Imani Tafari-Ama, a participant in the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (SIR) program, recently shared her experiences and reflections on promoting peace in a world filled with conflicts. The Fulbright program, named after Senator William J Fulbright, aims to encourage peaceful international relations by allowing scholars to assume duties in various universities. Tafari-Ama joined the program and taught courses on Caribbean Cultures, Anthropology of the Object, and Transnational Feminism at the University of Massachusetts at Boston [21caa1a2].
In her reflection, Tafari-Ama specifically highlights the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the suppression of students' freedom of speech. She ponders how Senator Fulbright, the program's namesake, would have addressed these issues. Tafari-Ama emphasizes the importance of spreading peace through educational endeavors, particularly in the face of global conflicts. She believes that education can play a crucial role in promoting understanding, empathy, and dialogue, which are essential for building peaceful societies. By engaging students in discussions about peace, conflict resolution, and global issues, educators can empower the next generation to become agents of positive change [21caa1a2].
Chief Jennifer Ziifle of the Technical College System of Georgia’s Department of Public Safety has returned from Israel after an intensive two weeks of public safety leadership training with the country’s top police executives for the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange’s (GILEE) 31st annual peer-to-peer executive education program. Ziifle was part of a delegation that included 17 Georgia police chiefs, sheriffs, command staff, and a deputy director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. GILEE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Treasury as a professional education program. The Israel delegation learned about strategies to successfully lead law enforcement programs and personnel, along with how to use community policing to build safer neighborhoods for minority communities in partnership with all community stakeholders. More than 1,300 law enforcement executives from the U.S. and countries around the world have graduated from GILEE peer-to-peer exchange programs in several countries and Georgia during its 33 years [6d68d289].
In a separate news story, Crystal Cauley, a community leader and founder of the Black Business Network of Western North Carolina, died suddenly on June 16. Her best friend, Yashara Lynch, spoke about Cauley's legacy and passion for giving back to her community. Cauley was known for breaking barriers and leading the charge to have Black History Month officially recognized in Hendersonville. She also founded the Black History Collective of Henderson County, which resulted in the city's first Juneteenth proclamation. Cauley's work involved supporting small businesses and bringing people together to grow businesses. She will be laid to rest on June 29 [e747bd37].
Sylvia Peace, safety education coordinator for Greenville Fire-Rescue, has been named the National Fire Protection Association's Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year. Peace was recognized for her dedication and innovation in fire and life safety education, particularly in reaching vulnerable populations in her community. She has advocated for Fire Prevention Week and Outthink Wildfire, hosted a 'Train a Trainer' event as part of NFPA's Steps to Safety Prevent Fire and Falls at Home, and helped organize conferences and training sessions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Peace also created a Facebook group for Fire and Life Safety Educators during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has grown to over 3,800 members. She collaborates with the U.S. Fire Academy on Youth Firesetter Intervention Programs and Community Risk Reduction. Peace will receive her award on July 16 at the NFPA Conference & Expo in Orlando [832ac200].