Reflections on the UN

I agree with the notion that the UN, despite its flaws, is our best hope for world peace long term - so we need to work together on the flaws to help it function better and continue to promote peaceful relations, human rights, etc. around the world.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apps-un-commentary/commentary-an-imperfect-un-is-still-the-worlds-best-hope-idUSKCN1M51TF

The article below about Trump is very sad... We can’t reject globalism - the world is already too far into globalization and its effects. And for other countries to return to patriotism, like he is suggesting we do, would only fuel fires of difference instead of solidarity. We’re all human beings. Let’s try to get along...

http://time.com/5406130/we-reject-globalism-president-trump-took-america-first-to-the-united-nations/

I just discovered the United Nations Association of Centre County. The UN Association of America exists to educate Americans about the mission of the UN and promote world peace by trying to maintain and increase the existence of the UN’s work in the world. I’m excited to learn more about this local chapter!

http://www.unacentrecountypa.org/

Considering I would like to do work for UNESCO and the U.N. in the future, I will likely get involved in the work of this local organization. :)

My first academic publication! :)

I recently published a paper about my research on a social justice theatre program called Theatre of Witness in Northern Ireland in the Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education. It's a special issue on community arts programs. The link for the journal and the abstract are below. The title of my article is: The Transformative and Healing Power of Theatre of Witness".

https://cjsae.library.dal.ca/index.php/cjsae/issue/view/360

Abstract

This article describes the healing and transformative effects of a social justice theatre program called Theatre of Witness on participants and community members in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It begins with a review of relevant literature, including sections about artistic ways of knowing, transformative learning through theatre and storytelling, and theatre for peacebuilding. The research is still in process; however, the findings have some similarities to research done on other social justice theatre programs used for peacebuilding. The key themes of this program are authentic, vulnerable storytelling through testimonial theatre, and a process of empathy development by humanizing the “other.”

Black and White

I saw this photo and it made me think, wouldn’t it be nice if Black and White people could exist together like black and white kitties? There’s no difference between black and white fur or skin color, except all the racial stuff that’s become associated around skin color over the centuries. I wish we could erase all that and just be human together, like these kitties are being kitties together.... 

Teach Peace! :)

"Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding."

- Albert Einstein

About Me :)

Jennifer Blackburn Miller
Dual-Title Doctoral Candidate in 

Lifelong Learning and Adult Education
& Comparative and International Education

The Pennsylvania State University

My Personal Website:

http://joyfuljennifer.com

My personal mantra:

“I am an instrument in the symphony of life. May my life be an uplifting song, and may I make the world a better place.” - Jennifer Blackburn Miller :)