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Turning the Other into a Brother
Thursday, February 23, 2017
5:30PM - 6:30PM
Metropolitan Building, Room 5183
The talk: “Turning the Other into a Brother” is based on Janessa Gans Wilder’s experience while working as a CIA analyst in Iraq from 2003-2005. She shares a personal transformation from that time she went from seeing Iraqis as “the enemy” in the war zones of al Anbar province to seeing them as friends—working together to build the country and forging close, lasting relationships with the country’s top leadership and political parties. Her transition from viewing them as “other” to “brother” was sparked by a single moment by the Euphrates river when she experienced its peace and beauty and realized it flowed right in the midst even of the war zone of Fallujah—an unstoppable force no bombs and mortars could impede.
The speaker: Janessa Gans Wilder is a former CIA officer turned peacebuilder, social entrepreneur, and nonprofit executive. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Euphrates Institute, an organization that builds peace and understanding about critical Middle East issues. She founded Euphrates after five years at the CIA focused on the Middle East, including serving 21 months in Iraq from 2003-2005. Janessa is a frequent speaker in interfaith, community, government, international, and educational settings. She has written dozens of articles and been interviewed by major news outlets, including CBS, CNN, Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, Democracy Now, and many more.
This disucssion will be faciliated by Jasmine Linck.