Monday, May 11th,   6pm-8pm

MLK Library Room 221

Trauma Healing as Practice

Dr. Al Fuertes will discuss about the nature and dynamics of trauma healing as a vital component in peacebuilding and conflict resolution/transformation. The presentation will include a thorough overview of the complex issues surrounding trauma and healing, and the possibility of reconciliation - particularly in settings of protracted, violent conflict, including natural disaster. Individual and societal resilience will be also highlighted.

Dr. Fuertes specializes in community-based trauma healing as an integral component in peacebuilding and conflict transformation. He travels extensively around the world, particularly in places affected by war, armed conflict, and natural disaster. Al works with government, religious, military and community leaders as well as NGO development workers, school administrators, teachers, youth, refugees and internally displaced persons. Al's doctoral dissertation is titled "Community-based Warviews, Resiliency and Healing among the Internally Displaced Persons in Mindanao and the Karen Refugees on the Thai-Burmese Border. Al is a recipient of the 2008 GMU Teaching Excellence Award and the 2001 AT&T Asia-Pacific Leadership Award.