Reina Neufeldt
Reina Neufeldt is an Assistant Professor in the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo. As a peacebuilding practitioner, she has worked with non-governmental organizations and local peacebuilders for over fifteen years in a wide variety of settings, from the Philippines and East Timor, to Kenya and Nigeria. She currently teaches in the graduate and undergraduate Peace and Conflict Studies programs at Conrad Grebel University College.
Reina’s publications include “Doing Good Better: Expanding the Ethics of Peacebuilding” (International Peacekeeping, 21, 2014),” Reflective Peacebuilding: A Planning, Monitoring and Learning Toolkit (with John Paul Lederach and Hal Culberston; CRS and the Kroc Institute; 2007), ‘We are aware of our contradictions:’ Russlaender Mennonite narratives of loss and the reconstruction of peoplehood, 1914–1923. (Journal of Mennonite Studies 27: 129–154).
Reina has an MA in Social Psychology (York University) and a PhD in International Relations (American University). Reina’s current research focuses on field learning, reflective practice and ethics in peacebuilding.
Why hold a conference like GMP?
RN: We have a long history of conscientious objection, we have some 40 years experience with restorative justice, conflict transformation, and grassroots peacebuilding- It is time to take stock and reflect on all of this in order to recognize not only what we might have done well but where we have gaps and areas to improve.
What fuels your excitement for this conference?
RN: I am excited about the GMP conference and festival because of the multidimensional nature of the conversation and conversation partners we will have. There is a diversity of voices who will join us, all of whom work on and think about peace with and within Anabaptist/Mennonite communities, including those who partner with Mennonites on peacebuilding. One of the features of the conference will be a daily conversation café, which will provide us with time to process and deepen our learning about Anabaptist/Mennonite peacebuilding — failures as well as successes — and talk together as artists, activists, practitioners, pastors and scholars. It is going to be a tremendous opportunity to take-stock of Mennonite peacebuilding, which we hope can inform the future vision and practice of peacebuilding.
