Sophie Bouwsma

Co-Founder & Co-Director
she/her

Training Design & Facilitation, Dialogue, Conflict Analysis, Curriculum Development, Peace Education

Sophie Bouwsma is a musician and peacebuilder focused on addressing the roots of structural and cultural violence in the United States. She is passionate about cultivating genuine relationships, facilitating dialogue on difficult topics and shaping transformative learning environments.

Sophie has collaborated with activists and organizers from CODEPINK: Women for Peace, Standing Rock Michigan Tent, Cosecha GR, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, Black Lives Matter and the Poor People’s Campaign. She works in refugee resettlement and is proud to serve as Secretary on the Board of the Braxton Institute for Sustainability, Resiliency and Joy.

Sophie is especially interested in peacebuilding theory and practice in faith-based communities and in interfaith settings. She seeks to explore and develop justpeace structures, cultures and practices in religious- especially Christian- communities in the US.

She loves books, Lake Michigan and anything artsy.

Sophie has an MA in Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation from the School for International Training and is a Certified Music Practitioner by the Music for Healing and Transition Program.

 
 

Languages: English (native proficiency) Mandarin Chinese (limited working proficiency)

Professional Interests:

  • Faith-based/interfaith peacebuilding;

  • Bridging community divides;

  • US military-industrial complex and nuclear nonproliferation;

  • Arts-based approaches to peacebuilding;

  • The relationship between spirituality and activism;

  • Addressing US nationalism and white supremacy;

  • Anti-war education and advocacy;

  • Creating space (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc.)

Projects:

  • “Reparations as Peacebuilding” workshop with Richael Faithful for the Braxton Institute, 2024

  • “Contemplative Retreat” with Dr. Joanne Braxton and Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, therapeutic music facilitation with the Braxton Institute, 2020

  • 2019 Publication: “Evangelicalism and Peace and Conflict Studies: A Wheaton College Case Study”

  • “Conflict Mapping Tools for Analysis and Strategic Engagement,” workshop at Netroots Nation, 2019

  • “Conflict Transformation and Healing Justice Learning Space,” series of trainings with the Sunrise Movement, 2019

  • “Introduction to Peacebuilding,” trainings at West Michigan churches, 2017

  • “Exploring Empathy,” experiential learning training at SIT Graduate Institute, 2017

  • “Inclusion Dialogue,” community dialogue at SIT Graduate Institute, 2017

 

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