How can truth commissions contribute to peacebuilding, transitional justice and institutional reform in societies affected by state-linked violence? In this episode, moderator Kellye Richardson brings together host Dr. Al Fuertes, Carter School alumnus, Professor at the Carter School and Commissioner of the Philippine Truth Commission, with Dr. Christopher Magno, Professor at Gannon University and Director of the Truth Commission, and Father Flaviano Villanueva, Founder of the AJ Kalinga Center and a member of the Truth Commission. Drawing on their practical experience in conflict transformation, survivor support and truth-telling, they examine the Commission’s work documenting extrajudicial killings and related abuses associated with the war on drugs under former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The conversation explores the relationship between credible documentation, human rights, accountability and the long-term work of social healing.

The discussion considers how truth-seeking processes can be designed to protect participants, respect informed consent and recognise the complex realities of trauma and grief. Dr. Fuertes, Dr. Magno and Father Villanueva address the challenges of assessing testimony alongside other accounts and evidence, particularly where official narratives and records are contested. They also explore the distinctions between forgiveness, reconciliation and justice, emphasising that these are related but separate processes that cannot be prescribed to survivors. For students and practitioners of peacebuilding, conflict resolution, transitional justice and human rights, this episode offers a grounded examination of how survivor participation can inform institutional learning, public policy and efforts to prevent future abuses.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Truth Commissions and Transitional Justice: The role of survivor-centred documentation in establishing a credible public record and addressing extrajudicial killings and related human rights abuses.
• Ethical and Trauma-Informed Research: How informed consent, safeguarding, active listening and respect for individual choices shape responsible truth-telling processes.
• Evidence, Testimony and Contested Narratives: The challenges of documenting lived experiences, examining conflicting accounts and confronting uncertainty when seeking an accurate historical record.
• From Truth-Seeking to Systemic Change: How testimony can contribute to public understanding, policy development, institutional accountability and long-term peacebuilding.

In Their Own Words:

• Dr. Al Fuertes: “The process must begin with all of the above.” — reflecting on the interconnected roles of truth, justice, forgiveness and the courage to listen.
• Dr. Christopher Magno: “Respect for us at the Truth Commission requires careful, credible documentations of their stories.”
• Father Flaviano Villanueva: “Peace building [...] begins with that genuine care that you want to offer something to a wounded world, to a wounded person.”

In this episode of Bridges and Beacons, Kellye Richardson introduces guest host Chidi Blyden (Carter School alumna, CEO and Principal of Culturally Bound, and former US Foreign Policy Advisor) and featured guest Manahat Thomas (Carter School alumna, CEO and Co-Founder of Cronos EdX, and African Fintech Summit team member) for a strategic dialogue on diaspora engagement, systems thinking, and global peacebuilding. Drawing from decades of combined experience across defense, international policy, financial technology, and educational innovation, the panel examines how diasporic communities leverage double fluency to navigate complex international systems.

Guided by Kellye's framing around living across systems and generations, Chidi and Manahat analyze how operating across cultures equips practitioners to look beyond surface-level conflicts and identify structural gaps. From dismantling single-narrative economic misconceptions about Africa to leveraging advanced technology like AI for comprehension-based learning across borders, they unpack how cultural context transforms leadership and policy. Kellye closes the conversation by underscoring the vital practitioner mindset required to navigate global dynamics with curiosity, humility, and systemic awareness.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Double Fluency in Global Practice: How diasporans leverage dual cultural and institutional perspectives to build resilient, cross-border frameworks.
• Systems Architecture over Surface Conflict: Utilizing Carter School peacebuilding diagnostics to evaluate structural gaps in global education, technology, and governance.
• Reframing Diaspora Contributions: Moving beyond financial remittances to recognize the diaspora’s role in knowledge exchange, cultural diplomacy, and innovation.
• Cross-Cultural Negotiation and Protocol: Why cultural context, relational trust, and breaking bread are critical components of high-stakes international policy and diplomacy.

In Their Own Words:

• Chidi Blyden: "The skills that were most important to me were my ability to be able to listen, to take notes, to be able to hear both sides of a conversation and really try to relay back to those we were working with what we heard so that they felt heard and they sensed our genuine authenticity in the work that we were doing."
• Manahat Thomas: "Don't go with your credentials. Just go to listen. And what I've understood from working in a lot of different countries is that common sense is not common sense everywhere. Your common sense is going to be completely different than somebody else's common sense."

Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue—it is a systemic driver of global conflict, vulnerability, and social tension. In this episode of Bridges and Beacons, guest host Dr. Michael Shank (Director of Programs at the Albert Einstein Institution and Carter School professor) sits down with Carter School PhD candidates Engy Said and Ashton Rohmer to explore the intersection of environmental policy, systemic conflict analysis, and climate action. Drawing from frontline crisis response, international policy, and urban planning, the panel examines how peacebuilding principles can transform our response to global climate disruptions.

Together, the panel discusses the necessity of applying systems thinking to climate solutions—from ensuring climate finance is conflict-sensitive to challenging traditional paradigms around green technology and urban mobility. They unpack how community-led initiatives, like neighborhood bike buses, shift the climate narrative from sacrifice to positive visioning. This conversation serves as a compelling call to action for future peacebuilders to apply their analytical tools, cross-disciplinary skills, and thought leadership toward building a more resilient, peaceful, and sustainable world.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Systems Thinking in Climate Action: How peacebuilding diagnostic tools uncover unintended consequences in technical solutions like EV adoption and carbon pricing.
• Conflict-Sensitive Climate Finance: The importance of designing policy and investments that learn directly from local communities to prevent resource-based tensions.
• Reimagining Public Spaces: How community-driven mobility models serve as a peaceful rehearsal for a fossil-free, human-centered future.
• The Peacebuilder’s Role: Why skills in mediation, stakeholder engagement, and cross-disciplinary translation are vital for climate adaptation and governance.

In Their Own Words:

• Dr. Michael Shank: "Climate change and global warming and the heating of our planet is impacting every single issue every Carter School student is focused on... Peace builders really have an opportunity to play an important role because we can't do any of this sustainability or climate action work if we're so fragmented."
• Engy Said: "Peacebuilders already have valuable skills that they bring to the table in this field: conflict analysis, mediation, dialogue facilitation, stakeholder engagement... Do not think that you have to be a climate scientist to work in climate change."
• Ashton Rohmer: "If you cannot picture the world you want, you will not build it... Thinking about a future from a peacebuilding perspective helps us imagine that a future is actually better than maybe what our present could be."