Beyond the “I”: A Mediator Building Collaborative Communities. Member Spotlight: José Barzola
Speaking with José Barzola, a higher education professional and community facilitator and mediator based in Hawai’i, I could tell that I was in the presence of a master communicator. He is deliberate with his words, an active listener, and charismatic to boot. Indeed, it is no wonder that his current project—a channel called Peacebuilding Initiatives—explores the art of storytelling through a conversational format. José is passionate about shifting “beyond the ‘I’ to the ‘We,’” that is, putting a spotlight on community peacebuilding and interpersonal relationships.
“You first learn about conflict management with your loved ones.”
Growing up in a women-run household in Peru, José learned early on about the importance of good communication and listening skills. As a young child, he was a mini-mediator in his family, trying his best to solve disagreements as they would arise. When José eventually learned about his indigenous heritage, he embraced such ancestry as another source of relationship building. As a result, José developed a keen ability to create deep connections wherever he goes.
José went on to receive his MA in Education from the University of Connecticut and his MBA from Mercy University. He also received a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and is currently working towards his PhD in Educational Administration and Higher Education. It was while working as an academic advisor at Mercy University that José heard about a course being offered called “Managing Human Conflict.” José got in touch with the professor, who encouraged him to get trained in mediation and begin teaching courses himself. Thus began his journey in the field of peacebuilding.
“We can have a mediation session, or we can simply have a conversation.”
José began his podcast series during COVID as a way to virtually foster community. He has heard so many stories from peacebuilders as a result of this project. As someone who often moderates in group environments and classrooms, José has come to greatly appreciate the one-on-one nature of his podcast conversations. What’s more, the guests don’t have to be any one type of person or presenter. José has an “open invitation” policy for anyone interested to come on and tell their story.
José moved to Hawai’i a little over ten years ago. He marvels at the benefits of a slower pace of life, as well as the value of continuous self-reflection. And these are things that people can apply to their lives no matter the location. It’s about weaving the pieces of your journey together in order to understand how you have gotten where you are. José speaks further on the types of questions we all should be grappling with: “Do you know yourself? Do you know what your red flags are? If you don’t know what lines you should not cross, you need to figure that out before you can go into a mediation session.” This process of self-exploration can come in the form of a long walk, slowed breathing, or meditation.
José’s holistic approach to peacemaking speaks to his desire to move mediation beyond a “field” and into a more inclusive space of skillbuilding and reframing techniques. This is why José appreciates MBBI so much, for its autonomy in creating space to hear diverse voices and peacebuilding techniques. José brings this mindset into his own workshops; his style of facilitation is interactive, always making time for people to connect and debrief with each other.
José also makes sure to clarify a few key terms before each session. For example, instead of “ground rules,” José will talk about “community guidelines” in order to connect more positively with the audience. Also, he uses the term “brave space” instead of “safe space” because, in his own words, “No space is truly ever safe, but hopefully, through conversation, we can nurture an environment where we can feel brave enough to share and open up with each other.” It is this level of care and personalized connection that makes José stand out as a communicator.
“The world is a small place.”
José is heavily involved with the non-profit Ceeds of Peace, which takes a proactive approach to peacebuilding across the Hawaiian islands. A key component of the organization is building social justice action plans from the bottom-up, intimately involving the local community. Since each island has its own unique issues, Ceeds of Peace spreads its resources across the state to hear directly from the locals. Past initiatives have ranged from addressing migrant emotional health to the roadkill problem on The Big Island. José enjoys the level of creativity involved at Ceeds of Peace and fine-tuning actions plans for maximum impact.
An art exhibit curated by José is currently on display at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. It’s called “Shadows of the Future: The Impact of Nuclear Weapons on Children,” and is a multidisciplinary commemorative exhibit for the Hiroshima & Nagasaki bombings. José consulted a wide variety of rich primary sources to make a compelling and comprehensive educational experience.
José’s work reveals a deep love for people. Part of the struggle for him can be getting people to interact with the world around them in a positive and productive way. José, however, will continue doing his part, which often just involves saying, “Hello.” A final quote by José cuts to the heart of his motivation:
“As collaborative as we may be in this field, when it comes down to it, it can be a very lonely experience. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a co-mediator, but many times you are the sole mediator. So finding the spaces and people you can confide in and talk things through with is ever so essential.”
José Barzola will be conducting a MBBI webinar on building healthy relationships through peacebuilding on September 9th at 3:00 pm EDT. Be sure to register here!
Article by Elsie Aleck, MBBI Writer