Second Annual MBB Congress

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

By Barbora Batokova

	Slideshows
	Attendees
	Speakers
	Getting the Work Done

Over 60 MBB Members gathered in New Orleans, La. on March 6-8 to attend the Second Annual Mediators Beyond Borders Congress. The Board of Directors arrived on March 4 to hold meetings until the beginning of the Congress.

One of the main decisions of the Board was naming Board Director Annette van Riemsdijk a formal MBB representative in Europe, who will establish an MBB contact place at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

The Hurricane Katrina Project Team also arrived early to hold a restorative justice training and participate in the Habitat for Humanity project. "The Congress brought new people and energy to the [Hurricane Katrina] team. We made great progress and really came together as a team. We got lots of things done, and set up work going forward," Hurricane Katrina Project Leader Tom Valenti said.

Members from as far as the UK, The Netherlands and Zimbabwe attended the Congress, bringing diverse culural backgrounds to the room.

MBB President Ken Cloke called the Congress an "absolute success" as it was "a completion of [MBB's] birth and transition to real operations." "We are now ready to experience a higher level of conflict and a shift in orientation to fundraising, project and chapter activity, and significant growth in global membership and public awareness," President Cloke said.

The opening Keynote Speaker was Jamil Mahuad, ex-President of Ecuador and co-founder of the International Negotiation Initiative at Harvard Law School. President Mahuad, who is also a member of MBB's Global Advisory Council, spoke about the conflicts in Latin America.

"President Mahuad's experiences provided context for the possibility of change at the international level using the same skills and abilities that mediators use with our clients at all levels," Rhonda Neuahus, Co-Chair of the Latin American Committee, said.

At 7 p.m. Board Liaison for Hurricane Katrina Project Nan Waller Burnett, Valenti and Ward “Mack” McClendon from the Lower 9th Ward introduced the Academy Award nominated documentary "Trouble the Water" about Hurricane Katrina that hit the United States Gulf Coast in August 2005.

"[Trouble the Water] is a reminder of how distaters and conflicts affect the lives of us," President Cloke said about the documentary.

On Saturday, Congress Keynote Speaker and the In-Country Project Leader for The Zimbabwe Initiative Trevor Maisiri spoke about the conflict in Zimbabwe. Maisiri is from Harare, Zimbabwe and is the founder of the African Reform Institute.

After the keynote address, President Cloke presented a spark plug award to MBB Secretary-Treasurer and Board Liaison for The Liberian Initiative Robert A. Creo, whose efforts helped launch the project and make it a success. The Liberian Initiative Project Leaders Ginny Morrison and Prabha Sankaranarayan (in absence), and Founding Members Alan E. Gross and Tom Oswald were also recognized for their unwavering dedication to the project.

Congress attendees then had the opportunity to hear project reports from The Liberian Initiative Team (presented by Ginny, Alan and Tom Oswald) and Hurricane Katrina Project Team (presented by Valenti, Founding Member Susan Norwood and the founder the Mississippi Mediation Project Laurel Kaufer). The project reports were followed by a report from Board Director and Middle East Peace Initiatives Board Liaison Rachel Wohl on her assessment trip to Israel.

During lunch, congress attendees split up to join the various table discussions on current and future MBB projects: The Liberian Initiative, Hurricane Katrina Project, The Zimbabwe Initiative, The Colombia Initiative, Kosovo & The Balkans, Nepal & Thailand, Ecuador and the Middle East Peace Initiatives.

At 1 p.m. former Ambassador John W. McDonald addressed the audience and spoke about his life-long experience in peacebuilding and diplomacy. Ambassador McDonald, who also a member of MBB's Global Advisory Council and founder of the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy, and his wife Christel attended the entire MBB Congress and offered many insights and suggestions for MBB.

"Listening to Ambassador MacDonald's stories provided me [with] faith that one person can indeed change the world with good intentions, strong skills, patience and love of all people. The passion and expertise that is inherent in all speakers was obvious and contagious. The fact they all stayed for the full weekend shows their dedication to the work," Neuhaus said.

In the afternoon, attendees had the opportunity to hear administrative reports. President Cloke presented the President's Report and spoke about the future of MBB. The Fund Development Committee, currently consisting of Board Directors Rachel Wohl and Doug Noll, and the Committee Chair Wendy Wood, spoke about MBB's fundraising efforts and plans. Board Director and Professional and University Chapter Board Liaison Lynn Cole reported on the state of chartered and developing MBB University Chapters around the world. Currently, MBB has four chartered University Chapters and eight developing University Chapters.

During the Board meetings prior to the Congress, the Board of Directors also agreed to start forming Professional Chapters around the world. There are currently four in development: Pittsburgh, Pa.; Washington D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia; Los Angeles and Southern California; and Sydney, Australia.

After Lynn's report, Morrison and MBB Communications Director Barbora Batokova introduced the new MBB Forum and did a brief technical walk-through for all members.

Congress Keynote Speaker and the Executive Director of Partners for Democratic Change Julia Roig started off the last day of the Congress by talking about possible collaboration opportunities between MBB and her organization, especially in Kosovo. Partners for Democratic Change has 14 centers around the world and has worked in over 50 countries. After the keynote address, President Cloke and Board Director Deborah Laufer facilitated a group discussion with MBB Members to hear any concerns and suggestions from the members.

After lunch, congress attendees heard the final keynote address from MBB Founding Member Forrest S. Mosten about the institutionalization of peacebuilding. In the afternoon, the Board of Directors met with the Global Advisory Council members Trevor Maisiri, Ambassador McDonald, President Mahuad, and MBB Co-Founder Erica Ariel Fox.

"I was impressed by the energy of the whole meeting and at the same time a lot of intensity. Second, the results are impressive. You have been doing a lot of work and thinking," President Mahuad said at the final Board meeting.

"The positive energy in the room and the discussion and the clarity ... gave us perspective. I also think among the participants, there was passion for peacebuilding and I see a lot of people energized from the conference wanting to do something. If we don’t institutionalize MBB, we will lose a lot of energy. The Board is left with a challenge: it is time to institutionalize MBB so that people can express their passion for peacebuilding," Maisiri said after attending the Global Advisory meeting with the Board.

"The congress was thoroughly inspiring. I have great hope about the work this organization will do into the future. I feel blessed to be surrounded by such incredible peacemakers," Mediator Member and Latin American Committee member Duncan Autrey said.

"The best part of the Congress was the gathering of like-minded individuals who are committed to and passionate about creating peace in the world. It is unusual that there is such a high-energy around common goals and ideals, and how to turn those into action in such concrete ways," Neuhaus said.