridgewater, Virginia, on Monday, June 23, at 6 p.m. will offer conference participants, RJE graduates and practitioners, and 91����Ƶ faculty and staff a chance to connect with one another and build relationships. The evening reception promises to include light appetizers, delicious cake and wine, and great company. Participation at the welcome reception is also open to those who aren’t attending the RJE Conference.

Evans said one of the most meaningful compliments she received came from a participant last year who told her the event felt more like a community gathering than a typical conference.

“I love that,” she said. “I love how casual and comfortable it feels. It doesn’t feel formal like a conference. It feels like a bunch of good friends coming together to support and cheer one another on in the work we’re all doing.”

For questions about the RJE Conference, contact cape@emu.edu.

91����Ƶ Y-Serve, a student-run organization focused on volunteer service in the community, hosted the event on Friday and Saturday in partnership with the Harrisonburg Tacos 4 Life restaurant and the Feed My Starving Children nonprofit. For every meal sold at Tacos 4 Life locations, the company donates a portion of the proceeds to FMSC to help purchase Manna Packs. These nutrient-rich bagged meals, specially formulated for children, are then distributed by the nonprofit to schools, orphanages, medical clinics and feeding programs in about 100 countries. 

In its most recent fiscal year, the organization provided 375 million meals to mission partners worldwide, according to Brian Yeich, regional development adviser for FMSC. He said that the total meals packed at the 91����Ƶ event exceeded the organization’s goal of 101,088 meals. 

“We are so grateful that God brought together FMSC, Tacos 4 Life, and the greater 91����Ƶ community to feed God’s starving children, hungry in body and spirit,” he said. “To not only meet but actually exceed the meal-packing goal by over 12,000 meals is a testament to the people of the Harrisonburg community and the generosity of Tacos 4 Life, which sponsored these meals.”

On Friday and Saturday, Yoder Arena transformed into a meal-packing plant. Teams of volunteers scooped vitamin powder, dried vegetables, dehydrated soy and rice into bags, which were then weighed for consistency, sealed, and placed into boxes. The boxes were loaded onto a truck bound for the warehouse, where they will be distributed to children in need. 

As she finished a volunteer shift packing meals on Friday afternoon, 91����Ƶ junior Sara Kennel, a member of the Y-Serve leadership team, said she had a wonderful experience working with a group of 91����Ƶ students, staff and field hockey players, as well as students from Rocktown High School. She said she appreciated how FMSC partners with local organizations on the ground.

“They’re not just handing out meals,” she said. “They’re specifically committed to children for a designated length of time and, within that time, working to find other solutions to feed and provide for them more sustainably.”

The event at 91����Ƶ has sparked a trend in the Harrisonburg community. Jeremy Hunter, operating partner of the Tacos 4 Life Harrisonburg location, said that James Madison University has agreed to host a MobilePack event at the Atlantic Union Bank Center on Sunday, April 27. You can sign up for that event .

These meal-packing events are part of a larger effort by the Arkansas-based Tacos 4 Life restaurant chain to donate and pack 10 million meals by June 2025 to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Watch of the 91����Ƶ MobilePack event in its Tell Me Something Good segment with Taylor Rizzari.

Thank you to all the volunteers who participated, including those from Park View Federal Credit Union, Merck, and Carmax.

“This project was a bear to organize with so many logistics and details, and the results were truly beautiful,” said Brian Martin-Burkholder, university chaplain for 91����Ƶ. “Many volunteers reported how much fun it was to pack meals together for a few hours. We’re grateful for the level of participation this project received.”

Three choirs from diverse musical and cultural traditions will join together for a concert held at 91����Ƶ this week.

The event, Love, Joy & Peace: A Choral Celebration!, will be held at Lehman Auditorium on Friday, March 14, at 7 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $10.

Dr. David Berry, director of the music program at 91����Ƶ, described the event as a big celebration. “The idea for this concert was truly born out of a sense of community,” he said. “We’re not just bringing together different styles of music, but also we’re bringing together people from different communities.”

