Michael Keller, Chair, is director of policy
analysis and research for the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
He served in a number of capacities while a member of the board
of directors of Peace Action from 1989 to 2007, including as
secretary, chair of the Membership and Affiliation Committee,
and a member of the Operations Committee and the PAC. He also
served as coordinator of Anne Arundel (MD) Peace Action from
1985 to 2007. He has been chair of the Annapolis Human Relations
Commission since 2000. He also served on the board of directors
of the Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center. He holds degrees
in journalism from Ohio University and in political science
from Miami University.
George Paz Martin is a three term, National Co-Chair of United for Peace & Justice (UFPJ), the U.S.’s largest peace coalition with more than 1,400 organizations. He served Peace Action Wisconsin as Program Director for eight years while participating in Peace Action, nationally. He has been to Iraq and is a leader in both the World Social Forum and the World Peace Council. A life-long, African-American activist, former Black Panther and current Green Party leader, Martin makes the connection of war and human needs. George Paz Martin speaks truth to power in moving people against war and violence.
Nina Patel is a Development Manager at the Jane Addams Hull
House Association in Chicago, IL, where she focuses on direct mail, web site
development and event planning. Previously, Nina worked in development at the
Peace Action national office. She lived in Costa Rica for a year where she
volunteered at PRETOMA (Programa Restauracion de Tortugas Marinas), a
marine conservation organization, assisting with the launch of an online giving
program. She currently lives with her husband in Chicago, where she grew up.
Nina received a BA in English with a topical study in Women's Studies from the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Nicole Penick, currently enrolled in the Earth Literacy masters
program at St. Mary of the Woods College in Indiana, works with the White Violet
Center for Eco Justice as the bio dynamic garden intern. Nicole graduated from the
AmeriCorps Public Allies program in Milwaukee WI in 2001. She was a founding board
member of the Peace Learning Center in Milwaukee WI, which teaches conflict
resolution skills to fourth, fifth and sixth graders. A graduate of Alverno College
in Milwaukee with a BA in Community Leadership and Development and a minor in
the Humanities, Nicole received the Outstanding Citizenship Award for her anti-war
efforts including the "Rice for Peace" campaign and get out the vote efforts in
2003 and 2004. Nicole's diverse organizing experience includes an internship with
Peace Action WI in 2003, student organizing on several campuses, election
protection work and voter education. She is also a board member for Pompanuck
Farm Institute in Cambridge NY which serves youth, families and individuals
interested in learning life ways for a sustainable and healthy world.
Amy Quinn joined the Peace Action Education Fund as the first SPAN
organizer in 1996-1997. She went on to work with the Institute for Policy
Studies from 1999-2005 in Washington, DC where she conducted research and
organizing on U.S. national security policy and the human rights impacts of the
U.S. "War on Terror." Amy co-authored reports assessing the Iraq War's effects on
civilians, human rights and economic development and was a founding steering
committee member for United for Peace and Justice. She also worked as a
community organizing trainer with the Alliance for Justice and as an organizer
with the Kenya Human Rights Commission in Nairobi. Amy completed a masters degree
in International Affairs at Columbia University in 2007. After graduating Amy
decided to focus on her other passion -yoga - and founded Bend & Bloom Yoga studio
in Brooklyn, NY.
Mazin Qumsiyeh, Ph.D., was born to
a Palestinian Christian family in the Shepherds' Field and splits
his time between the USA and Palestine. He served on the faculty
of both Duke and Yale Universities (six and five years respectively).
He served on the Board/Steering/Executive Committees of a number
of groups including the US Campaign to End the Occupation, the
Palestinian American Congress, Association for One Democratic
State in Israel/Palestine, AcademicsForJustice.org, and BoycottIsraeliGoods.org
He advised many other groups includingSommerville Divestment
Project, Olympia-Rafah Sister City Project,Palestine Freedom
Project, Sabeel North America, and National Council of Churches
of Christ USA. He is a member of a number of human rights groups
(Amnesty, Peace action, Human Rights Watch, ACLU etc.). His
third and latest book is titled 'Sharing the Land of Canaan:
human rights and the Israeli/Palestinian Struggle'. He also
has an activism book published electronically on his web site,
http://qumsiyeh.org.
