Interview with Ladan Davia

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Ladan Davia is the current CEO of Friends of Normie, a cat toy company and major contributor to the Friends of Normie Cat Rescue. A serial entrepreneur, Ladan has founded several businesses including Beeya, a company aimed at using AI and machine learning to reduce the bias in hiring by creating “match scores” to tell both job seekers and employers which candidates and opportunities they are best suited for. Ladan graduated from Chapman University in 2014 with a bachelor’s in Television/Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Political science. 

Ladan Davia, Founder and CEO of Friends of Normie LLC

I reached out to Ladan for an interview as she is not only a Chapman alumna but also an entrepreneur whose focus is creating equity and justice through the use of the market. I was curious to hear her thoughts on peace and the future of cat rescue. 

Q: How did you find your way to this profession (cat rescue)?

Ladan: “I stumbled into this completely by accident. I was driving in Orange and saw a mama cat on the side of the road. When I pulled over, I noticed her kittens. I called shelters and rescues but no one would take them and they told me to leave them on the road because they are “free roaming animals”. Obviously I did not accept that answer, and went and bought a trap. The rest is history.”

Q: How do you balance pursuing long term change for feral cats as a whole and short term survival efforts for individual cats?

Ladan: “Long term change needs to happen with spay and neuter. It’s impossible to adopt our way out of this situation. I truly believe the stray cat crisis is an epidemic, one that the government has completely failed on. I also am a firm believer that friendly cats have no place outside or on the streets. My main goal is to spay and neuter as many as I can with the secondary goal being getting the friendly cats inside with a foster and adopted.”

A portion of every Friends of Normie product sale is used to fund cat rescue work

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Ladan: “I know there’s no way of saving every cat, but to the one cat you do save, that’s their entire life. It matters. Knowing that with some effort, a safe space and love that cat’s life is forever changed. On the human side, seeing the community we have built with fosters and adopters is incredible. The people who foster for FON are so committed to these animals and the process and they know what a few weeks and love will do for them.”

Q: What does peace look like in your field? If we were to achieve a peaceful world for cats, what would that look like to you?

Ladan: “I think a peaceful world for cats is seeing ferals happy in their colonies, fixed and vaccinated. Seeing friendly cats indoors with people who love them. A peaceful world would require peaceful people, which is something I can’t control but hope to spread enough awareness to one day achieve.”

As a fellow rescuer myself I appreciate hearing Ladan’s perspective and learning the different approaches we all take to peace building in our own fields. One of the aspects of peacebuilding that seems to unite us all across every front is the appreciation for the communities and people that make this work possible. Ladan mentioned the incredible foster and adopter community that Friends of Normie has built. As someone who has witnessed this network firsthand, I have to agree that it is truly remarkable what we can accomplish when we come together as a community and as people united in a desire for justice. There are so many situations that felt so dire and so hopeless where the FON community has stepped in and divided the work in order to make an unimaginable tragedy into something manageable. Peacebuilding is not an individual pursuit. The joy and transformation of this work is found in the relationships and communities you create along the way.

You can find Ladan on LinkedIn, Instagram, and by email at ladan@friendsofnormie.com

You can find Friends of Normie on their Instagram, website, Walmart, Amazon, and Etsy.

Peace as a Profession: Feline Edition

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Two years ago I tripped and fell face first into a bush… and also my profession. I applied to Chapman as a prospective Peace Studies major. I wanted to be a doctor, just like I had for so much of my life. I wanted to address the deep inequities and injustices present in the medical system and I believed that a Peace Studies degree would give me the important skills and knowledge required to address such issues. I still believe that. Funnily enough, I soon found myself battling the same inequities I wanted to address as a doctor, but this time as a patient. My body was self-destructing. My mental health was in shambles. I was frankly being beaten left and right by organic chemistry. I knew it was over. Medical school would kill me. I could not do it. I had a crisis of profession- I knew from the very beginning that I had zero interest in international policy or UN work. I had plenty of people in my life who pursued that path and I knew it was not for me. So what’s a burnt out, dying, washed up peace studies student meant to do? 

