From Numbers to Narratives: Measuring Social Impact with Transparency
ImpactCounter is reshaping how organizations communicate their value to the world. In a landscape where funders and stakeholders demand real-time, transparent data, this platform offers an innovative solution to a common challenge: how to transform complex impact metrics into meaningful, human-centered stories.
The Challenge
Traditional annual reports and headline statistics like “millions served” often fail to capture the human impact behind programs. With funding becoming increasingly uncertain and expectations shifting, organizations must demonstrate their effectiveness continuously—not just once a year.
The ImpactCounter Approach
Rapid Delivery: Quick setup enables organizations to begin reporting meaningful results without delay.
Iterative Development: Metrics can evolve as an organization grows or pivots its focus.
Reliable Data: ImpactCounter uses current and credible sources for accuracy.
Transparency: All methods and calculations are clearly documented, supporting full accountability.
Global Reach
A striking example of the platform’s potential is the PEPFAR Impact Counter, which visualized real-time policy impact and reached over 15,000 people in 135 countries within days of its launch. It was independently built and peer-reviewed by experts from multiple disciplines—demonstrating not just speed, but scholarly rigor.
Real-Time Impact, Real-World Results
ImpactCounter’s model highlights the power of data when paired with accessibility and clarity. Its visual dashboards offer a compelling way for nonprofits, public agencies, and global initiatives to connect with funders and the communities they serve.
Explore more or start measuring your own impact in real time: www.impactcounter.com
The Lemkin Institute Issues Urgent Appeals on Genocide in Gaza
The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security has released three critical statements this week condemning the ongoing genocide in Gaza and calling for immediate international action.
1. “Four Facts About Israel’s Genocide”
This statement challenges the delayed acknowledgment of genocide by major NGOs, media outlets, and governments. It underscores that genocide is not limited to mass killings but includes systemic acts of destruction, displacement, and dehumanization over time. The Lemkin Institute argues that Western gatekeeping of the term “genocide” has directly contributed to the unchecked escalation of violence against Palestinians.
2. “We’re Glad to See You Use the G-Word, But Now You Must Act”
Responding to a shift in political and institutional rhetoric, this piece calls for action, not just language. The Lemkin Institute urges a global coalition of states to:
End arms shipments to Israel,
Suspend diplomatic ties,
Establish a multilateral peacekeeping force (with Palestinian consent),
And create an international tribunal for war crimes.
The Institute likens the necessary transformation to post-WWII denazification, stating that without systemic accountability, both Palestinians and Israelis remain in danger.
3. “We Sacrifice Law and Morality When We Allow Israel to Commit Genocide Without Repercussions”
This powerful message mourns the tragic killing of Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, two young Israeli embassy employees murdered in Washington, D.C., allegedly in retributive protest for Gaza. The Institute condemns the violence, while also warning that such tragedies are being exploited to justify further repression of anti-genocide activists and broader escalation, including potential military actions against Iran.
“Genocide has no self-limiting mechanisms... Everywhere genocidal thinking spreads, it destroys the prospect of peace and coexistence.”
— Dr. Elisa von Joeden-Forgey, Co-Executive Director, Lemkin Institute
A Warning and a Plea
Throughout these statements, the Lemkin Institute maintains that the genocide against Palestinians—driven by Israeli state policy, political ideology, and systemic impunity—will continue to radicalize if unopposed. The failure of institutions to act earlier has led to what they describe as one of the most devastating man-made tragedies of our time.
They caution that without accountability, human rights, international law, and moral standards worldwide will collapse under the weight of their own hypocrisy.
Read the full statements here:
🔗 Lemkin Institute Newsletter – May 2025
For further discussion, support resources, or links to advocacy and education efforts, contact the Lemkin Institute or visit their platform to engage with anti-genocide activism and policy development.
From Exposure to the Pulitzer: A Legacy of Photojournalism at Tufts
In 2010, Sherman Teichman published an article in Nieman Reports titled Preparing the Next Generation of Photojournalists. Reflecting on the founding of Exposure, a photojournalism and human rights initiative at the Institute for Global Leadership (IGL) at Tufts University, Teichman described a vision for ethical, immersive storytelling in an increasingly complex world.
“I wrote this article for Nieman Reports in 2010, Preparing the Next Generation of Photojournalists. Fifteen years later Chrissy won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for her reporting from Afghanistan as part of a New York Times team.”
