Omar Alshogre

Omar Alshogre is a Syrian refugee and prison survivor who currently lives in Sweden. He moved there in 2015 during the refugee crisis. Omar fled Syria at the age of 22 after being arrested and imprisoned for participating in rallies and demonstrations against the Assad regime. During his time in prison Omar and others formed the "University of Whispers”, a secret and highly dangerous information and knowledge sharing community. With the help of his mother and a lawyer, Omar was finally released from prison at the age of 22.

Tinotenda Mhungu 2019

Tinotenda Mhungu is a Social and Economic Justice Activist in Zimbabwe. He serves as the National Spokesperson for the Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy, a Youth group from Zimbabwe focussed on advocating for better conditions and opportunities for young people and also taking focussed action towards building the bridges between politically polarised communities. He is a member of Initiatives of Change team in Zimbabwe.

Guissou Jahangiri

Being the Vice President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Executive Director of Armanshahr Foundation founded in 1996, Guissou Jahangiri is a human/women’s rights pioneer and a cultural activist. She worked for 15 years as a journalist for the French Courrier International covering Iran, Afghanistan & Central Asia. Ms. Jahangiri spent 5 years in war-torn Tajikistan as the Human Rights Watch researcher and acting head of the UN Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Mounir Beltaifa

Born and raised in Tunisia, Mounir Beltaifa spent 17 years in Sousse before heading to Paris in 1981. Mounir graduated from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées as a Civil Engineer in 1988 and from Ecole des Ponts Business School in 2008 with an Executive MBA. Mounir founded Bridgers One, a consulting company focusing on accelerated development strategies for SMEs in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). Mounir has been active in the civil society in both France and Tunisia after Arab Spring.

Elaine Williams

Elaine Williams is from Richmond, Virginia and has a deep passion for social justice. She is experienced in advocacy and research in housing, homelessness, Mass Incarceration, Education, Trauma Healing, Racial Healing and Equity. Elaine has a B.A. in Social Work, is an alumna of the Community Trust Building Fellowship (2018) and serves as a facilitator for The Ginter Urban Gardeners Program. She co-facilitated the Racial Healing and Equity Dialogue Series in 2019, which focused on encouraging relationship building, personal storytelling and trust building.

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.

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