Laila, my best friend, and her babies hanging out on my patio while I acclimate them to a live trap

I came home from a lecture one day to see my cat jumping and flipping in front of my patio door. Is she playing with the glass? When I walked closer to investigate, I saw a flash of black take off into a bush. Little did I know at the time that this little flash of black would be named Laila and that her and her babies would completely change my life- and career- for the better. Fast forward one historic flood, two months of near hourly bottle feeding, three emotionally devastating vet encounters, and the dissolution of my entire life’s savings and I had rescued a total of 11 kittens and their mother. I had also found my calling. 

Helen: my son, one of Laila’s babies, and one of the first kittens I ever bottle raised. He is currently sitting on my desk and chewing on the end of my keyboard.

Six months prior, I had just been a cat lover. I did not know about the shelter overpopulation crisis or the realities of feral colonies or the tens of thousands of rescuers across the country who dedicate their lives to saving and raising the kitties you might currently find sitting on your coffee table. I was taken in by local Orange County rescuers who taught me how to trap, give vaccines, administer life saving measures out the back of my car, and more. I found a family and a career.

A staged photo of all the supplies I used in my first emergency medical intervention. Arranging this photo was part of how I processed the emotional trauma of holding a baby in my hands for five hours doing everything in my power to keep her alive while she fought for her every breath. The kitten’s name is Butternut and against all odds she survived and was adopted by a lovely family in San Diego.

 I don’t think cat rescue is the first thing that comes to mind when people hear Peace and Justice studies, but spend one day on the ground with me and you will see the essence of peace building right before your eyes. Beyond just rescuing cats in danger on the streets, we facilitate dialogue between community members and feeders to help resolve disputes concerning feral cat colonies. We provide fundraising support for folks struggling to financially provide for their pets. We show up at city hall and county board meetings to stand up for the rights of cat communities and their caretakers. We carefully navigate hoarding situations to both protect the cats and preserve the emotional integrity of their owners who love but can not reasonably care for them. Cat rescue requires heart, smarts, and the ability to thoughtfully and productively navigate conflict and tense situations. 

Ernest, the first cat I trapped on an overnight stakeout at an auto body shop in Pico Rivera

If you had asked me as a freshman what I thought I would be doing with my degree, I never would have dreamed that this would be it. If you told eight year old me how I spend my time as a 21 year old almost peace studies grad, she would pick up her beloved kitty Baby Fluff and swing him around in joy. I might not have followed the path I thought had been laid out before me, but I did chase a little black cat right into a profession that I love and that brings my inner child so much fulfillment. Peace and Justice studies can mean so many things. Still don’t believe me? Send me an email and I’ll take you on a cat trapping stakeout with my fellow rescuers at Friends of Normie. 

Peace as a Profession

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Anyone in this major has probably been faced with a “what is that?” in response to stating they are a Peace Studies major. Now that the major has been changed to Peace and Justice, I haven’t had as many questions, but interestingly, many people have to stop and inquire about what Peace Studies actually is. Answering that is the key to whether Peace can be a profession. 

So, what is Peace? Because it is so much more than the absence of arguments or conflict. Peace studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores the causes of conflict and violence and strategies for promoting peace, reconciliation, and social justice at local, national, and global levels. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of our world and how you must consider various disciplines, such as political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and international relations, to understand the dynamics of conflict and develop effective methods for conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and sustainable peace. It aims to foster a deeper understanding of how to address these underlying issues and build a more peaceful and just society by examining the root causes of violence, including issues related to inequality, discrimination, human rights abuses, environmental degradation, and political instability.

I declared the major not even halfway through my semester in the intro course. Shifting from Business Administration into a social science was eye-opening but also exciting. There are so many ways to view the world and explore the things around us, how they happen, and why they happen, and Peace Studies held the answers, or at the very least, the lessons necessary to discover those answers ourselves.

I’ve been lucky enough to be able to meet people from a vast selection of backgrounds and professions throughout my time at Chapman, and it’s so very interesting to see the role that peace plays in them all. From economics to health, there are identifiable factors for decisions, news stories, and policies that can be better understood through peace studies. The addition of justice to the major doesn’t detract from that. If anything, it places a greater emphasis on studying the why behind conflicts, as it allows us to better understand the different sides of conflicts and fosters a greater joint empathetic and compassionate outlook for the people around us.

