海角社区

With war and conflict filling the daily news, 海角社区 and graduate student Emily Rodriguez made an investment in peacemaking this summer. Rodriguez, who is part of the university鈥檚 English: Literature, Creative Writing, and Social Justice master鈥檚 program, participated in a peacemaking conference in July at the Corrymeela Culture Center in Northern Ireland. Corrymeela is credited with helping to bring about the end to the Northern Island conflict known as the Troubles.

鈥淐orrymeela was one of the communities that provided a safe place for both sides during the Troubles to meet and have difficult discussions, contributing to eventual peace and leading toward the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which brought most of the Troubles to an end,鈥� said Rodriguez. 鈥淛ust shy of 30 years later and we are seeing intermingling on both sides of the conflict and peaceful progress being made, though there is still work to be done.鈥�

Rodriguez was part of a Texas contingent of 20 college students who joined with others from around the world to take part in the conference. 海角社区 Trustee Dr. Antoinette Hill learned about the opportunity through a Rotary Club connection and encouraged 海角社区 to send a representative. Rodriguez鈥檚 participation was supported by the university, and she is using what she learned in her graduate program and will present to various campus groups about the conference. 

鈥淲e gathered in the Cro铆, pronounced 鈥榗ree,鈥� which is the Irish word meaning 鈥榟eart,鈥欌�� said Rodriguez, 鈥淭he building itself is shaped like the cochlea of the inner ear, since the 鈥榟eart of Corrymeela is listening.鈥� We gathered in the Cro铆 repeatedly each day for lectures on conflict resolution, prayer, and community-building activities.鈥�

Seventy people ranging in age from 18 to 64 and representing 15 different countries took part in the conference.

鈥淲e first learned about mimesis, which is part of human nature from an early age, seeing what another person has or is doing and mimicking the characteristics 鈥� just like a child imitating his or her relatives to learn how to behave. We also see mimesis in adults who choose particular products based on seeing other people using those particular products,鈥� said Rodriguez. 鈥淭here were two specific types of mimetic