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Center for Peace and Justice

Applying Research, Collaboration, and Healing-Centered Practice to Transform Communities
 NLU’s Center for Peace and Justice provides a transdisciplinary hub for researchers, scholars, and community advocates to join together in the exploration of the systemic conflicts that interrupt peace and justice. Together, we create collaborative solutions for a variety of contexts in order to respond effectively to the conflicts which stem from inequity. Through participatory social science research and a healing-centered approach, we aim to move beyond systemic injustice toward healthy, self-sustaining communities.

Mission

The Center for Peace and Justice at National Louis University provides a transdisciplinary hub for researchers, scholars, and community advocates to critically explore systemic conflicts. Together, we respond to issues impacting communities, schools, organizations, and government agencies. Through participatory social science research and a healing-centered approach, we aim to move beyond systemic injustice toward healthy, self-sustaining communities.

Vision

NLU’s Center for Peace and Justice will be an engaged partner for the transformation of communities and institutions, using collaborative approaches to effectively counterbalance oppressive systems.

Values

Ecologic Understanding: People are embedded within dynamic interdependent systems; behavior at every level can impact individual and community wellbeing.

Healing-Centered Approaches: In order to progress toward a more peaceful and just society, shared decision-making, deep relationships, and the collective leveraging of cultural strengths must be central to the way that we build healthy communities.

Collaboration: Peace and Justice is only achievable when resources and power are balanced, and communities work together to identify and achieve shared goals.

Transformative Justice: National Louis University is the academic home to a host of community leaders and activists currently engaged in transformative research and practice. Our team works from within communities to codesign the transition
from conflict and repression towards justice.

Founding Faculty

Dr. Ericka Mingo's ongoing research interests include the ecology and praxis of lateral community building, experiential learning and ways of knowing, and Pan-African liberatory psychology. Dr. Mingo taught at the high school level for over 16 years. Dr. Mingo is the Past President of Psychologists for Social Responsibility, Faculty Chair for National Louis University’s Black Student Union, Co-founder and faculty planner for National Louis University’s Environmental Justice Group, and recent Executive Committee member for The Society for Community Research and Action, Division 27 of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Mingo is a recipient of a National Science Foundation Grant: Understanding the Barriers to Equity in Public Safety Policy. Learn more about Dr. Mingo.

Contact Dr. Mingo here

Dr. Judah Viola is tenured faculty at National Louis University conducting community psychology research, supervising student dissertations, and currently serving as the Ph.D. in Community Psychology program chair. He is also the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community. Dr. Viola regularly consults with local nonprofits and government agencies specializing in program evaluation, community building, posttraumatic growth and collaborative community research. Learn more about Dr. Viola.

Contact Dr. Viola here

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