The concert will feature performances by:

• the 91����Ƶ Chamber Singers, the university’s auditioned touring chamber choir, directed by Professor Benjamin Bergey, singing songs of hope and unity from its recent spring break tour;
• the 91����Ƶ Gospel Choir, a talented group of students directed by 91����Ƶ senior Kay Pettus, delivering uplifting gospel music; and 
• the Kush Anglican Choir, a choir from a Sudanese congregation in Harrisonburg, directed by 91����Ƶ senior Rita Toto, performing traditional Sudanese songs in Arabic. 

Berry first heard the latter choir perform at a fundraiser last July at A Bowl of Good in Harrisonburg. The supported Pax Dei for Nuba, a nonprofit raising awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. “Their choir sounded incredible, and they perform a variety of music, including songs from their culture and in their native language,” Berry said. “I knew we had to invite them to perform on campus.”

After each choir performs their own selection of songs, the three vocal ensembles will combine on stage to sing “Let’s Come Together,” an original composition written by guest artist Makinto.

Makinto, a talented multi-instrumentalist and African Soul artist studying at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, will also perform solo selections throughout the evening and collaborate with Berry on a piano duet for the final musical number. 

Makinto previously performed as a guest artist at 91����Ƶ’s 2023 Music Gala Concert. He and his wife, Mukarabe, co-founded Amahoro International, a mission organization promoting peace and development in East Africa. Learn more about his journey to 91����Ƶ here!

The 91����Ƶ Department of Music partnered with the Center for Interfaith Engagement and Multicultural Student Services to present this concert. It is sponsored by the Music, Peace and Justice grant, in conjunction with the Music & Peacebuilding major.

The WCSC program presents students with the opportunity to acquire work experience in their field of study through internships, while living together in a student community and learning to navigate a large and diverse city. 

Three highlights from the students’ community life illustrate the ways the Spring 2025 group is taking advantage of their time at WCSC, building new relationships and friendships along the way. 

Each WCSC term begins with a week of orientation, giving WCSC students the opportunity to explore the city, build confidence navigating public transit, and have fun and get to know each other as a group. One highlight of the WCSC orientation is a citywide scavenger hunt that introduces students to the incredible breadth that Washington, D.C., offers.

Living in the student community is at the heart of the WCSC experience. And community life at WCSC revolves around the kitchen, where students take turns cooking dinner for the group. For example, two students collaborated on a colorful stuffed pepper dinner. 

Another example of student-initiated D.C. adventures was an outing to the Let Freedom Ring Celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Read on to learn more about the Spring 2025 WCSC students and their internship placements.

Meredith Lehman, from Dover, Ohio, is a political science and biology double major. This semester, Meredith is interning at the, where she is working on a project on trade and mining, and another on climate policy. Through her time at WCSC, Meredith hopes to learn how think tanks operate, be more immersed in government structures, and be part of an intentional living community. 

Genesis Figueroa, from Millersburg, Ohio, is a political science major and pre-law minor. Genesis is interning with in the Immigration Legal Services department. Her work this semester has included translating, interpreting, administrative work, and supporting the department’s legal work. Genesis hopes to learn how to set boundaries in the workplace and learn more about working in a nonprofit.   

Sadie Brenneman, a Goshen College student from Goshen, Indiana, is a journalism major. Sadie is interning at as a public relations intern in the commercial real estate sector. Through her internship, she has compiled research on potential and existing clients, assisting with creating materials such as pitches, media lists and press releases, and monitoring and tracking press coverage for clients.

Alaiyis Jasper, from Queens, New York, is a business analytics and psychology double major. Alaiyis is an intern at the. Through his internship Alaiyis is helping with the creation of District Capitalized Hub, an app created to connect small businesses with growth opportunities. Alaiyis is hoping to enhance his data management and analytics skills during his time in D.C.

Jaelyn Amhdar, a Goshen College student from Richmond, Michigan, is an exercise science major with disability studies and psychology minors. This semester, Jaelyn is an occupational therapy intern at. Jaelyn hopes to learn how to collaborate with other professionals within the therapy realm and make sure that services do not overlap with each other while also ensuring goals are met.

