Women's Leadership in Reconciliation & Peacemaking: "The Next Generation" (WFWP USA)

Written By: Angie Buczynski

How Young Women Seek to Contribute to Peace: GWPN “The Next Generation”

The Global Women’s Peace Network USA (GWPN), a project of Women’s Federation for World Peace, celebrated Women’s History Month with its second “Women’s Leadership in Reconciliation and Peacemaking” speakers forum. The theme centered on uplifting “The Next Generation” of women peace leaders. The forum featured two exceptional speakers from diverse backgrounds, a calligraphy performance, breakout sessions for reflection and networking, as well as commentary on the Mother of Peace memoir. The program took place on March 26, with over 81 attending the session live.

Angelika Selle, president of Women’s Federation for World Peace USA and Global Women’s Peace Network National Chair, moderated the program and introduced the session: “Women are needed now more than ever to bring changes to the table. We feel that in the peace culture we are trying to establish, we need a new type of leadership: a paradigm where the masculine and feminine are on equal footing, working together to harmonize, enhance each other’s strengths, and provide a place for the next generation to grow up in security and support.” Thus for this event we turned to the next generation of young women to find out how they feel and how to contribute to peace and better the environment.

Panelist Elizabeth Yang, Founder of the Law and Mediation Offices of Elizabeth Yang and an author, began the session with her encouraging presentation entitled “Leadership from the Inside Out.” Sharing from her experiences as a mother and entrepreneur, she acknowledged the tough balancing act for women in having a family and a career. “As women, we are devoted to our families and to our children. [...] It’s difficult for us to put our careers first.” Elizabeth shared wisdom on the universal value of focusing on positivity, and how “energy flows where your focus goes. There is a positive action that you can take, and there is a negative option that you can take. [...] If you forgive someone and let it go, another door will open for you.”

HanaLyn Colvin, Poet and Spoken Word Artist and Co-host of the Pop and Politics show, continued this engaging session speaking on the “Power of Art for Peace.” She shared experiences of being able to use poetry as a way of building bridges and connecting with people. She addressed how in society there are many contentious issues, especially surrounding racial divisions. However, there is power in connecting through our shared experiences of suffering.

Participants then enjoyed a video from Jiyoung Park, LA based calligrapher and General Manager and Assistant to Director of the Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles Consulate General of the Republic of Korea. Jiyoung created a special video that featured the painting of uplifting words on the faces of young women.

Diane Hack, RN Student, Entrepreneur, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry Coordinator, concluded the event with a touching commentary on Mother of Peace, the memoir of WFWP Co-Founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. From reading the memoir she learned that “the biggest thing is to know who you are and that is very powerful. [...] I think that her power comes from her ability to know who she is as God’s daughter.” She quoted from Mother of Peace: “We all dimly remember our mother’s warm touch. This is the very touch with which I long to embrace all of humankind as Mother of the universe and Mother of peace.”

Participants expressed their gratitude for this powerful session and are looking forward to the rest of this GWPN series.

Reflections from participants:

“Hanalyn’s spoken-word message about peacemaking and reconciliation through connecting and understanding was inspiring because using pain as a tool to bring forth peace and unity can help heal so many hearts. [...] Elizabeth Yang’s discussion of emotional intelligence helped teach the importance of understanding and managing your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress in your life and empathize with others to defuse conflict. Her story was beautiful because it taught the lesson that positivity and love always win.“ -Laylah

“As a participant of the webinar, the advice [from Elizabeth Yang] resonated with me because it reminded me that emotional intelligence becomes useful in any situation. Focusing energy towards solutions provides a peace of mind and gives you an ability to step out of the negativity.” -Carla