Fall 2025 Peace Week focuses on bridging peacebuilding, development, and security

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Beginning Monday, September 22, the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University hosts its Fall 2025 Peace Week under the theme "Bridging Peacebuilding, Development, and Security." This semi-annual series, launched in Fall 2020 around the International Day of Peace on September 21, now draws thousands of participants to more than 30 in-person and virtual events each semester.

George Mason community members attend "Building Meaningful Dialogue about the War in Gaza" during the Fall 2024 Peace Week. Photo provided

This year's program features seminars, interactive workshops, guest lectures, and discussions on urgent global and local challenges. Highlights include "Cyprus Peacebuilding Project in Collaboration with Rotary," "San Paco in Colombia: From Pain to Hope, Art and Culture that Transforms Life," "Addressing Domestic Extremism and Fostering Dialogue Over Division," "Harnessing Technology for Peacebuilding," the launch of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 Hub: Advancing Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and the return of the popular fireside chat "S'more Peace, Please!"

The keynote event, "From Hiroshima to Hope: A Call for a Nuclear Arms-Free World," will be held Monday, September 22, at 5 p.m. Marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the evening will explore the legacy of nuclear weapons and the enduring power of peace. The program also features the Hiroshima Children's Drawings and the acclaimed documentary Pictures from a Hiroshima Schoolyard. Special guests include Nobel Peace Laureate Ira Helfand and renowned historian and author Vincent Intend.

Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem reflected on the significance of the program.

Students perform at "Fostering Mutual Understanding Between International and Domestic Students at Mason Community" during the Fall 2024 Peace Week. Photo by the Office of University Branding

"As we mark 80 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, we are reminded not only of the immense human cost of nuclear weapons but also of our collective responsibility to prevent such devastation from ever happening again. This Peace Week program blends art, remembrance, and dialogue to highlight how conflict resolution and public engagement can reduce the risks of nuclear weapons. We cannot afford complacency; it is through public awareness, creative collaboration, and determined diplomacy that we can move toward a world where nuclear weapons no longer threaten our shared future."

All Peace Week events are free and open to the public, but registration is required. For a full schedule and to register, visit the Peace Week site.