Thank you for joining our Somali Post-Conflict Peace-Building Conference!
We are honored to have had so many people in the community with us This April, 2024. Our conference brought together participants from diverse sectors, including business, financial services, academia, religious leaders, healthcare, NGOs, and Esteemed representatives from the Federal Government of Somalia.
In response to the complex dynamics and challenges facing Galkayo/Mudug, ACEDONE, and MIDEYNTA held a groundbreaking peace conference to foster lasting harmony and stability in the region. With a deep commitment to supporting local peace initiatives, our organizations recognize the urgent need to address the divisions and conflicts within this historic city. Despite its turbulent past, marked by violent clashes and political fragmentation, Galkayo stands as a testament to resilience, having witnessed significant moments of peace, notably during the civil war of 1993. However, recent armed confrontations following the establishment of regional federal administrations have underscored the ongoing need for sustainable solutions. Our peace conference sought to explore innovative approaches to address today's pressing challenges and amplify local peace-building efforts by convening thought leaders, activists, policymakers, and change-makers from Somalia and the diaspora. Together, let us pave the way for a future of unity, reconciliation, and prosperity for all residents of Galkayo and beyond.
Our Mission:
Organizing the diaspora community to unite in fostering peace-building initiatives and driving economic development for Somalia.
Objectives:
Recognition of Local Peace-building Efforts: The conference aims to acknowledge the peace-building efforts made by local organizations, activists, and civic and political leaders in Mudug and other regions of Somalia. This recognition highlights and honors the contributions of individuals and groups working towards peace in their communities.
Collaboration Between Local and Diaspora Communities: The conference explores how individuals and groups from local regions and diaspora communities can collaborate and contribute to peace-building initiatives. The conference aims to harness collective efforts towards peace and reconciliation in Somalia by fostering dialogue and partnership between these groups.
Establishment of a Peace-building Movement: Through discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference aims to lay the foundation for a peace-building movement across Somalia. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, including local organizations, activists, diaspora communities, and civic and political leaders, the conference aims to catalyze collective action and solidarity towards building bridges and breaking barriers to peace.
Overall, the peace-building conference aims to inspire and mobilize individuals and communities to actively engage in peace-building efforts, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment to creating a sustainable peace and inclusive future for Somalia.
Four-Day Hourly Schedule
Thank you to our presenters:
Rebekah Gibbons
Rebekah Gibbons, LICSW, is a trauma therapist and Associate Professor at Simmons School of Social Work. She specializes in trauma, attachment, and adolescent mental health, with experience in community mental health and residential group homes. As a clinical consultant with Families for Depression Awareness, she offers workshops on family stress and teen depression. Gibbons has extensive expertise working with adolescents, families, and adults, providing therapy and training to address mental health challenges and promote well-being in the community.
Jeffry Steen
Jeffrey Steen, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at Simmons University's School of Social Work, specializing in substance use. He conducts research on addictions and the experiences of social work students/practitioners. Co-authoring a textbook on social work practice for substance use disorders, he's active in Addictions track leadership for the Council on Social Work Education. Steen serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, and volunteers with the Red Cross for disaster mental health support. Active in the National Association of Social Workers, he responds to local and national emergencies.
Mike Butler
Mike Butler is the former public safety chief in Longmont, Colorado. He oversaw the police and fire departments. During his tenure, Mike shifted the culture within public safety to align with the public safety needs in partnership with the community.
He also helped the community shifts its own culture from one of unhealthy dependency on police and fire to one of interdependency among themselves and with public safety. He is a sought after speaker and his work has been featured in the book, “Walk the Walk: How Three Police Chiefs Defied the Odds and Changed Cop Culture
Kevin Whalen
Kevin Whalen's extensive experience includes founding the Center to Support Immigrant Organizing (CSIO) in 2000, aiding immigrant grassroots leaders in community organizing. He provides leadership development, program creation, and strategic planning support to immigrant organizations. Kevin coordinates Equity Now & Beyond (EN&B), uniting Haitian, Brazilian, African, and Latinx groups to tackle healthcare disparities and social inequities. Additionally, he volunteers as a board member for the Southern Jamaica Plain Community Health Center, emphasizing his commitment to community health and social justice.
Hugo Kamya
Hugo Kamya, PhD, is a Professor and Associate Director at Simmons University's Center for Innovation in Clinical Social Work. Specializing in trauma, family therapy, and diverse populations, he integrates social work, psychology, and theology. Kamya's research focuses on immigrant/refugee issues and HIV/AIDS social services globally. He collaborates on Caring Across Communities, supporting refugee and immigrant families. Recognized for his contributions to social justice, Kamya is a recipient of the American Family Therapy Academy's Distinguished Contribution to Social and Economic Justice Award. He's also a Fulbright Specialist and a founding member of the Boston Institute for Culturally Affirming Practices (BICAP).
Roble Dahir
Roble served as the National Reconciliation Coordinator for the Ministry of Interior of Somalia, during which he successfully coordinated the reconciliation process in the divided and conflict-affected city of Galkayo. He also worked as a Researcher for peace and was privileged to be selected as a Roster of Mediators by the IGAD. Additionally, he was a member of the ad-hoc Integrity Committee for the Presidential Election of Somalia, nominated by the Speaker of the Parliament of Somalia in February 2017. Mr. Dahir has published numerous papers on Peace/State/Institution-building and currently heads the CES, a development-oriented think tank in Somalia.