— Sherman Teichman
The program, sparked by the involvement of acclaimed war photographer James Nachtwey, offered students a rigorous training ground to explore the ethical and visual demands of documenting conflict, injustice, and resilience. Exposure alumni went on to cover humanitarian emergencies, environmental collapse, and post-conflict societies from Bosnia to Colombia, Iraq to Pakistan.
Now, that vision has come full circle. Christina Goldbaum, one of the many students shaped by Teichman’s work at the IGL, was awarded the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting, recognizing her contributions to The New York Times' in-depth reporting on the collapse of Afghanistan.
The Nieman Reports piece chronicles the ethos of the Exposure program—its emphasis on nonpolemical pedagogy, public accountability through visual storytelling, and the belief that journalism can catalyze change. The 2010 article included testimonies from students whose work spanned topics such as:
Islamic cultural destruction in Bosnia (evidence used at The Hague)
Environmental collapse in Kiribati
Oil politics in Azerbaijan
The first democratic election in Kyrgyzstan
The legacy of Colombian death squads
With the support of mentors, benefactors, and photojournalists like Nachtwey, Exposure helped position Tufts students as credible observers on the frontlines of global conflict and change.
Nachtwey himself wrote, “Most importantly, [Exposure] can help to create a public awareness integral to the process of change.”
Fifteen years later, that aspiration has been realized.
📖 Read the original article: Preparing the Next Generation of Photojournalists – Nieman Reports
📰 See the Pulitzer-winning series: How the U.S. Lost Afghanistan – The New York Times
Stories Live at the Coolidge: A Night of Resilience, Hosted by Brookline.News
On a special evening at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline.News will host “Stories Live”—a live storytelling event celebrating personal narratives of transformation, resilience, and community.
The event will be hosted by Meghna Chakrabarti, award-winning host and editor of WBUR’s On Point, and will feature seven local speakers sharing meaningful, real-life stories.
This gathering is organized by Iris Adler, one of the originators and founding leaders of Brookline.News. A longtime journalist and civic voice, Adler was honored as a Brookline Woman of the Year in 2024 for her exceptional contributions to local media and public engagement.
Featured Speakers
Lori Ehrlich – CPA, public servant, and FEMA Regional Administrator for New England
Anthony Flint – Author, journalist, and senior fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Shan W. Liu – Harvard Medical School professor, MGH physician, and children’s book author
Mark Ludwig – Founder of the Terezín Music Foundation and Boston Symphony Orchestra member emeritus
LeRoy J. Watkins III – CEO of Viking Sports and President of the Brookline Chamber of Commerce
Maria Udalova – Senior at Brookline High School, environmental advocate, and member of Team Trebuchet
Sponsors
This community celebration is made possible thanks to generous support from:
Headline Sponsors
Eastern Bank
Commonwealth Sports Club
Martha Huntley, Real Estate Agent
Concierge Home Sales by the Kerzner Group
Hammond Residential Real Estate
Stories Supporters
Brookline Booksmith
Kaplan Construction
2Life Communities
Brookline Bank
Stories Live at the Coolidge is more than an evening of storytelling—it’s a testament to the voices that shape Brookline and the civic media that amplifies them. The event reflects the mission of Brookline.News to connect neighbors, highlight shared experiences, and deepen community understanding through local journalism.
For event details and speaker bios, visit: brookline.news/stories-live-at-the-coolidge
William H. Luers Remembered: Diplomat Who Defended Vaclav Havel Dies at 95
William H. Luers, a longtime American diplomat and cultural advocate whose behind-the-scenes influence helped protect Czech dissident Vaclav Havel during the final years of Communist rule, died on May 11, 2025, at the age of 95. His passing marks the end of a singular career that blended diplomacy, art, and moral courage.
As U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia in the early 1980s, Luers understood that diplomacy extended beyond formal policy—it could also serve as a form of human rights protection. In 1983, he began quietly rallying support for Havel, then an often-imprisoned poet-playwright and a symbol of nonviolent resistance.
Recognizing the growing danger to Havel’s life, Luers devised a subtle but powerful form of protection: international visibility. He invited prominent American cultural figures to Prague, where they met with Havel and publicly endorsed him as a towering literary and civic voice. This strategy, which Luers described as “shining light on Havel,” made any potential harm to the dissident politically risky for the Czech Communist regime.