His main interest is media activism and public education. He
published over 200 letters to the editor and 100 op-ed pieces
and interviewed in TV and radio extensively (local, national
and international). He won the Jallow activism award from the
Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee in 1998. Appearances
in national media included the Washington Post, New York Times,
Boston Globe, CNBC,C-Span, and ABC, among others. He also regularly
lectures on issues of human rights and international law.
Carlottia Scott, Secretary, has long been
a drum major for justice and peace. She has over thirty-five
years of electoral and political experience and is a recognized
strategist, as well as international affairs and public policy
advocate. Carlottia served for many years as chief of staff
to Congressman Ronald V. Dellums and then to Congresswoman Barbara
Lee. After retiring from Capitol Hill, Carlottia served as Chief
of Politics for the Democratic National Committee (DNC). She
also served as an adjunct to the Department of Political Science
and practicum advisor to the School of Social Work at Howard
University. Currently Carlottia is a member of several boards
including the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
and The Twenty-First Century Foundation. Carlottia has been
an advisor to The Global Fund for Women, the Smithsonian Institution,
the Mandela Freedom Fund, U.S. Cuba Medical Project, and Medical
Aid for El Salvador. Currently she advises the Women’s
Information Network (WIN), the Women’s Campaign Research
Fund, the U. S. Nicaragua Friendship Society, the National Democratic
Institute (NDI), and the International Foundation on Election
Systems (IFES). Carlottia co-founded the African American Women’s
Fund, a philanthropic endeavor to support women’s educational
and capacity development. She is the mother of three adults
and “Mima” to four grandsons and one granddaughter.
Glen Stassen is Lewis B. Smedes Professor
of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena,
California. His areas of expertise include social justice and
Christian ethics; he has published extensively in his field
and is the author of Just Peacemaking. During his many years
on the national board of Peace Action, first as a state representative
from Kentucky and now as an at-large member, Glen has chaired
the Strategy Committee and held other leadership positions.
During the past year, he co-edited Peace Action: Past, Present,
Future with Larry Wittner. He holds degrees from the University
of Virginia, Union Theological Seminary, and Duke University.
Barbara Wien is a sought-after speaker and
peace educator serving on the Boards of several non-profits.
The author of
Peace and World Order Studies, a pioneering
curriculum guide for university-level peace studies, she has completed
graduate work in Comparative World History and Economics at CUNY,
holds a degree in International Relations
from American University and a teaching certificate in peace
education from Teachers College Columbia, has taught at Georgetown,
Columbia, and Catholic University, and has helped create over
200 university-level Peace Studies programs. She has served as
chief fundraiser for the National Whistleblower Center,
Director of the Real Security Education Project of
the Institute for Policy Studies, conflict resolution
trainer for the U.S. Institute for Peace (where she
was famously forced out for daring to question the wisdom of
U.S. military retaliation after 9/11) and, most recently,
Director of the U.S Office of Peace Brigades International.
She has also worked with award-winning playwright Eve Ensler
to award royalties from The Vagina Monologues to grassroots
women’s coalitions in 15 countries, and has organized
celebrity delegations to Third World countries to draw attention
to honor killings, bride burnings, and other extreme women’s
issues.
Michael Keller, Chair, is director of policy
analysis and research for the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
He served in a number of capacities while a member of the board
of directors of Peace Action from 1989 to 2007, including as
secretary, chair of the Membership and Affiliation Committee,
and a member of the Operations Committee and the PAC. He also
served as coordinator of Anne Arundel (MD) Peace Action from
1985 to 2007. He has been chair of the Annapolis Human Relations
Commission since 2000. He also served on the board of directors
of the Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center. He holds degrees
in journalism from Ohio University and in political science
from Miami University.
George Paz Martin is a three term, National Co-Chair of United for Peace & Justice (UFPJ), the U.S.’s largest peace coalition with more than 1,400 organizations. He served Peace Action Wisconsin as Program Director for eight years while participating in Peace Action, nationally. He has been to Iraq and is a leader in both the World Social Forum and the World Peace Council. A life-long, African-American activist, former Black Panther and current Green Party leader, Martin makes the connection of war and human needs. George Paz Martin speaks truth to power in moving people against war and violence.
