Online Program

Welcome!

Welcome to the Peace Summit. Today brings together scholars, community leaders, educators, faith leaders, and advocates who believe peace is not only an aspiration, but a daily practice. Through keynote conversations on courage, leadership, and unity—and breakout sessions that invite reflection, dialogue, and skill-building—you will explore how peace is shaped in our relationships, institutions, and communities. This summit is designed to inform, challenge, and connect, creating space to listen deeply, learn across differences, and leave with a renewed sense of purpose and responsibility for living peace beyond today.

Agenda

8:30-9:00 am - Lobby

Doors Open - Registration & Breakfast

9:00 - 10:00 - Cinema Hall 

Opening Remarks

Morning Keynote: “Courage“ by David W. Orr, Climatologist and Professor Emeritus, Oberlin College

10:00 - 10:15 am - Break & Refresh

10:15 - 11:05 am - Breakout Sessions

(See Speaker and Session Overviews in next section)

• The Ebb & Flow of Food Security, Brendan Ortiz (Cinema Hall)

• Disagreeing Better (Part 1 of 2), Braver Angels Society (Room SC 110)

• Pastors and Laity Advancing Nonviolence (P.L.A.N.) Initiative (Part 1 of 2), Ohio Council of Churches (Room 208)

• Documenters - Civic Reporting, Signal Cleveland (Room 209)

• Brave Spaces, Understanding the Complexity of Identity, Facing History and Ourselves (Room 212)

11:20 am - 12:10 pm - Breakout Sessions

(See Speaker and Session Overviews in next section)

• In the Hearts of Peaceful Heroes, Roger Cram (Cinema Hall)

• Disagreeing Better (Part 2 of 2), Braver Angels Society (Room SC 110)

• Pastors and Laity Advancing Nonviolence (P.L.A.N) Initiative (Part 2 of 2),Ohio Council of Churches (Room 208)

• Brave Spaces, Understanding the Complexity of Identity, Facing History and Ourselves (Room 212)

12:15 – 1:30 pm - Lobby

Lunch Buffet

1:40 – 2:40 pm - Cinema Hall

DOVE Project Intro (10 mins)

Afternoon Keynote: “Heart of a Champion” by Chase Farris, Rotarian, Former Ohio State Football Champion and Super Bowl Champion

2:40– 3:40 pm - Cinema Hall and Main Lobby

Closing Living Memory Gathering

A guided reflection inviting participants to integrate the day’s insights and consider how peace is practiced in everyday life.

3:45– 4:00 pm - Main Lobby

Farewell and Closing Reflections

About our Keynote Speakers

Breakout Session Overview

Brave Spaces: Understanding the Complexity of Identity

Krystle Ciesielski – Facing History & Ourselves

An interactive conversation exploring how identity, personal stories, and curiosity help us listen across differences and build understanding.

Pastors & Laity Advancing Nonviolence (P.L.A.N.) Initiative – Parts 1 & 2

Ohio Council of Churches - Rev. Dr. Amariah McIntosh, Director of Public Policy Ohio Council of Churches and Tom Carlisi, Certified Nonviolent Communication Trainer & OCC P.L.A.N. Lead Trainer.

An overview of the P.L.A.N. initiative to prevent gun violence and build peace in families, congregations, and communities, with real-world examples and participant-driven peace building action planning.

Disagreeing Better

Nancy Miranda – Braver Angels Society

A two-part, skills-based experience focused on understanding differing values, communicating across political divides, and finding common ground. (participants are encouraged to attend both sessions for the full experience)

The Ebb & Flow of Food Security, Challenges in a Non–Food-Forward Society

Brendan Ortiz – LCCC Sustainable Agriculture Program

An interactive exploration of how identity, income, and systems shape access to food, highlighting inequities and community-based solutions that strengthen local food systems.

Documenters - Civic Reporting

Doug Breehl-Pitorak & Lawrence Daniel Caswell - Signal Cleveland

Learn how trained community members document local government meetings to strengthen transparency, civic engagement, and public accountability through Cleveland Documenters and how this model can be adapted locally.

In the Hearts of Peaceful Heroes

Roger Cram – Author, retired Professor Hiram College

An exploration of how compassion, dignity, and calm can transform conflict, drawn from research on the perils of the Tuskegee Airmen and other heroes who respond to hatred without dehumanizing others.

Tabletop Session Overview

Closing Living Memory Gathering™

Malaika Bell – Mosaic Strategic Solutions

The conference concludes with a Living Memory Gathering™, a 45-minute facilitated reflection experience. Through guided prompts and shared dialogue, participants will reflect on the day and consider how peace is practiced in everyday relationships, communities, and choices.

About our Hosts

About Rotary International and Rotary District 6600

Rotary International is a global non-profit organization that brings together individuals through local Rotary clubs to engage in humanitarian service, promote goodwill, and work towards fostering peace and understanding worldwide. Rotary District 6600 consists of 58 Rotary clubs and over 2,700 members. Our district is situated in the north central and western sector of Ohio, encompassing over 12,000 square miles. To learn more about Rotary International and District 6600 visit https://rotarydistrict6600.org.

About Elyria YWCA

The YWCA has been at the forefront of the most critical social movements for more than 160 years - from women’s empowerment and civil rights to affordable housing and pay equity to violence prevention and health care. Today we combine programming and advocacy to generate institutional change. To learn more, visit https://www.ywcaelyria.org.