{"id":10262,"date":"2026-04-23T22:32:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T02:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/?post_type=cjp_podcast&#038;p=10262"},"modified":"2026-04-23T22:32:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T02:32:23","slug":"28-kory-schaeffer-alena-yoder-the-heroes-behind-the-scenes","status":"publish","type":"cjp_podcast","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/podcast\/28-kory-schaeffer-alena-yoder-the-heroes-behind-the-scenes\/","title":{"rendered":"28. Kory Schaeffer &amp; Alena Yoder: The Heroes Behind the Scenes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"EP. 28 Kory Schaeffer &amp; Alena Yoder: The Heroes Behind the Scenes\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UkVIkB_24S4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In this episode of the Peacebuilder Podcast, host Diego Crespo sits down with Kory Schaeffer and Alena Yoder, staff members at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP), to explore the often unseen work that makes the CJP experience possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kory, Director of Programs, and Alena, Academic Program Coordinator and Registrar, reflect on their journeys into CJP, from Kory\u2019s path through emergency medicine, international work in Ghana, and eventual transition into peacebuilding, to Alena\u2019s early start at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ and growth into a student-centered role supporting learners from orientation to graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, they unpack what it means to support a global peacebuilding community, from guiding students through every step of their academic journey to coordinating complex programs like the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI). They highlight the intensity behind SPI, a month-long gathering that brings practitioners and students from around the world, while also requiring year-round planning, logistical coordination, and deep relational work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The conversation also explores the challenges of making global programs accessible, including visa barriers, financial limitations, and systemic inequities, as well as the critical role of donors in expanding access through scholarships and new initiatives like launching SPI abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At its core, this episode sheds light on the human side of peacebuilding infrastructure, the care, coordination, and commitment required to create spaces where learning, reflection, and transformation can take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guest(s)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-peacebuilder-online-profiles-block wp-block-profiles col-2\"><div class=\"profile profile-0\"><div class=\"profile-media\"><div class=\"no-profile-image\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"profile-content\"><h3 class=\"profile-name\">Kory schaeffer<\/h3><p class=\"profile-bio\"><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"profile profile-1\"><div class=\"profile-media\"><div class=\"no-profile-image\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"profile-content\"><h3 class=\"profile-name\">ALENA YODER<\/h3><p class=\"profile-bio\"><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transcript<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":312,"featured_media":10263,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","season":[1734],"class_list":["post-10262","cjp_podcast","type-cjp_podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","season-season-four"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cjp_podcast\/10262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cjp_podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cjp_podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/312"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"season","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/peacebuilder\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/season?post=10262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}