SU's Foutz, Polkinghorn Host United Nations RCE Americas Regional Meeting Via RCE Salisbury
SALISBURY, MD---Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) Salisbury, located in the Bosserman Center for Conflict Resolution, recently hosted the 10th United Nations RCE Americas Regional Meeting.
The event explored the theme “Creating an Ongoing Americas Learning Space for Sustainable Development,” with the support of the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS).
Over three evenings, 342 participants took part in presenting program updates through the virtual Zoom meeting. Registrants represented 56 different RCE locations worldwide. Some 81 ethnicities were represented from 74 countries, mostly from the Americas. These included several indigenous groups, such as Alaska Native, Algonquin, Native American, Oglala Lakota and Quechua.
Salisbury University President Charles Wight provided opening remarks. Brett Lee Shelton, senior staff attorney and alternative dispute resolution expert, for the Native American Rights Fund and a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe of South Dakota, provided the keynote presentation, focusing on indigenous peacemaking and restorative justice.
Among the highlights, there were presentations from the newly formed RCE Americas locations, Steering Committee Governance Structure updates by Diego Adamson, the Planet (Sustainable Development Goals [SGDs] 6, 13, 14 and 15) and Education and Well Being (SGDs 2, 3, 5) task forces by Christopher Nytch and Dr. Brittany Foutz, the RCE Americas Youth Network representative Oriana Silva and the Communications Support Committee, and a presentation on the “Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for 2030 Toolbox” by Kim Smith.
RCEs in attendance also showcased their Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) projects and initiatives from the past year, while the Global RCE Service Centre provided updates since the last regional meeting.
Eighteen RCEs in the Americas gave presentations, with a total of 24 presentations from RCE members. The comprehensive program centered on the themes of the RCE Americas Task Forces and related matters.
SGD task forces included:
- 1, 5, 10 and 16 – People
- 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 - Sustainable Cities and Prosperity
- 6, 13, 14 and 15 – Planet
- 2, 3 and 4 - Education and Well Being
Interpreters from RCE Salisbury provided Arabic, French, Hindi, Italian and Spanish live services for participants. Kennesaw State University School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development graduate student Rae Dwyer served as moderator.
Others in attendance included Dr. Thomas Boudreau, SU professor of conflict and students from his graduate course.
Presentations from the event are available online.
RCE Salisbury is hosted by SU’s Bosserman Center for Conflict Resolution and by Foutz and Dr. Brian Polkinghorn, RCE co-directors. RCE Salisbury is coordinated by Rob LaChance, Alexandra Ginta-Martin and Catherine Diekmann.
Located in Salisbury, the Bosserman Center is a non-profit organization facilitating conflict resolution on a local and global scale. Its mission is to promote a systems-based approach to the effective analysis and practical resolution of social conflict. The center utilizes a teaching hospital model whereby faculty and staff are practitioners.
For more information call 410-219-2873 or visit the Bosserman Center website.