There are more obvious fields in which peace acts as a profession, as we’ve seen by the emergence of fields such as peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and mediation. Professionals in these fields work towards preventing and resolving conflicts, promoting social justice and human rights, and establishing sustainable peace in communities, regions, and globally. We’ve witnessed professionals work in various capacities, including mediators, negotiators, diplomats, humanitarian workers, researchers, educators, and policy analysts. These peace professionals utilize various skills and knowledge, which are things we’re being taught in the major. Through their efforts and contributions, we might someday have a world where conflicts are managed more constructively and peaceful coexistence is prioritized. All of these factors make peace a viable and essential profession.

An Interview with Reverend Nancy Brink

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Reverend Nancy Brink is the current Executive Director of the Fish Interfaith Center at Chapman. She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the same religious group that founded Chapman University. She was a congregational minister for about 30 years before coming to Chapman as the Director of Church Relations and University Chaplain. At the start of this academic year (2023-2024), she was promoted to the new Executive Director of the Fish Interfaith Center.

I met Nancy during my freshman year over Zoom when searching for a Sikh organization on campus. While I was unsuccessful in my search, she invited me to begin attending the weekly Interfaith meetings that Fish hosts with representatives of the different faith organizations on campus. While I have grown used to seeing Nancy most Friday mornings for Interfaith over the last four years, earlier this semester, she invited me and a few other faith leaders of campus clubs to join her in a class called Cultivating Compassion. The name is a bit on the nose, but it was a wonderful experience. 

At the start of the interview, we spent a bit discussing the course and how its teaching is interdisciplinary and can benefit anyone in their day-to-day interactions and global relations. Nancy told me she loved the course because it referred to and drew on sources and ideologies that have fueled movements in the past that we have all come to know. Her main two examples were with Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement and Mahatma Gandhi’s India Independence Movement. While speaking about these movements, their successes, and and their following, she brought my attention to something she noticed that really stood out to her. 

She told me that while reflecting on the Black Lives Matter movement as it echoed around the nation and beyond our borders following the death of Georg Floyd, she couldn’t help but think it didn’t have the same echoing and staying power that the Civil Rights Movement had as it didn’t have the same spiritual backing. As a woman connected to faith and who values its guidance, she shared a lens I had never considered before. Despite the fact that I knew Dr. King was a religious leader who would speak of his faith and use its lessons in his sermons and addresses, I never connected the intense relation that the people had to him and the movement with how they may also be connecting on a more spiritual level. Gandhi and King were able to use their faith as motivation, which acted as an additional level of connection between the people and the reason why the movement was necessary.

Nancy explained that the class reminded her of how connected we are, how we are connected through the idea of “Big God” and how we have our own “Retail Versions,” but they all fall under faith and belief in some higher power. Something that really stuck with me was when she explained that “the class had this ability to help cultivate compassion which is incredible and important, but it can help us learn how to withstand the brutality, to help us come together, in spite of the pain, which is so powerful.” Nancy’s main takeaway from the course and how it can relate to peace– peace of mind, peace in personal relations, peace in justice and global relations– was that it teaches us very practical and tangible methods to grow a heart of compassion, compassion for yourself, as well and then for compassion for others. In the end, it’s the way to stop the cycle of reactivity. 

The second half of the interview focused on religion’s role in peace. Nancy has visited many places, experienced different faiths and cultures, and has come out of it grounded in her beliefs, so she is appreciative of the differences. When I asked her what she thought the role of religion in peace was, she told me it was “To ground people in the truth that our lives are bigger than just our individual histories and needs.” 

She reminded me that we’re all a part of something bigger, even if we don’t necessarily see it or never try to act on it. She was quick to remind me that when we turn our back on the bigger picture, all it truly does is shrink the world. She did counter that by adding that when we try to tap into the larger picture, there is so much possibility and creativity in that world to be seen. When I asked her to expand on that, on the world of creativity and what tapping into it allows someone to do, she explained that the grounding effect of religion in peace and justice is not the doctrine that saves us or helps us; it is the deep and spiritual practice, the prayer, the meditation, that brings us back and reminds us of why we are connected, of how we are connected. It allows us to ground ourselves and keep from lashing out, to remember why we are doing what we’re doing. 