Among those Luers enlisted were E.L. Doctorow, Kurt Vonnegut, William Styron, Edward Albee, John Updike, Joseph Papp, Katharine Graham, and Philippe de Montebello—a constellation of artists, writers, and public figures whose presence generated global press coverage and cast a protective shield around Havel.
“I was worried the Communists might poison him or put him back in prison,” Luers later said. “My strategy was to bring as much visibility to Havel as possible.”
Luers’ efforts contributed to the eventual triumph of Havel’s Velvet Revolution in 1989 and his election as the final president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the Czech Republic.
Beyond diplomacy, Luers was deeply connected to the arts. His career included roles with the Metropolitan Museum of Art and other institutions, and he often described himself as someone who spent “a lot of my career with artists and writers, promoting the arts.”
Luers' legacy is one of subtle courage—a belief in diplomacy not merely as negotiation, but as protection, projection, and the quiet, persistent defense of moral clarity. His work demonstrates how cultural capital and human connection can be used to shield lives, amplify dissent, and support democracy.
Read the full obituary from The New York Times:
William H. Luers, Diplomat Who Backed Czech Dissident Leader, Dies at 95
Yulele at the Forefront of Global Storytelling and Advocacy
From international diplomacy to entertainment industry milestones, Yulele continues to demonstrate the cultural power of storytelling on the global stage.
Two recent highlights reflect the range and reach of Yulele’s work—bringing together high-profile talent, public leadership, and impactful narratives.
At the World Health Organization Headquarters
At the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Yulele participated in a special roundtable alongside Chinese celebrities and senior global health figures, including Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. The event focused on celebrity engagement and international collaboration in support of HIV/AIDS awareness and global health campaigns.
Celebrating TV Drama Success
In a separate celebration, Yulele hosted an awards event to mark the nationwide success of a recent TV drama produced by the company. Standing center stage with Yulele’s team is China’s #1 TV drama actress, joined by key figures from the production and streaming platform Youku. The series has been widely praised for both its storytelling and audience engagement across China.
With a mission to blend high-quality entertainment with cultural and social impact, Yulele continues to grow as a creative force in the Chinese media landscape—while expanding its presence in international public forums and advocacy efforts.
For more about Yulele’s latest productions and partnerships, visit: www.yulele.com
Oleander Initiative: Educators as Peacebuilders in Lebanon, Japan, and Beyond
The Oleander Initiative, organized by the University of the Middle East Project (UME), is a transformative peace education program that brings together educators from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the United States, and Japan to explore the legacies of nuclear warfare and develop localized approaches to resilience, rebuilding, and peace.
Now aligned with UME’s broader Lebanon Resilience and Peacebuilding efforts, the Oleander Initiative focuses on empowering educators to translate the historical and ethical lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki into impactful classroom activities tailored to their home communities.
The program is led by Ray Matsumiya, Executive Director of UME and a member of Convisero.
A Cross-Cultural Dialogue on Peace
In its 2017 edition, seventeen educators from across the MENA region, the U.S., and Japan gathered in Japan for an immersive eleven-day experience. Program highlights included:
Orientation and peace education sessions at UNITAR in Hiroshima
Visits to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Memorial Museums
Participation in the Gensuikyo World Conference Against A+H Bombs
Testimonies from hibakusha, including former nurse Teruko Ueno and educator Miyako Jyodai
Educational and cultural exchanges with students at Jogakuin High School and Honkawa Elementary School
Participants also met with prominent peace leaders, including Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue, Dr. Lassina Zerbo of the CTBTO, and officials from the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation.
Building Local Impact from Global Lessons
Throughout the initiative, participants collaboratively developed original peace education projects for implementation in their schools and communities. These projects tackled themes such as nonviolence, interfaith understanding, and historical memory—providing students with practical tools for civic responsibility and peaceful engagement.
The Oleander Initiative places strong emphasis on the “power of place”, using the emotional and historical landscape of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to deepen reflection and cross-cultural empathy. Educators also engaged in traditional cultural experiences including origami, calligraphy, and the Bon-Odori festival, fostering shared humanity through art and ritual.
Global Recognition and Continued Work
The program has received international media coverage from NHK World and PBS, with broadcasts reaching audiences in over 150 countries. It continues to serve as a model for peace education across conflict-affected regions.
To learn more about the Oleander Initiative, visit:
🔗 oleanderinitiative.org
📄 Read the 2017 Program Report
For more information or to collaborate, contact Ray Matsumiya at RayMat@ume.org.