Anya Bobrowski, from Stafford, Virginia, is a political science major. Anya is interning with where she is working on public policy issues and immigration services. Through her internship, Anya is hoping to learn how to work with new people and also learn how to navigate public policy.

Rita Toto, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is a social work major with a business administration minor. This semester, Rita is interning with as a case manager where she works with homeless individuals who need respite care for medical needs. Rita also helps verify patients’ health insurance and helps them apply for a plan if they don’t have one. 

Lisbet Sanchez-Garcia, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is a liberal arts major and business administration minor. Lisbet is interning with the . Through her internship, Lisbet is hoping to learn how nonprofits work and secure grants for their mission as well as learn marketing strategies to appeal to the eyes of the community.

Ravi Holsinger, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is a computer science major. Ravi is interning at , where he is working at the IT help desk. Ravi hopes to learn how to work in a team and communicate effectively and properly in a work setting.

Students interested in spending a semester in the nation’s capital should go for more information or to apply today!

Be sure to also check out the WCSC account to see what our students are up to.

Lars Åkerson ’08 used a familiar Mennonite symbol, that of a quilt, to discuss the importance of belonging. “We need to piece back together the quilt of our belonging, acknowledge the extent of our fragmentation, touch and unfold the edges of our differences, and become stitched together by the colored threads of our grief,” he said. Åkerson, representing the , served as the first keynote speaker for the 2025 Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship (ICPF) conference. His work with the Coalition involves building Indigenous solidarity, and he discussed collaborations he helped facilitate between Maya and Mennonite farmers. 

The conference, held from Friday, Feb. 21, to Sunday, Feb. 23, in the 91����Ƶ Seminary building, centered around the theme “Building Solidarity: from Turtle Island to Palestine.” It brought together 110 attendees, some from the Harrisonburg community and area universities, and others from Mennonite, Brethren, and Quaker colleges across the U.S. Aidan Yoder ’24, a recent 91����Ƶ graduate who served on the conference planning committee, said he was excited by the energy that students brought to the event. “We far surpassed my goals for the conference with the number of people involved and the variety of institutions represented,” Yoder said.

Two speakers, Adam Ramer and Nick Martin, shared the second keynote address on , an organization working to build Palestinian solidarity. Ramer and Martin discussed the purpose and mission of their organization for about half an hour, explaining that they stand with the downtrodden and oppressed, particularly those in Palestine, and strive for a world “where all God’s children are free.” For the next 45 minutes, they opened the floor to questions. “How do you build empathy for a cause like a cease-fire?” one attendee asked. Ramer and Martin then discussed the importance of reaching people’s hearts by going beyond logical arguments and appealing to values and emotions.

Between the keynote addresses on Saturday, attendees chatted over pastries, fruit, and coffee and attended workshops. Some workshops focused on broad topics such as nonviolent action, while others discussed specific justice and peacebuilding endeavors, including Palestine solidarity in Harrisonburg and visual and digital activism in Brazil and Argentina. Yoder said he heard from many attendees who enjoyed the workshops as a place to ask questions and learn more.

91����Ƶ last hosted the ICPF in February 2020, before it was indefinitely put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Renae Benner, an 91����Ƶ junior who helped plan the 2025 conference, said she felt that people learned a lot and built stronger relationships between colleges. “I’m optimistic that we successfully restarted the annual ICPF,” she said. As Åkerson said in his address, “The way things are is not the way they must be.” Although he was talking about activism more broadly, his words could also apply to restarting a beloved conference, one that Goshen College first hosted 77 years ago. 

A highlight from the conference for Yoder came during weekend reflections when the committee announced that two colleges had tentatively agreed to host the ICPF for the next two years. “I was glad the energy we created this year resulted in the continuation of the annual conference,” he said.

Those planning the ICPF 2025 conference were Renae Benner, Shawna Hurst, Micaiah Landis, Georgia Metz, Tim Seidel, and Aidan Yoder.