 Mediators Beyond Borders—Partnering for Peace and Reconciliation
As we become a more globalized society, we are increasing our contacts with people from societies and cultures very different from our own. This raises our chances of interacting with people with whom we may disagree. Along with this, the growth in our population and that of the world improves the chances of conflict among peoples. Mediators Beyond Borders (MBB) “is incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania with its main administrative office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They conduct their peace building activities through their core values of Collaboration, Hope, Reflective Practice, Relationship Building, Sustainability and Transparency.”
The group, a charitable organization, was created in 2005 by a small group of conflict resolution professionals. MBB’s directors, officers, and mediators serve as volunteers and do not receive any compensation for their administrative or professional services. Directors and members expend their personal funds to participate in conferences and activities on behalf of MBB. The services and peace building projects provided by MBB are pro bono. Their membership includes community members, students (with student clubs), and mediators. Student clubs “focus on educational activities in the local community. This includes raising public awareness in the university and surrounding community of peace building processes and initiatives.” Currently three universities—University of Pittsburgh, Washington (MO) University and University of Florida—have chartered clubs with MBB.
Mediators Beyond Borders defines borders as crossing geographical, political, economic, societal, and cultural boundaries. They do not intervene when there is a violent crisis, and they do not consider themselves first responders. Mediators Beyond Borders partners with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other groups that range from political organizations to commercial organizations. Their stated mission is:
Mediators Beyond Borders—Partnering for Peace & Reconciliation brings together experienced mediators to collaborate and participate in mitigating violent conflict and organizing alternative approaches to expressing, negotiating, and resolving political, economic, social, ethnic, and religious differences.
By fostering collaborative initiatives in partnership with local indigenous efforts, Mediators Beyond Borders—Partnering for Peace & Reconciliation assists in building and sustaining local capacity and training in ways that encourage forgiveness and reconciliation and integrate peace with justice.
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