ACU’s Duncum Center for Conflict Resolution is hosting its second annual Peace Conference.
The Duncum Center for Conflict Resolution is an online graduate program through ACU. The center also provides conflict resolution solutions for organizations.
This year the Duncum Center will host the second annual Peace Conference with the theme being, Gender Conflict.
“We would love to bring peace to people struggling with gender conflict,” said Dr. Garry Bailey, academic director of the Duncum Center for Conflict Resolution.
The conference will feature author of A Thousand Sisters, and founder of The Run for Congo Women Foundation, Lisa Shannon.
“Lisa Shannon works with women in the congo who are displaced by the war,” Bailey said. “The horror of the war over there is that rape is a big problem. There are many agencies that work over there to help these displaced women and their children find resources to live and Lisa does a lot of fundraising for these organizations.”
The conference will be start at 9 a.m. beginning with registration, and end at 4 p.m. with a PeaceWalk around the Lunsford Trail.
Bailey said that Shannon will speak during Chapel, and at a Chapel forum in the Hunter Welcome Center at 3 p.m.
Anybody is welcome to join the walk, but if you would like to donate to congo women and receive a free t-shirt, there is a registration fee of $25.
Bailey said that he hopes the conference and the theme of gender conflict will allow students to see gender roles in a different form.
“We need to be able to look at people as people, and with this Peace Conference, I hope that we can get that point across,” Bailey said.
For many students, the Peace Conference is something that they have not ever experienced, and are looking forward to the opportunity.
“I am very excited to be a part of the Peace Conference,” said Hannah Knight, sophomore psychology major from Midlothian. “I think that it is something that will not only bring awareness to campus about women of the Congo, but an excellent opportunity to bring our campus closer together and grow as a community.”
To register for the Peace Conference and the PeaceWalk visit www.acupeacewalk.org and follow the Duncum Center on twitter @duncumcenter for more information.
To learn further information about Lisa Shannon or her organization, Run for Congo Women, visit www.runforcongowomen.org
