Description
“We all find joy and radiance and a reason to move on even in the most dire of circumstances. Even in chaos and madness, there’s still a beauty that comes from just the vibrancy of another human spirit.” — Ishmael Beah
“For me, being a peace builder means seeing the resources that countries and cultures have—even after devastating war—and helping to identify and mobilize, and magnify these resources and capacities for peace and for healing.” — Libby Hoffman
Join renowned author and N4 Artist Ishmael Beah alongside peacebuilder Libby Hoffman in a thought-provoking conversation on the transformative journey of finding peace from the inside out. This program is presented in partnership with Catalyst for Peace and Global Citizens Circle, as part of the series Conversations as Catalyst: The Power of Peace celebrating GCC’s 50th anniversary. We hope to see you there!
Ishmael Beah – Presenter Bio:
Ishmael Beah is the Sierra Leonean and American author of the novels Little Family, Radiance of Tomorrow, and the memoir A Long Way Gone which was a #1 New York Times and international bestseller and has been published in over forty languages. The Washington Post writes, “Everyone should read this book…We should read it to learn about the world and about what it means to be human.” His novels, written with the gentle lyricism of a dream and the moral clarity of a fable are powerful stories about preserving what means the most to us, even in uncertain times. Ishmael serves as A UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for children affected by conflict, a practitioner and expert in conflict resolution. He is currently completing a sequel of his memoir set to be published in 2025.
Libby Hoffman – Presenter Bio:
Libby Hoffman is the president of Catalyst for Peace, a private foundation she established in 2003 to grow a new architecture for peace — one that works from the inside out, where those most impacted by violence and war lead in building peace and restoring social wholeness. For over 15 years, Libby has focused her work in Sierra Leone, as co-founder, funder, and ongoing program partner of Fambul Tok (Family Talk), a community-led post-war reconciliation program rooted in local culture and tradition. The framework has become a model for transformative partnerships between international donors, national governments, and civil society.
