NEWS: UNIVERSITY OF DENVER CONFLICT RESOLUTION INSTITUTE BULLETIN

The University of Denver Conflict Resolution Institute (CRI) (https://www.du.edu/conflictresolution/index.html) put out a bulletin a few weeks ago on Hearing and Listening to Stories of Injustice. It included a wealth of great resources assembled by CRI staff. Those are listed below, and you can sign up for CRI’s newsletter at the website linked above. As you can see from the introductory language below, these materials are highly relevant now, AND much of the wisdom contained in them has application across many sorts of conflict. One linked is provided below, the Bulletin had many

From the CRI:

In studying conflict escalation and perpetuation, we see how differences in power also result in certain stories going unheard or even being suppressed. The denial of one’s voice can feel like the denial of identity and worth[1], deepening the sense of injustice and feeding the conflict cycle. Silence becomes part of the bricks and mortar of structural injustice. We also know that for healing and reconciliation to even begin, truths needs to be told and acknowledged[2]. Black Lives Matter is emphasizing to our local and global communities the human need to be heard and valued. Injustices need to be named. This historical moment highlights the urgency to create spaces in our communities for black, indigenous, and people of color to name truths and share stories, and for white people to listen, hear, and change. In the spirit of partnership, we offer links below to exciting models for creating spaces for change, healing, and paths forward. We also offer resources on ‘hearing stories’ from our own CRI research project on Communities Integrating Muslim Immigrants. For more information check here.

[1] d’Estrée, T.P. (2005). The role of voice in conflict deescalation and resolution. In M. Fitzduff & C.E. Stout (Eds.), The Psychology of Resolving Global Conflicts: From War to Peace (Vol. III). Praeger.

[2] Lederach, J.P. (1997). Building peace: Sustainable reconciliation in divided societies. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Institute of Peace Press. Long, W.J., and Brecke, P. (2003). War and reconciliation: Reason and emotion in conflict resolution. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Nadler, A. (2012). Intergroup reconciliation: Definitions, processes and future directions. In L. Tropp, (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of Intergroup Conflict, (pp. 291-308). Oxford University Press.

On Truth-Telling, and Histories of Racism:

Truth-Telling Project

On Juneteenth, celebrate the freedom of enslaved African-Americans with a virtual screening of “Another Slave Narrative” by Michelle Jackson.