On March 28th, the Iolani Peace Institute sponsored a special workshop to introduce conflict resolution concepts to members of the Upper School club Students for Peace and to other interested students.  Jonathan Kathrein, Executive Director of a California-based non-profit organization called Future Leaders for Peace, led the lunchtime workshop entitled "Be the Change," a title inspired by Gandhi's famous advice to "be the change you want to see in the world."  Kathrein, assisted by locally-based Group Leader Tasha Walker, entertained and enlightened a packed classroom.  

Every seat was occupied for the workshop that included a video, power point, and discussion.  Besides defining principles and techniques for solving disputes with non-violent methods, Kathrein told relevant stories from his own experiences that were quite stirring, including a time he defused an armed robbery just by smiling and speaking kindly to men who were robbing a coffee shop at which he once worked.  Mr. Kathrein conducts these workshops all over the country and did another successful one at Iolani last year.  Student reaction to last week's workshop was very positive.  Junior Nash Witten, for example, said, "It was a very interesting and worthwhile presentation. I wish it could have been longer." Those sentiments were echoed by sophomore Makana Gomes. 

Kathrein's presence on campus is expected to be an annual event.  Next year's workshop will be a full-length version of this year's condensed workshop.   Please keep an eye out for more information during the 2006-2007 school year.  You can also find out more about Future Leaders for Peace at www.futureleadersforpeace.org.  For more about the Iolani Peace Institute, go to www.iolani.org and look under Student Life or e-mail the Institute's co-directors at pgreenhi@iolani.org or jstepien@iolani.org.