She gave an example right after that and asked me what I knew about the William Pettis Bridge and John Lewis. While I was familiar with John Lewis and his role in the Civil Rights Movement, I was unfamiliar with the William Pettis Bridge. Nancy took a moment to explain that day in the movement. When members of the Civil Rights Movement arrive at the bridge, intending to cross in their march only to find the State Troopers waiting. State Troopers then advanced and beat them. John Lewis led that march and led it again a few days later after recuperating from his injuries. Nancy looked at me and asked me to consider: where does that come from?

Where does the drive and ability to rally despite the brutality come from? The marchers had been praying and singing as they prepared and walked toward the bridge they had been taught in the School of Civil Rights. Taught the practices of nonviolence, why it was so important not to respond to violence, and how it unmasks the violence of others. 

Toward the end of the interview, we spoke a bit about how religion has been taken and abused as a method by which people separate themselves from others. In Peace Studies, we learned about the concept and practice of othering fairly early, which we expanded on. Religion is meant to connect on the level of spiritual influence. Following my question, Nancy asked me to stop taking notes for a moment and to breathe with her through a meditative exercise where we explored how we feel when we feel so connected to our faiths. It is the joy, wonder, and acceptance that we feel in our faith and communities that can bridge the gaps that some try to widen. 

She explained that the feelings I’d shared when I went to the Gurudwara versus the ones Nancy experienced growing up going to Church were not different at all. She explained that it’s not about the doctrine or the stories. It’s about the practice, the service, the familiarity, and “connecting to God, capital G, the one who is above all, the one that echoes across all faiths.” 

The most significant takeaway I had following the conclusion of my time with Nancy was that we can find individual peace and a chance for greater unity and understanding by respecting and appreciating the similarities and differences as they all connect us to God or any form of a  Higher Power and that it is only to our detriment that is so difficult for us to recognize that on a more regular basis.

Peace As A Profession

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My journey in the field of peace studies began my freshman year at Chapman when I decided to take Introduction to Human Rights (PCST 200). My intention was for this class to fulfill a GE credit but I ended up being deeply inspired to dive deeper into the field and was captivated by the dialogue involving war and violence. 

I began as an environmental science and policy major and political science minor, but after taking another peace studies course the following year, I knew I needed to find a way to incorporate peace studies into the rest of my college experience. Therefore, although I knew it was going to be much more academically strenuous to do so, I declared a second major in peace studies.

What interests me the most about peace studies is the intersection of environmental justice and peace, which are concepts that I find to be lacking in both fields. Therefore, I would like to pursue a profession that focuses on this intersection in order to address global issues that we face today. While I remain unsure about the specific profession I would ideally like to pursue, I know that there are many opportunities available to me in this day and age where there is such a high demand for peace and justice workers. 

There are so many routes to consider when deciding on a career in peace studies. The more “common” or well known routes include diplomacy, law, non-profits, and social work. These are all options that I really take interest in, it is difficult to see myself actually in these positions and don’t necessarily spark as much inspiration as other endless options. I do worry about what direction I want to take in my career after graduating and despite the fact that I have considered law and research, I find a particular interest in developing environmental policy on a federal level. Positions in this field such as a policy analyst would ideally fulfill my passion for protecting the planet and people on a larger scale. 

Actually pursuing this specific career option would require me to obtain at least a masters degree and gain experience in or specializing in policy development. I could see myself stepping my foot into the door by beginning at a local level as a policy analyst and serving local representatives. Additionally, my experiences at Chapman 

working on relevant projects and as a student researcher has helped me gain necessary skills for this type of work. 

While I am nervous and a little sad about the idea of graduating and no longer attending Chapman, I am excited about what is to come in this next chapter of my life after undergrad. 

Can Peace be a profession?

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Because peace studies is an interdisciplinary major, it can be a profession in many ways. Peace Studies has provided me with a skill set that can be applied and molded to address any issue internationally and interpersonally. Peace can be a profession in many ways because it requires frustration over injustice and working to do something about it. I want to pursue peace as a profession because I want to help foster change.

