Speakers from the Opening Plenary of the Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference: Felice and Jack Cohen-Joppa, John LaForge, Kathy Kelly

Betty Reardon's peace education work is noted for its integration of human rights principles and feminist perspectives on global issues into its substance and methodology. Reardon is the Founding Director Emeritus of the Peace Education Center at Teachers College Columbia University and the International Institutes on Peace Education, a global consortium for continuing education on issues of peace.  Reardon participated in the plenary discusion "Three Powerful Women," during the 2008 conference of the Peace and Justice Studies Association and the Peace and Conflict Studies Consortium.

Col. Ann Wright is the co-author of "Dissent:Voices of Conscience". A retired 29-year veteran of the Army and Army Reserves, she resigned from the Department of State ion March 19, 2003 in opposition to the Iraq war.  Wright was a diplomat in Nicaragua, Grenada, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sierra Leone, MIcronesia, Afghanistan and Mongolia. 

Wright participated in the plenary discusion "Three Powerful Women," of the 2008 conference of the Peace and Justice Studies Association, and the Peace and Conflict Studies Consortium.

Pu-uhonua is a consistent voice for the just restoration of the inherent rights to self determination and self governanace of native Hawaiians. Mr. Kanahele is active in the movement to restore and advance the rights of indigenous peoples of the Americans and throughout the world. For the past decade, he has served on the Board of Directors of the International Indian Treaty Council. His work fosters alternative, compassionate appropriate and alternative solutions to the political,economic, social, and cultural issues and concerns faced by Native Hawaiians.

Jo Ann Bowman spoke during the 2008 conference of the Peace and Justice Studies Association and the Peace and Conflict Studies Consortium.  She participated in the plenary session, "Localizing and Colorizing Peace and Justice."  Bowman is the Executive Director of Oregon Action, President of Coalition for a Livable Future, a Public Affairs Program radio host, and a former member of the Oregon State House of Representatives.  She is President of Bowman Consulting SErvices and is also a Social Justice Training Professional.

Kayse Jama spoke during the 2008 conference of the Peace and Justice Studies Association and the Peace and Conflict Studies Consortium.  He participated in the plenary session "Localizing and Colorizing Peace and Justice."  Jama recently organized for the Western States Center under a New Voices Fellowship.  He lives in Portland, a refugee from Somalia and helped found the Western States Center.