DR. Sarah Federman
Dr. Fakhira halloun
Dr. Fakhira Halloun and Dr. Sarah Federman met as graduate students, taking courses together in various approaches to conflict resolution. Between classes we began discussing the role of narrative, victimhood, and agency for change. Fahkhira, as Palestinian citizen of Israel and Sarah, descendent of Jewish immigrants, considered their shared experience of belonging to groups that have suffered tremendously. They discussed the suffering as well as the challenges of a victim mindset and how agency for change can be born through victimhood, is this possible? If so, how?
After graduation, both continued their peacebuilding work and their friendship, circling back to discuss how what we learned about peacebuilding is playing out during times of violence escalation of conflict: How can peacebuilding focus on both dialogue and prioritize tangible actions to change the reality and violent structures? How can we address dehumanization during terrifying violence escalation? What is the unique power of women? And how can we rekindle our commitment for peace during dark times when the possibility of peace seems so distant?
Our talk will touch upon these themes, sharing insights from our experiences.
Dr. Sarah Federman
Dr. Sarah Federman is an Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego. She is an author of the award-winning books Last Train to Auschwitz, the French National Railways and the Journey to Accountability and Transformative Negotiation, Strategies for Everyday Change and Equitable Futures. She is a regular instructor at the Foreign Service Institute and this summer led a full-day negotiation workshop in the U.S. Department of State working with individuals addressing some of our world's most pressing conflicts.
At the Kroc School of Peace Studies she teaches conflict resolution, intervention, negotiation, and to confront polarization in the USA, she led students across the country on a train in a course called “Crossing the Divide.” Please visit www.sarahfederman.com
Dr. Fakhira Halloun
Dr. Fahkira Halloun is a Palestinian citizen of Israel with over two decades of experience in the peacebuilding field within Israel-Palestine with extensive experience in facilitating dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis across various settings. In 2019, she earned her doctorate in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University, USA. Following she served as the first Civil Society and Peacebuilding Consultant at the office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) in Jerusalem. In this role, she designed strategies and developed the UN actionable plans on engaging with Israeli and Palestinian civil society organizations leading peacebuilding efforts to empower them and enhance their impact on reality toward a peaceful solution to the conflict. Fakhira specializes in the engagement of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. She is an active member and advisor for several women-led initiatives focused on enhancing the involvement of Palestinian and Israeli women in peace efforts, particularly during the recent horrifying escalation in the conflict. Fakhira was one of the core team that established the first Museum of the Palestinian People in Washington, DC which opened its doors in 2019.
