Topics Include:

Finding Our Way Out of Violence... The Patriot Act... The Arab World... Latin America... Racial Diversity... Islam... Community Organizing... Theater and Politics... Culture Wars...

Sr. Maureen Connolly

A School Sister of St. Francis and an educator. She is program coordinator at New Covenant Justice and Peace Center in Omaha that offers classes and retreat experiences in the sprituality of active nonviolence.

Frank Cordaro

Born and raised in Des Moines, IA. B.A in Physical Education & Health from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA, in 1973; Masters of Divinity from Aquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque, IA, in 1976; and two years of continued seminary formation at St. John's in Collegeville, MN, in 1983 -85.

Co-founded Des Moines Catholic Worker (DMCW) in 1976. Lived and worked at the DMCW until 1983 before becoming a priest. Through out his priesthood Cordaro continued his close association with the DMCW. He was arrested numerous times in non-violent acts of civil disobedience for a wide range of issues. In Spring of 1999, after his release from prison for his participation in the Gods of Metal Plowshares, Cordaro returned to the DMCW where he currently lives and works.

Ordained by Bishop Dingman to the Diocese of Des Moines in June 1985; on Aug 1, 2003 Bishop Charron accepted Cordaro's request for a leave of absence from the priesthood.

Musa al-Hindi

Palestinian Arab, born and raised in Lebanon. Family expelled from Acre, West Galilee in 1948. Holds an M.A. in International Relations from Creighton University. Has done extensive graduate work and research in thefield of Islamic History and Studies at Indiana University in Bloomington,Indiana. Worked in the field of Human Services. Member of Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition. Member of the National Council of Arab Americans.

Sol Kleinsmith

BA in Political Science. Hundreds of hours of volunteer work. Executive Director of Omaha for Obama and Yes We Can Nebraska. Currently Executive Director of Nebraska Matters. Topics: grassroots, youth and non-traditional organizing (such as Facebook and other social networking resources).

Sharif Liwaru

Current President, Malcolm X Foundation, Omaha. Assistant Director of Student Organizations and Leadership Programs, University of Nebraska, Omaha. BA in Black Studies, graduate student in Public Administration. Topics: Malcolm X, Islam (geared toward schools and churches), Leadership, Diversity, the Black Cultural Experience.

Doug Paterson

Doug Paterson has been creating and teaching theatre and social change for thirty years. He was the Green Candidate for US Congress in Nebraska's Second District in 2002 and has been active in Omaha progressive politics since his appointment to UNO's theatre faculty in 1981. His education in theatre and political action culminated at Cornell University in 1972 with his PhD. For the last ten years he has been the nation's point person and leading advocate for the work of Augusto Boal and his Theatre of the Oppressed. The annual Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Conference, which he began in Omaha in 1995, now is hosted by cities nationally and attracts scholars, activists, theatre makers, and community organizers from across North America and around the world.

Jo Peterson

Associate Professor of Social Work - Social Welfare Policy, Conflict Resolution, Restorative Justice, Peace Studies, Social Problems and Mediation. Former coordinator of Nebraskans for Peace. Worked on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Chemical Weapons Treaty. Also has been a crisis counselor and youth mental health counselor. Interested in Creating a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence.

Cary Vigneri

A life-long activist interested in creating a climate for peace in the world, has been a staff member of Nebraskans for Peace, Omaha chapter. She uses a question and answer style and includes research on world peace as society's predominant culture, and solutions to global resource distribution. Discussions are geared to either high school or adult audiences.

Stuart Williams

Raised on a farm and has a degree in forestry. A Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala, working with peasant farmers in general agriculture. Advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture in Nicaragua, working in reforestation and soil conservation. Currently on the Omaha board of Nebraskans for Peace.