Personally, I am angered and frustrated by the state of the world in general and I want to actively work towards making a positive difference. I am not sure which route I want to go about peace as a profession in the long run but in the near future, I plan to use the skill set in a Los Angeles K-12 public school in a low-income area. Why? The school-to-prison pipeline should not be a thing. The fact that it even exists is a testament that the government has failed students, especially students belonging to minority groups who make up most of the demographic of the school-to-prison pipeline. Students are more than the sum of their parts. English, being a person’s second language, should not be viewed as a setback. A student’s academic success should not be dependent on the area in which they live or their socioeconomic status. I can make a difference for the students that I will be working with because I can empathize with them on a personal level, as I also attended low-income Los Angeles public schools. Some of the schools I might work at will be those my parents attended. College, success, family planning and other factors should be the rule and not the expectation. I think that I can utilize mediation, conflict analysis mechanisms, and an intersectional lens to help the students. I want to help students have the support that I received throughout my education and help inspire students from underrepresented communities to enter spaces that they thought were impossible. I think that this program will allow me to give back and grow as a person allowing me to employ the skillset I have gained at Chapman.

Last year I studied the importance of ethnic studies and descriptive representation in K-12 public schools, and it makes a large difference for students belonging to racial minorities. Culture matters, representation matters, and I want to work with the students at these schools because they matter and are just as capable of success as their white, affluent counterparts.

I chose Peace Studies because I could not and did not want to focus on a singular issue. I want to be able to pursue a variety of issues that are important and have an expansive versatile skill set to make a difference. I also think that peace is not only just a profession but a life style. It requires empathy, solidarity, and working to help all marginalized groups. Peace is a profession that is more than just wanting change but doing something to create the change you wish to see.

Can Peace Be A Profession?

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Peace Studies encapsulates such an interdisciplinary and multifaceted area of study and field of work. It’s one of the most wonderful yet very challenging aspects of dedicating myself to this field. It’s wonderful in that so many experiences in and out of the classroom have provided me with critical thinking skills and a wealth of knowledge on various crucial topics in our world today. However, though this is true, it is difficult because it has so many different paths and lanes available for us to explore, which can make it challenging to narrow down our specific passions, especially when we have passions for many different areas. This is certainly the case for me and is something I am still narrowing down and figuring out as the semester progresses. As two of my mentors told me once, “It’s amazing and so great that you have so many passions and interests that you would like to work in, but it’s important to remember that you often can’t address all of these at once. You need to start somewhere!”

As my time as a Peace Studies major at Chapman is drawing to a close, I have had many experiences that have supported the narrowing of my interests and passions. As I studied different conflicts and social movements, I realized that I have a deep desire to work in the human rights field. I was motivated and inspired by those fighting to ensure that people around the world have access to their basic human needs and that their basic human rights are respected. This was an important realization that allowed me to narrow down my specific interests further, though there is still work to be done as human rights is also a very broad term. 

A few years ago, I began working as the Lead Food Pantry Student Assistant on campus, a role that I never really thought about doing until an opportunity came up. I didn’t know much about food insecurity or how food pantries functioned but I was drawn to the job because I wanted to help people and wanted to support an important campus resource. As I worked at the pantry and as I saw the growth and the impact it had, I became passionate about the specific basic human needs and human rights relating to food security and poverty around the world. Though I am not sure if this is the specific path that I would like to take, it is nice to see that it is a very significant option for me to explore. This experience has also opened my eyes to the possibility of wanting to work in the non-profit sector on similar social issues and changed the way that I think about a profession in Peace Studies. It has broadened what the possibilities are.

Although the narrowing down process is difficult, I believe that we will keep working at doing it through the experiences and opportunities that our lives and our future jobs will provide us. We will work in jobs that sound perfect but perhaps are not exactly what we are looking for and this will inform us and continue to support our narrowing of what exactly we are looking to do. Each experience is thus like an additional puzzle piece added to create a full image. When asked, “Can peace be a profession?” the answer is clearly yes, however a more important question I think is “what specific aspect of peace will be mine/your profession?” It can be scary not having that sort of certainty or closure about what exactly our professions will be, I know that I am certainly stressed and anxious about it but that’s normal. We are young and we are smart, it’ll take some time but I’m sure that there is a profession for all of us within this field it just may take some time to see exactly what that profession is. Overall, it is important that we recognize that life is constantly changing and despite this being a scary occurrence, it is important that we learn to be flexible and to embrace change.