Chelsea, The Jewish Years: A Documentary Tribute to a Historic Jewish Community
A new documentary titled Chelsea, The Jewish Years explores the rich and often overlooked Jewish history of Chelsea, Massachusetts, during the first half of the twentieth century. Directed by Ellen Rovner—filmmaker, historian, and founder of the Chelsea Gateway Project—the film offers a compelling account of Chelsea’s cultural, political, and civic legacy as one of the most influential Jewish immigrant communities in the United States.
Ellen Rovner, who is also a member of The Trebuchet’s Convisero, brings both scholarly and community-rooted insight to this project. Her work is grounded in public history and Jewish cultural preservation.
The documentary is presented in collaboration with the Jewish Chelsea Museum and is supported in part by the Chelsea Cultural Heritage Grant, Chelsea Cultural Council, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Chelsea, The Jewish Years is now available for community screenings, both on-site and online. Educational resources and optional filmmaker-led discussions are available to accompany group viewings. The film is part of the broader Chelsea Gateway Project, which also features walking tours, events, and public history initiatives dedicated to preserving and sharing Chelsea’s immigrant heritage.
For screening requests or additional information, contact ellen@thechelseagatewayproject.com
RefugePoint Launches New Website and 2024 Annual Report
RefugePoint has launched a newly redesigned website at www.refugepoint.org, offering an updated and more accessible platform to highlight its mission and global refugee support programs.
The new site includes a comprehensive "Get Help" section designed to assist refugees directly, as well as detailed overviews of RefugePoint’s ongoing initiatives and impact areas. Navigation and content have been streamlined to make information about the organization’s programs, partnerships, and engagement opportunities more accessible to a broad audience.
A newly introduced Impact page features:
Stories of individual refugees supported through RefugePoint’s services
Statistics on refugee assistance across regions
Access to key publications, including quarterly and annual reports
2024 Annual Report Now Available
Alongside the website launch, RefugePoint has also published its 2024 Annual Report, available at the following link:
RefugePoint 2024 Annual Report (PDF)
The report outlines the organization’s work over the past year, including:
Quantitative data on services provided and geographic reach
Programmatic updates across areas such as resettlement, child protection, and field partnerships
Reflections on challenges and developments in refugee support and protection
The updated website and report reflect RefugePoint’s continued efforts to increase transparency, improve service accessibility, and highlight the impact of its work in advancing solutions for refugees worldwide.
For further information, visit: www.refugepoint.org
Escalation in the Middle East: Experts to Examine the Ongoing Israel-Iran Conflict
As Israel's military campaign against Iran intensifies, significant developments have emerged on both strategic and humanitarian fronts. Within days, Israel has made major tactical advances — targeting Iran’s senior military leadership, striking nuclear facilities, disabling rocket and drone systems, and asserting aerial dominance over Tehran. Yet, these victories have come at a high cost at home, with over two dozen casualties and substantial damage reported in central Israel.
With the trajectory of the conflict and Washington’s stance on deeper involvement still unclear, policy experts are convening for a critical conversation.
The upcoming Israel Policy Briefing will feature Raz Zimmt, Director of the Iran Program at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, and Kenneth Pollack, Vice President for Policy at the Middle East Institute. The session will be moderated by Rachel Brandenburg, Washington Managing Director and Senior Fellow at the Israel Policy Forum.
The discussion aims to assess the evolving military and political dimensions of the war, potential regional consequences, and the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
Date: Wednesday, June 18
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Register for the webinar here
Stay tuned for more insights from this rapidly evolving situation.
Pahalgam’s Aftermath Sparks Urgent Questions on India-Pakistan Tensions
The recent attack on tourists in Pahalgam has reignited tensions between India and Pakistan, leading to a rapid military exchange and heightened diplomatic hostilities. Each side has blamed the other, with both claiming the upper hand in a volatile escalation that brought the region perilously close to open conflict.
A fragile ceasefire was eventually brokered through U.S. intervention, but many questions remain unanswered. Was India’s response measured or politically driven? Did Pakistan's actions reflect strategic resilience or desperation? And amid the media spin, who actually gained ground?
To unpack these complexities, veteran journalist Siddharth Varadarajan, founding editor of The Wire, will join Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy in a critical conversation. Together, they aim to examine the facts, challenge dominant narratives, and explore whether lasting peace is still within reach—or whether South Asia is caught in a cycle it cannot escape.
