This summer, from July 18-25, West Brattleboro became a site of transformational change for 19 youth leaders. The Israeli, Palestinian and American teens were involved in the annual Leadership Institute of Jerusalem Peacebuilders (JPB), a highly-acclaimed program that engages the differences and intersections between Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
When it comes to resolving conflict, “Everyone wants to change the world, but no one wants to change him or herself,” the participants often observed, quoting a line from the program’s co-founder and Episcopal priest the Rev. Nicholas Porter.
Even so, these brave and insightful teens confront their own deeply held beliefs about the world, the “other,” and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – a matter of direct personal experience for most JPB participants. They discover that they can manage to change themselves, and in doing so, they change the world; they inspire change in the world.
In this video, Jack Karn, region director of Jerusalem Peacebuilders (JPB), interviews four participants in the 2019 summer Leadership Institute. The four panelists share some of the experiences that led them to the JPB Leadership Institute and some of the life lessons that they will take back to their respective communities. Those who may be interested in applying for a future JPB program are encouraged to view this video.
This year JPB launched a summer teacher-training program for Israeli and Palestinian educators at Cambridge University (UK) and continues to operate summer programs for youth and adults in Houston, TX; New Haven, CT; and Brattleboro, VT as well as in-school programs in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Haifa, New England, and Houston. Learn more at https://www.jerusalempeacebuilders.org.