Peace as a Profession

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The concept of peace as a profession is a broad and multifaceted subject, however it is clear that it is a possibility. Peace is a complex subject in itself, yet its importance is increasingly relevant within our society, indicating the need for individuals who are interested in pursuing careers that relate to its implementation and preservation. Throughout my time as a Peace Studies student, I have learned about many ways that peace may be incorporated into our career paths. Initially, I assumed that all careers within this discipline would include some form of diplomacy or political work, and I was concerned about whether my interests would be compatible with my passion for this field. However, I have come to understand that this is not the case. Careers that are centered around or that interact with peace can take on a wide variety of forms, and while many of these career paths may be challenging, they are highly valuable as well. 

Peace as a profession can have direct manifestations within various career paths. The most predominant fields that I have learned about include those that uphold, promote, and protect human rights and combat injustice. This may be done through working with the law, with governments or non-governmental organizations, and with non-profits. Throughout my time as an undergrad, I have learned about these fields in my classes and through conversations with a variety of esteemed and accomplished experts. I have learned that law can be central to peace due to its role in upholding justice and protecting human rights and liberties. In particular, I have learned about the work of the ICC and the ad hoc tribunals, including the ICTY and the ICTR, which have actively contributed to addressing violence and promoting justice within national and international systems. Working with the government, the UN, or other non-governmental organizations can also be effective pathways to getting involved in this field. Some notable organizations I have learned about include Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Additionally, it is clear that the work of nonprofits, both big and small, is highly valuable in promoting peace and justice. One example of a nonprofit that has made significant contributions to this field within the U.S. is the ACLU. In this sense, there are many ways that peace can become a profession through engaging in work that protects and promotes human rights and justice. 

However, I have also learned that many of these career paths can be difficult. In a recent interview with Dr. John Hall from Chapman’s Fowler School of Law, he emphasized the financial burdens and high cost of entry as prominent obstacles to working in these fields. It is also clear that many of these careers can be taxing on your personal life and mental health. That being said, many of the experts I have heard from have also placed a strong emphasis on the value of this work and its importance to local, national, and international communities. 

Cat Bolten teaches for the Kroc Institute
Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame

It is also important to note that not everyone is interested in these kinds of career paths and that peace-related work can be incorporated into many other professions. This discipline is very broad, and efforts to uphold the values of peace and justice are crucial, no matter how big or small. One example of a possible incorporation of peace into other professions is through using teaching as an outlet to educate others on the importance of these fields. One can also incorporate peace into their profession by working for an organization that does not engage directly with this field yet upholds the same values, or through engaging in volunteer work within their community.  

In short, professions in peace can take many forms, and all are relevant and valuable to this discipline. Although careers that work directly in upholding peace and justice at national and international levels may be challenging, they are also rewarding and highly important professions. However, one should not limit their understanding of careers in peace and justice to those professions. Individuals can engage with and promote peace and justice through a wide variety of career paths, and each one is uniquely important. In this sense, peace, which is a broad and multifaceted concept in itself, can foster many potential professions for those who are interested. 

Peace as a Profession

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I first came into contact with the concept of peace studies after taking an online quiz telling me what major I would be best suited for. Like many, I had no idea what peace studies really meant, but after doing research I realized it was a perfect combination of the sociology I found so interesting, international relations, and activism. During my fourth year of studying in this major, I have found the quiz to be quite accurate, however as I inch closer and closer towards graduation I do have a sense of fear over what my future career may hold. 

Oftentimes after describing my major, I am asked if I want to be a diplomat. While of course this seems like a dream job, it is also a game of chance in which all the proper cards must fall into place. Because of this I always politely shake my head in response, and say “no, I am actually interested in working in the non-profit or inter-government field”. Each time I say this however, more and more doubt creeps in. Am I cut out for the high effort low (monetary) reward of the United Nations? What are the chances I would even get a position in the first place? As I have learned more and more about the human rights field, I am often left boggled by the extreme competition and menial pay its workers are left with. Of course, the social fulfillment of working for expanded human rights would be like no other job, but am I truly prepared to give my whole life to it? I imagine I will be pondering these questions for quite some time, however I also must examine the opportunities for peace as a profession and the sectors I would truly be interested in. 