This conversation arrives at a time when clarity is more urgent than ever.
Global Maritime Accord – Academy to Host Webinar on Plastics and Overfishing
On 8 June 2025, in honour of World Oceans Day, the Global Maritime Accord – Academy (GMA.A) will convene its sixth public webinar, focusing on two of the most pressing threats to ocean health: plastic pollution and overfishing.
Titled "Plastics and Overfishing – Key Challenges for Ocean Health," the event brings together a distinguished panel of speakers from multiple continents, including marine scientists, naval strategists, sustainability experts, and youth leaders. The initiative is part of a growing global movement to shape collaborative frameworks for the future governance of marine ecosystems, particularly in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ).
The Global Maritime Accord (GMA) is a unique and pioneering effort that brings together civil society, academia, policy institutions, and military organisations to draft a cohesive and just framework for sustainable ocean governance. The GMA Academy (GMA.A), coordinated by the Liechtenstein Institute for Strategic Development (LISD), serves as the educational and research arm of this initiative.
Event Overview
Title: GMA Academy Webinar 6
Theme: Plastics and Overfishing – Key Challenges for Ocean Health
Date: 8 June 2025
Time:
UTC: 1200
EST: 0800
BST: 1300
CEST: 1400
IST: 1730
AEST: 2200
Registration: To register, email GMA@eurisd.org with your full name, affiliation, preferred email, and contact number. Webinar access details will be sent on 5 June 2025.
Event page and past recordings: www.globalmaritimeaccord.org
Featured Speakers
Prof. Peter Droege – Founding Director, LISD (Liechtenstein)
Admiral (Ret.) Robin K. Dhowan – Chairman, SAMDeS (India); Former Chief of Naval Staff
Prof. Micheni Japhet Ntiba – Professor of Zoology and Marine Biology, University of Nairobi
Ms. Aamber Fatima – Senior Director, I.I.M.U.N., Mumbai; Youth Social Impact Leader
Mr. Ulhas Parlikar – Global Consultant, Waste Management and Circular Economy
Commodore (Ret.) Sujeet Samaddar – Program Mentor; SAMDeS and MRAI Adviser
These contributors will address the environmental, scientific, and governance-related dimensions of marine degradation, and will explore both policy and practice-based interventions.
Context and Readings
Participants are encouraged to engage with the following materials in preparation for the event:
Foreground Reading:
Ocean Darkening – Substack summary by Luke McMillan: Voice for the Blue
Full paper by Thomas W. Davies & Tim Smyth: Global Change Biology
Background Reading:
Beyond Paris: Emergency Imperatives for Global Policy and Local Action
Published in Springer Nature’s Sustainable Earth Review:
Read article
About the Global Maritime Accord
The GMA is the first global initiative designed to bring together stakeholders from across governance, science, civil society, and defence to draft a cohesive framework for ocean protection—especially in regions beyond national control. It works in alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and focuses on protecting marine biodiversity in areas that currently suffer from fragmented or absent regulatory oversight.
Participating countries include Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Germany, India, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Academy’s programming is supported by a coalition of partners, including:
Liechtenstein Institute for Strategic Development (LISD)
Society for Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Studies (SAMDeS)
The Trebuchet – Breaking Down Barriers / Building Bridges
International Military Council on Climate and Security (Netherlands)
Commonwealth Security and Resilience Group (UK)
This upcoming webinar marks an important moment in advancing collaborative thinking on sustainable ocean governance. For students, researchers, policy professionals, and ocean advocates, the session offers not just learning—but an invitation to contribute to shaping an emerging global accord.
For further details, visit: www.globalmaritimeaccord.org
Selendy Gay Files Suit to End Coercive Threats to Harvard University’s $9 Billion Federal Research Grants
Selendy Gay PLLC has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and its Harvard chapter, challenging what it describes as the government’s coercive misuse of federal authority to threaten academic independence and free speech.
The complaint and Temporary Restraining Order argue that the federal government’s actions—targeting nearly $9 billion in research grants—violate the U.S. Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. It asserts that government demands to overhaul Harvard’s governance, academic programs, admissions, and hiring processes are arbitrary, capricious, and politically motivated.
“These tactics amount to exploiting Title VI to coerce universities into undermining free speech and academic inquiry in service of the government’s political or policy preferences,” according to the Complaint.