Nicole Penick, currently enrolled in the Earth Literacy masters
program at St. Mary of the Woods College in Indiana, works with the White Violet
Center for Eco Justice as the bio dynamic garden intern. Nicole graduated from the
AmeriCorps Public Allies program in Milwaukee WI in 2001. She was a founding board
member of the Peace Learning Center in Milwaukee WI, which teaches conflict
resolution skills to fourth, fifth and sixth graders. A graduate of Alverno College
in Milwaukee with a BA in Community Leadership and Development and a minor in
the Humanities, Nicole received the Outstanding Citizenship Award for her anti-war
efforts including the "Rice for Peace" campaign and get out the vote efforts in
2003 and 2004. Nicole's diverse organizing experience includes an internship with
Peace Action WI in 2003, student organizing on several campuses, election
protection work and voter education. She is also a board member for Pompanuck
Farm Institute in Cambridge NY which serves youth, families and individuals
interested in learning life ways for a sustainable and healthy world.
Amy Quinn joined the Peace Action Education Fund as the first SPAN
organizer in 1996-1997. She went on to work with the Institute for Policy
Studies from 1999-2005 in Washington, DC where she conducted research and
organizing on U.S. national security policy and the human rights impacts of the
U.S. "War on Terror." Amy co-authored reports assessing the Iraq War's effects on
civilians, human rights and economic development and was a founding steering
committee member for United for Peace and Justice. She also worked as a
community organizing trainer with the Alliance for Justice and as an organizer
with the Kenya Human Rights Commission in Nairobi. Amy completed a masters degree
in International Affairs at Columbia University in 2007. After graduating Amy
decided to focus on her other passion -yoga - and founded Bend & Bloom Yoga studio
in Brooklyn, NY.
Mazin Qumsiyeh, Ph.D., was born to
a Palestinian Christian family in the Shepherds' Field and splits
his time between the USA and Palestine. He served on the faculty
of both Duke and Yale Universities (six and five years respectively).
He served on the Board/Steering/Executive Committees of a number
of groups including the US Campaign to End the Occupation, the
Palestinian American Congress, Association for One Democratic
State in Israel/Palestine, AcademicsForJustice.org, and BoycottIsraeliGoods.org
He advised many other groups includingSommerville Divestment
Project, Olympia-Rafah Sister City Project,Palestine Freedom
Project, Sabeel North America, and National Council of Churches
of Christ USA. He is a member of a number of human rights groups
(Amnesty, Peace action, Human Rights Watch, ACLU etc.). His
third and latest book is titled 'Sharing the Land of Canaan:
human rights and the Israeli/Palestinian Struggle'. He also
has an activism book published electronically on his web site,
Carlottia Scott, Secretary, has long been
a drum major for justice and peace. She has over thirty-five
years of electoral and political experience and is a recognized
strategist, as well as international affairs and public policy
advocate. Carlottia served for many years as chief of staff
to Congressman Ronald V. Dellums and then to Congresswoman Barbara
Lee. After retiring from Capitol Hill, Carlottia served as Chief
of Politics for the Democratic National Committee (DNC). She
also served as an adjunct to the Department of Political Science
and practicum advisor to the School of Social Work at Howard
University. Currently Carlottia is a member of several boards
including the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
and The Twenty-First Century Foundation. Carlottia has been
an advisor to The Global Fund for Women, the Smithsonian Institution,
the Mandela Freedom Fund, U.S. Cuba Medical Project, and Medical
Aid for El Salvador. Currently she advises the Women’s
Information Network (WIN), the Women’s Campaign Research
Fund, the U. S. Nicaragua Friendship Society, the National Democratic
Institute (NDI), and the International Foundation on Election
Systems (IFES). Carlottia co-founded the African American Women’s
Fund, a philanthropic endeavor to support women’s educational
and capacity development. She is the mother of three adults
and “Mima” to four grandsons and one granddaughter.
Glen Stassen is Lewis B. Smedes Professor
of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena,
California. His areas of expertise include social justice and
Christian ethics; he has published extensively in his field
and is the author of Just Peacemaking. During his many years
on the national board of Peace Action, first as a state representative
from Kentucky and now as an at-large member, Glen has chaired
the Strategy Committee and held other leadership positions.
During the past year, he co-edited Peace Action: Past, Present,
Future with Larry Wittner. He holds degrees from the University
of Virginia, Union Theological Seminary, and Duke University.
Barbara Wien is a sought-after speaker and
peace educator serving on the Boards of several non-profits.
The author of