I have always had a particular interest in unicef and the concept of children’s rights. Now, after spending significant time researching education for my thesis, as well as preparing to enter a career in teaching for the next year, I realize that this niche may be right up my alley. While Unicef does incredible work globally, there are many non-profit organizations that have similar goals. Save the Children is a charity organization that operates globally, funding missions to feed children, keep them safe, healthy and educated. It describes itself as “the first global movement for children, boldly declaring that children have rights”. While this organization operates on a large scale, there are many nonprofits with a similar goal working on a local level. One non-profit from my home town called Puertas Abiertas, specialized in working with the Spanish speaking community to give social assistance in a variety of ways. I volunteered with their daycare program, created to give kids and parents a head start at learning English before they enter primary school. Working hands on with communities in which non-profits can directly ask the people they are attempting to serve what their needs are can be a great benefit to peace building on the local level. While I am not sure that this is the work I will pursue, it has great value and serves communities that unicef or Save the Children may overlook in their global work.

Although I remain unsure of what size of organization I will eventually enter, one thing rings true for me, the desire to work with children, preferably in intercultural settings. Throughout my time in the peace studies department, I have learned a lot about the concept of othering, and how detrimental this can be to peace in our world. By working in something related to intercultural understanding, I can both expose myself to new things every day while working to do the same for others. Work at the United Nations or a small NGO may have very different day to day routines, however both aim to preserve the goodness of humanity and provide a more just world.

Can Peace be a Profession?

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The concept of peacekeeping as a profession may appear unorthodox in today’s volatile world, yet its importance cannot be underestimated. The search for peace crosses boundaries and presents itself in a variety of ways across different professions. I will examine how pursuing peace can be a rewarding career path, given that many occupations actively seek to reduce tension and foster environments where harmony prevails over conflict. Here are five professions where peace is at the forefront:

  1. Diplomacy: One important area where a career in promoting peace comes together is diplomacy. Here, experts in diplomacy and international affairs negotiate treaties, forge alliances, and balance competing national interests to promote stability and peace. These professionals work in conflict or post-conflict environments, resolving disputes, facilitating communication between parties, and starting projects that lead to enduring peace. In this context, creating a peaceful world is the goal of the profession of peacemaking.
  2. Humanitarian relief: Working for humanitarian relief groups is another significant way that employment and peace can coexist. Through their efforts to combat poverty, inequality, and social injustice, these groups help to create a peaceful environment. Improving the economy, healthcare, and education reduces the underlying causes of conflict and tension. People can actively promote peace by addressing the root causes of conflict by working in these types of organizations.
  3. Academia and Education: There are opportunities to build a profession around peace in the fields of education and teaching. Students of all ages are greatly impacted by the teachings of peace studies professors and academics, who impart the values of nonviolent communication, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding. They shape future generations to emphasize peace by instilling qualities of empathy, understanding, and compassion via education.
  4. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Dedicated to human rights, environmental conservation, and demobilization, NGOs work nonstop to promote peace. By forming public opinion, influencing policy, and raising public knowledge, these groups play a crucial role. Through proactive engagement with societal and global issues, they facilitate the implementation of meaningful peace initiatives.
  5. Legal Advocacy: The legal system offers a potent platform for advancing peace. Attorneys, judges, and legal advocates may focus their practice on international law, transitional justice, or human rights. By upholding accountability, justice, and the rule of law, these professionals strengthen the cornerstones of a peaceful society and become champions for peace.

The path to peace is complex and difficult, requiring the commitment and cooperation of professionals from many fields. We can link our professional choices with the cause of peace by seeing and appreciating the potential for peace across a range of professions. Every one of us can meaningfully contribute to peace on a local, national, or international level, whether through working with NGOs, studying diplomacy, supporting humanitarian relief projects, teaching students about peaceful values, or standing up for justice. Equipped with the understanding that peace surpasses professional limits, I am motivated to pursue a career that is in line with these goals as I forge my own path. Together, let’s set out on this life-changing path to mold our careers in the direction of a more peaceful world.

Important Links to Look at:

https://www.divinalaw.com/news-and-updates/lawyers-as-peacekeepers-if-you-desire-peace-cultivate-justice/

https://www.un.org/en/our-work/deliver-humanitarian-aid

https://www.asaporg.com/communication/public-diplomacy-a-tool-for-peace-and-understanding#:~:text=It%20is%20vital%20for%20promoting,in%20an%20increasingly%20disconnected%20world.

https://ideas.repec.org/p/ess/wpaper/id9060.htm

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