An International Exploration of Peace Education Benefits for Probation, Parole and Diverse Sectors

SESSION INFO

Monday, February 26, 2024
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Session Type: Workshop

An international faculty will present The Prem Rawat Foundation’s Peace Education Program and its reported benefits in diverse sectors (including probation, parole, police, substance rehabilitation, and education) and locations (including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark and Mexico). Research indicates that the Program has a positive impact on attitudinal and behavioral change, as well as important interrelated components of resilience and wellbeing. Workshop participants will: Explore key understandings related to the 10 strength-based themes: Peace, Appreciation, Inner Strength, Self-Awareness, Clarity, Understanding, Dignity, Choice, Hope, and Contentment. Watch dynamic, inspiring videos of participants speaking about their personal experiences of participating in the Program. Analyze reported benefits of the program and evaluate their relevance for their agency. Through 10 facilitated, interactive, video-based workshops, the course helps participants appreciate their humanity and engage their innate strengths. Course materials, training, and practical support to implement the course are provided free of charge.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Ms. Willow Baker
Peace Education Program Director, The Prem Rawat Foundation


Willow Baker is the Program Director for The Prem Rawat Foundation’s Peace Education Program. She is a member of the American Probation and Parole Association’s International Relations Committee, a peace ambassador for the Institute of Economics and Peace, and a former professor at the Sorbonne University’s Communications and Journalism School in Paris, France. Willow has extensive experience with international collaborations to support innovative and effective programs. She is passionate about empowering people to discover their humanity, personal peace and inner strengths. The Prem Rawat Foundation is a humanitarian organization whose purpose is advancing dignity, peace and prosperity through a variety of international programs and initiatives.


Josselin Brain
Program Support Coordinator, Peace Education Program, The Prem Rawat Foundation


Josselin Brain, from British Columbia, Canada, discovered the Peace Education Program first as a participant and then continued her interest as a facilitator. With a background in business development, customer service and serving the needs of international visitors to Canada, she joined The Prem Rawat Foundation in 2021 in the role of the Peace Education Program Support Coordinator. Josselin manages a team of international volunteers who support the program's promotion and growth worldwide. In addition, she supervises the help desk and participates in training and conference development. She is passionate about her international role in supporting individuals and organizations who offer the program in their communities. Josselin enjoys living on Salt Spring Island, where she owns and runs a small business with her family.


Dr. Mitesh Desai, MD
Research Consultant, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, The Prem Rawat Foundation


Dr Desai is a physician who has designed and evaluated wellbeing programs for those who are frequently marginalized in the UK. He provides pro bono consultancy supporting implementation of The Prem Rawat Foundation's Peace Education Program in diverse settings across Europe. He is evaluating the impact of the Program as a strengths-based, cross-cultural approach that may complement other approaches and interventions for behavioral and attitudinal change, developing resilience and fostering wellbeing.


Julie Truschel
CEO, SAW Project


Julie Truschel has an extensive employment history in criminal justice, working since 1985 in various capacities of juvenile and adult corrections that includes institutional and community-based programs. She has held direct service and administrative roles for government as well as private industry employers. Involvement with researchers while creating the ‘What Works’ curriculum made a dramatic impact, after which she began working with administrators nationwide to integrate evidence-based practices (EBP) into existing and newly designed operations. Her current focus is creating and directing the Supervision Around the World (SAW) Project. This endeavor strives to chart supervision practices from every country in the world and bring positive change through international collaboration. See more details at https://sawproject.org/