Read the full article here:
Selendy Gay Challenges Federal Threats to Harvard’s $9 Billion Research Funding
Jennifer Selendy is a Director of the Trebuchet and a Convisero Mentor
Forty Prominent Israelis Express Deep Gratitude to Deputies Behind FT Letter
A group of forty prominent Israeli figures — including former military commanders, diplomats, Knesset members, academics, and civil society leaders — have issued a powerful statement of appreciation to the 36 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews who signed an open letter in the Financial Times criticizing the Israeli government’s conduct in the Gaza conflict.
The Israeli signatories, among them former IDF commanders, ambassadors, legal scholars, and leading intellectuals, acknowledged the personal risks the deputies face and lauded their "support in the battle we are fighting for the future and soul of Israel." They warned that the government’s current trajectory undermines democratic institutions and prioritizes power consolidation over the safe return of hostages and genuine peace.
The letter criticizes Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government for promoting “Jewish supremacy” and choosing “perpetual warfare” over diplomacy. The signatories underscore the need for unity in the Jewish world to uphold democratic and human values and condemn the silence of many communal leaders in the face of this crisis.
“The toll taken in the lives of Israeli soldiers, the unbearable suffering of the hostages and their families, and the destruction of Gaza... have failed to deter the Netanyahu government,” the letter states, calling instead for a diplomatic path forward.
Among those expressing gratitude are Avraham Burg, former Speaker of the Knesset; Prof. Naomi Chazan; former ambassadors Colette Avital and Alon Liel; former Attorney General Michael Ben-Yair; and dozens of others spanning Israel’s military, academic, and civil service spheres.
Read the full article here: Jewish News – Forty Prominent Israelis Express Gratitude
Holding on to Humanity: The Parents Circle 2024 Annual Report
In a year of unbearable loss and widening divides, the Parents Circle – Families Forum (PCFF) has remained a powerful voice for reconciliation. Founded in 1995, the PCFF is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization made up of over 800 bereaved families—those who have lost loved ones to the conflict. The 2024 annual report offers a sobering yet hopeful glimpse into how these families have chosen connection over hatred in the wake of October 7, 2023.
From uni-national healing circles to binational Zoom gatherings, from summer camps in Cyprus to legal battles with the Israeli Ministry of Education, PCFF programs persisted even as war and trauma reshaped every part of life. The group welcomed 75 new bereaved families this year, expanding its base of personal stories that serve as catalysts for understanding and peacebuilding.
Highlights of 2024 include:
Over 150 Dialogue Meetings in Israel, Palestine, and globally, including outreach to over 3,000 international participants.
Youth Engagement: 39 Israeli and Palestinian teens attended a joint summer camp in Cyprus.
Care and Solidarity: 500 care packages and 1,200 school kits were distributed to Palestinian families amid deepening humanitarian needs.
Global Advocacy: The “Listening from the Heart” initiative, run in collaboration with Georgetown University, introduced PCFF’s dialogue model across 35 U.S. colleges.
Media and Storytelling: 29 audiovisual testimonials, podcasts, and creative campaigns shared messages of peace and reconciliation worldwide.
Recognition: PCFF received major peace awards, including the Pax Christi International Peace Award and the Danish PL Foundation Freedom Award.
The report also highlights structural challenges. The group faced removal from Israel’s school programming platform—a decision they continue to contest legally. Despite these setbacks, their message has reached more people than ever.
To read the full 2024 annual report, click here.
Esti Shohat Rozenfeld Appointed CEO of Tech2Peace
Esti Shohat Rozenfeld has taken on the role of Chief Executive Officer at Tech2Peace, an initiative focused on fostering Israeli-Palestinian cooperation through technology and dialogue.
With a background in software engineering and over 15 years of experience in the tech sector, Rozenfeld brings both technical expertise and a long-standing commitment to activism. Tech2Peace combines high-tech training with dialogue-based workshops, aiming to build a foundation for cross-border entrepreneurship and collaborative leadership.
In her statement, Rozenfeld emphasized the urgency of leadership during a time marked by instability, polarization, and collective grief:
“In these uncertain and unstable times, we are called to lead — to take action and guide our societies toward a just peace.”
She referenced Marshall Ganz’s definition of leadership as “accepting responsibility for enabling others to achieve shared purpose under conditions of uncertainty,” aligning it with Tech2Peace’s goals of social impact through innovation and cooperation.
Rozenfeld joins the organization at a time when civil society efforts remain critical for envisioning and building more inclusive futures across divided communities.
