Arcadia’s International Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) master’s program, in coordination with The Peace Center in Langhorne, Pa., hosted a full-day, hands-on forum in the Commons Great Room focused on nonviolent civil resistance.

“Community-based and experiential learning are hallmarks not only of our program, but of the broader field of peace and conflict resolution,” said Dr. Ariel Otruba, IPCR’s interim program director. “Peace studies as a field is distinctive in that it is a prescriptive and practice-oriented field that brings together scholars and practitioners who share a commitment to building a more just and sustainable world. This teach-in was designed to strengthen that commitment between theory and practice while deepening community engagement.”

The program brought together the Arcadia community, as well as neighbors and members of the wider community, for workshops and a panel discussion with local political leaders and community organizers.

Barbara Simmons, executive director of The Peace Center, led a session on non-violence peacekeeping. Participants examined real-life situations where intervention and de-escalation techniques led to peaceful outcomes, as well as what to do when faced with similar situations. In the afternoon, Indivisible Bucks County’s Karen Rodriguez worked with participants to give them the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to support their immigrant neighbors.

The panel discussion focused on immigrant rights activism and community responses to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in the greater Philadelphia area. Panelists included (left to right in the photo below): Otruba; Denisse Agurto, executive director of Unides Para Servir Norristown; Stephanie Vincent, founder and leader of Community for Change Montgomery County; Hyeonock “Mel” Lee, executive director of the Woori Center; Josh Blakesley, executive director of the Welcome Project PA; and State Sen. Art Haywood.

Arwen Blimes ’29M, a first-year student in the IPCR program, helped Otruba develop the forum after the two realized a more traditional academic conference could not accomplish the goals they considered most important.

“We wanted to give our students and community members the chance to engage intellectually, while also adding a hands-on element to give people the chance to learn that way,” explained Blimes. “What are the current ways people are practicing nonviolent resistance? How do you come at things in a way you can de-escalate the situation? What does the overall landscape look like in the current age? These are questions we are emphasizing and trying to help people answer.

“Civic engagement is one of our duties. So I think it’s important that we all come together to learn how to perform that duty, and what tools we have to perform that duty. It’s one of our rights enshrined in the Constitution, so it was important to create this space that is accessible for people to engage and learn.”

Rebecca Strouse is a neighbor of Arcadia, residing in Cheltenham. She found out about the event through word of mouth and knew she wanted to attend.

“To me, I feel a little powerless and unsure of what I can do,” she explained. “I’m hoping that this will give me a bit of grounding and some things to move forward with. What’s most comforting is seeing the allies in this because it’s not always easy to know who they are.

“I’ve got a lot of rage,” she continued, laughing. “But I don’t want to get in trouble! So I’m here to turn that rage into something productive.”

Otruba and Blimes both said they understood how Strouse felt, and it was the impetus behind organizing the event.

“Hosting this teach-in event provided an opportunity for IPCR to share our toolkit with our broader community and respond to a demand from our students and the public for empowerment,” Otruba said. “Educational events like this inspire hope and courage to take action.”

Toward the end of the teach-in, Strouse made sure to convey that she felt differently than she did at the beginning of the day.

“I certainly feel empowered!” she exclaimed.