Latest News
Giving Rural People the Opportunity to Thrive. Member Spotlight: Roslyn Williams George
By Ben Lutz |
Roslyn Williams George “always had a soft spot for people who faced challenges.” They would be drawn to her as a shoulder to lean on, and Roslyn would be more than happy to listen. Listening, after all, is a skill, and Roslyn has it in spades. She notes how it is important to meet people…
Empowering People to Find Their Own Justice. Member Spotlight: Rut Rivera-Encarnación
By Ben Lutz |
For Rut Rivera-Encarnación, mediation is far more than a professional skill. In her world, it is a calling rooted in dignity, empowerment, and the belief that “people are the experts of their own situations.” Rut earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the Universidad de Puerto Rico before earning her JD at the…
The Peacebuilding Entrepreneur. Member Spotlight: Stefan Schwartzmann
By Ben Lutz |
Stefan Schwartzmann isn’t your typical entrepreneur. Yes, he’s started a successful company stretching across ten Latin American countries, and yes, he’s currently deep in conversations about “scalable growth.” But what makes Stefan stand out is his sense of purpose. He’s not in the startup world for the money or recognition, but rather the peace. If…
One Lawyer’s Stand to Improve Access to Justice in Ecuador. Member Spotlight: Alicia Arias Salgado
By Ben Lutz |
Growing up in Ecuador, Alicia Arias Salgado has always been keenly aware of the injustice happening around her. The law is applied differently depending on who you are, and corruption abounds. As a law student, Alicia vowed to advocate for justice reform in her country. Now, she works as a lawyer, mediator and arbitrator to…
2025 MBBI Awards! Recognizing their Caring, Courage, and Commitment to Global Peacebuilding
By Ben Lutz |
Mediators and peacebuilders in this community of practitioners at MBBI, work tirelessly every day toward building a “peaceable” world. The teams conduct analysis, design interventions, facilitate training, convene gatherings, and a whole lot more. It is time to recognize them at this time with a celebration of their work and a spotlight on their impact….
MBBI Peacebuilder of the Year 2025: Somia Sadiq
By Ben Lutz |
Somia Sadiq is a space-maker for more women of colour to assume leadership roles, and a tenacious boundary-pusher advancing peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts across the globe. She believes stories have the power to advance diplomacy, break barriers, and promote healing. With ancestral roots in post-colonial Punjab and Kashmir, Somia Sadiq holds experience in environmental sciences,…
The Community Leader Mobilizing Dialogue for Peace. Member Spotlight: James Offuh
By Ben Lutz |
During the Nigerian Civil War in 1967, a young couple fled the country through underground tunnels. They ended up in Côte d’Ivoire, where shortly thereafter, a future peace advocate was born: Mr. James Offuh. As a child, his parents took him to Nigeria to rediscover his roots in the Igbo community. Mr. Offuh grew up…
From Playwriting to Palliative Care. Member Spotlight: Arabella Tresilian
By Ben Lutz |
For Arabella Tresilian, mediation is less a career than a calling that weaves together every thread of her life. With roots in the arts and years spent as a caregiver, she has always been attuned to the power of story, dignity, and presence. Today, those sensibilities define her work as a mediator in healthcare and…
Curiosity and Open-Mindedness: A Dutch Approach to Mediation in France. Member Spotlight: Barberine Raming
By Ben Lutz |
For Barberine Raming, mediation is the culmination of a life defined by movement, listening, and cross-cultural dialogue. From her beginnings as a nurse in the Netherlands to her humanitarian missions with Médecins Sans Frontières, her years in the Amsterdam police force, and her eventual settlement in France, Barberine has consistently been drawn to the human…
The Role of Women in Equitable and Sustainable Natural Resource Management: Governance, Social Equity, and Democracy
By Ben Lutz |
On a clear morning in the Andes, a woman bends over a small irrigation channel, guiding water to her crops. Thousands of miles away, on a coastal fishing dock, another woman mends nets while listening to the weather report that will determine the community’s catch. From forest villages to bustling cities, women are at the…