Siwoo Kim – A Life in Music
Siwoo Kim is an acclaimed violinist recognized for his incisive artistry and expressive nuance. Described as “compelling” by The New York Times and praised for his “stylistic sensitivity” by the Chicago Tribune, Siwoo performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. He is also the co-founding artistic director of the VIVO Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio.
Born in South Korea to parents who ran a music school, Siwoo began violin at the age of two-and-a-half. After immigrating to the U.S. at age five, he continued his musical studies with the support of his family, ultimately earning undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Juilliard School under Robert Mann and Donald Weilerstein.
Siwoo gave the world premiere of Samuel Adler’s violin concerto and recorded it on Linn Records to mark Adler’s 90th birthday. He made his concerto debut at Carnegie Hall with the Juilliard Orchestra and has since performed with numerous orchestras worldwide, including in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Africa.
As a chamber musician, Siwoo co-founded Quartet Senza Misura and has collaborated with renowned artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Mitsuko Uchida, Joyce DiDonato, and members of the Juilliard and Guarneri Quartets. He has appeared at festivals including Marlboro, Tivoli, Bergen, Stellenbosch, and Fundación Juan March.
His accolades include the 2012 King Award for Young Artists and top prizes in competitions such as Corpus Christi, Juilliard, Ima Hogg, and Sejong. He is a former fellow of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect and performs on a 1753 “ex-Birgkit” Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin on generous loan from Rare Violins In Consortium.
For more on Siwoo Kim’s music and upcoming performances, visit his website: www.siwookim.com
Entrepreneurship Across the Divide: A 50:50 Startups Alumni Gathering
Left to Right
Entrepreneurs from Israel and Palestine, Alumni of the 50:50 Startups program
Lee Tom Dotan, Aseel Farrah, Kassim Bashir
Aseel Farrah
Amir Grinstein and Lee Tom Dotan
Siwoo Kim with Sherman and Iris
Left to Right
Trebuchet Team
Amadeo, Alejandro and Bruno
Infinite License: Reflections on Gaza and Historical Violence
In a powerful essay for The New York Review of Books, historian Omer Bartov explores how the memory of the Holocaust has been distorted to justify the ongoing destruction of Gaza and the silence surrounding it. His article, titled "Infinite License: The World After Gaza," draws troubling parallels between current events and past atrocities.
Bartov opens by recounting the 1904 Herero genocide in German Southwest Africa (modern-day Namibia), where German colonial forces issued an extermination order that resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Herero people. He argues that such colonial frameworks of mass violence echo in the way Gaza's destruction has been rationalized and tolerated today.
The piece warns that invoking past traumas like the Holocaust to shield present-day violence erodes moral standards and undermines the very principles of human rights developed in its aftermath. Bartov stresses that this distortion is not only tragic but dangerously corrosive to international law, memory, and justice.
The essay ultimately calls readers to recognize the historical patterns repeating in Gaza — and the urgent need to resist the normalization of unchecked violence.
Read the full article here:
Infinite License: The World After Gaza — The New York Review of Books
How Universities Can Resist Political Attacks on Academic Freedom
As universities across the United States face escalating pressure from the Trump administration's aggressive campaign against higher education, a critical question emerges: How can they defend their independence?
A recent New York Times opinion piece argues that current attacks on universities — framed around issues like antisemitism and D.E.I. — are, in fact, part of a broader agenda rooted in anti-intellectualism and the consolidation of political power. The strategy has included the withdrawal of research grants and targeted financial threats aimed at compelling universities to comply individually, preventing collective resistance.
Columbia University, one of the first institutions targeted, quickly made administrative changes after losing hundreds of millions in funding. Harvard, facing $4 billion in cuts, has resisted — but other institutions have largely remained silent. The situation underscores how universities have prioritized rankings, fundraising, and prestige over their core mission: the production and dissemination of knowledge.
The article draws parallels to historical examples of academic resistance under autocratic regimes — from Poland’s underground "flying universities" to Kosovo’s parallel education systems — demonstrating that when educational institutions focus solely on their fundamental mission, they can withstand political pressure.
The call to action for American universities is clear: act like true centers of learning. This means investing in access to education, focusing less on wealth accumulation and prestige, and embracing their role as defenders of democracy and intellectual freedom.
If universities fail to resist now, the consequences could be irreversible.
Read the full article here: New York Times: This Is How Universities Can Escape Trump’s Trap, if They Dare