Kelly Carter Merrill

Kelly Carter Merrill is a professor of communication studies at Randolph-Macon College and nonprofit studies at the University of Richmond, USA. She facilitates difficult conversations about racial healing, diversity and inclusion, leadership and self-discovery. She works with Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation, IofC USA, Ben Franklin Circles, Courage & Renewal, and the White Ally Toolkit. Kelly has over 25 years of experience in higher education, authored five book chapters, five research journal articles and national presentations.

Joshua Ballew

Joshua Ballew holds a degree from George Mason University's School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and is a General District Court certified mediator. Most recently, he ran the statewide mediation program for Virginia state employees and also designed and implemented conflict resolution trainings. Before that, he worked for the Virginia Attorney General's Office resolving disputes between businesses and consumers. He now works with local, national, and international organizations to create healthy work environments, address difficult subjects and foster trustbuilding.

Abigail Lash Ballew

Abigail Lash Ballew holds an expertise in macro practice and nonprofit program management. She brings her passion for dialogue as a healing tool to her staff role within Initiatives of Change (IofC) USA. Abigail has practiced at the group, organization and community level through her work in program design, implementation and evaluation at nonprofit organizations. She has worked in race relations, refugee support services, adoption and child welfare as well as physical, intellectual and developmental disability services.

Dida Guigan

Dida Guigan, originally from Lebanon, completed her Masters in Social Science and Communication from the University of Fribourg and in 2010, a Bachelor in Vocal Music and Composition from Swiss Jazz School, Bern. The Swiss Cultural Promoter, Pro Helvetia, supported her immersion in the Arabic musical system in Beirut and Egypt. Dida is the founder of the Swiss Federation for International Adoptees. In 2016, she studied at the LAVI Centre, the professional Swiss Hub for victims of physical and psychological violence.

Daya Bhagwandas

Daya Bhagwandas has been working in the field of neuro education for over 20 years with children and adults, linking brain development, human evolution and spiritual potential. Daya uses neuro sciences for transforming life and learning skills in primary and secondary schools in Australia and South Africa as well as in Malaysia, where neuro education is being adopted as a foundation program. Her work experience includes rehabilitating and healing trauma for child soldiers in Sri Lanka and at risk youth in Malaysia, who drop out of school and join crime gangs.

Zulaika Nanfuka

Given her passion in peace, security and human capital development, Zulaika Nanfuka has 5 years’ experience in applying rigorous analyses of local conflict dynamics to strengthen tools for assessment while improving the design of community peacebuilding programs. Zulaika is a member of the Extremely Together Uganda Chapter and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Economics.

Hassan Ndugwa

Hassan Ndugwa has over seven years’ experience in community development and peace promotion, specifically in preventing violent extremism in Uganda and East Africa. After surviving the July 11, 2010 Al-Shabaab bombings at the FIFA world cup in Kampala, Hassan co-founded the Uganda Muslim Youth Development Forum. His work involves managing programs, idea generation, conceptualization of projects, implementation of activities, monitoring the impact and outcomes of activities.

Jannik Gresband

With a deep passion for peace work and human growth, Jannik Gresbrand is a Berlin-based elicitive Peace Facilitator. He is a certified coordinator in international project management in development cooperation and humanitarian assistance and holds a MA in Peace and Conflict Studies. For navigating the questions of international conflict transformation and peace work, he has lived, studied and worked in Southern Africa, South-East Asia and Central America. As the founder and director of the Peace Elicits Project, for him “peace is the quality of how we relate”.

Penuo Hiekha

Penuo Hiekha is an ardent believer of social transformation through personal change. She is one of the co-founders of a community hub called ACT (Action by Communities Together) Zubza, Nagaland. She commits most of her time volunteering for Initiatives of Change especially in the North East part of India, facilitating dialogues and creating platforms for bridging gaps and reaching out to different tribes and communities.

Sunny Mawiong

Sunny D Mawiong is from Shillong, Meghalaya, North East India and is a graduate of Law and Business Administration. He served as the Vice President of the North East Community Organization Pune (NECOP) and the Meghalaya Youth Association Pune (MYAP), which focused on activism for the rights of the North East India students studying in Pune. Since 2016, he has served full time with Initiatives of Change (IofC) with a focus on outreach in different parts of India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

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