Dr. Riane Eisler, JD, PhD(h), is a systems scientist, futurist, and cultural historian internationally known for her groundbreaking work on the roots of violence and the path to partnership. She is the author of numerous influential books, including The Chalice and the Blade—now in its 57th U.S. printing and translated into 27 languages—The Real Wealth of Nations, hailed by Desmond Tutu as “a template for the better world we have been so urgently seeking,” and Nurturing Our Humanity, co-authored with anthropologist Douglas P. Fry.
Recipient of the Distinguished Peace Leadership Award (also awarded to the Dalai Lama), Eisler is President of the Center for Partnership Systems, which applies her research to real-world change, and Editor-in-Chief of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies at the University of Minnesota. She has addressed the United Nations General Assembly, taught at major universities, and advised governments and organizations around the world.
Her pioneering work bridges human rights, gender justice, and systems thinking, offering a powerful framework for building more caring, equitable, and sustainable societies.

Angela Sterrit - MC of the Peace Begins at Home Summit with long hair in a blue suit against a green background

Angela Sterritt will serve as the MC of the Peace Begins at Home Summit. She is an award-winning investigative journalist, broadcaster, and national bestselling author from the Gitxsan Nation on her father’s side and Bell Island, Newfoundland on her mother’s side. For more than a decade she reported at CBC, where she hosted the acclaimed podcast Land Back and earned a Canadian Screen Award for Best Reporter of the Year. Her memoir Unbroken, which investigates the murders and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls, became a national bestseller in 2023 and was nominated for both the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Hilary Weston Writer’s Trust Prize. Her second book, Breakable, will be published in 2026 and explores how Indigenous men and communities are breaking cycles of harmful masculinity.
As a speaker, Sterritt is known for challenging stereotypes, amplifying Indigenous voices, and building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Her TED Talk on smashing stereotypes of Indigenous people reflects her broader mission: reshaping narratives, advancing justice, and inspiring change.

A man in a blue traditional shirt speaking into a microphone.

Joseph Akilimali is a Congolese peacebuilder and youth advocate who has dedicated his career to empowering young people as agents of peace. He is co‑founder and Executive Secretary of Youth for Peace DRC and serves as co‑chair of the Congolese Youth, Peace & Security (YPS) Coalition.
Joseph was instrumental in mobilizing over 50,000 young people across all 26 provinces of the DRC, leading a participatory advocacy and trauma‑healing campaign that gathered input to inform the first National Action Plan on Youth, Peace & Security (NAP‑YPS), officially adopted by the government on August 12, 2022. Under his leadership, the coalition engaged diverse youth populations—including people living with disabilities, young people in displacement camps, and members of political parties—through SMS, WhatsApp, KoboCollect surveys, and in‑person workshops.
Since 2021, Joseph has co‑chaired the Congolese YPS Coalition, bridging youth‑led platforms and government bodies to effectively institutionalize the UNSCR 2250 youth, peace, and security agenda. He currently works from Bukavu as Emergency Program Officer with Christian Aid DRC, where he supports young people in crisis‑affected regions through peacebuilding and resilience initiatives.

Mursalina Amin is the Founder and President of Girls Toward Leadership (G2L), an organization dedicated to empowering Afghan girls through leadership development, STEM education, and community engagement.
A passionate advocate for youth and women’s empowerment, she has spoken on global platforms, including the United Nations, where she has served as a speaker, panelist, and moderator addressing the urgent challenges faced by Afghan women and girls.
Mursalina brings a powerful combination of lived experience and visionary leadership, inspiring meaningful change in underserved communities. A recent graduate of the University of Tulsa, she is committed to deepening her work in international advocacy and building a more just and inclusive world.

A woman with medium-dark skin, shoulder-length black dreadlocks, wearing hoop earrings and a black blazer, smiling against a black background.

Dr. Ayo Ayoola-Amale is an attorney, conflict resolution consultant, and feminist peace activist committed to advancing human rights, nonviolence, and community development. With expertise in gender equality and girls’ education, she bridges legal practice with a deep commitment to social justice and inclusive peacebuilding.
Ayo’s innovative approaches often take the form of artistic expression and new frameworks that promote sustainable development. She holds advanced degrees in Law, Peace and Conflict Studies, and Restorative Practices, and brings a nuanced understanding of conflict dynamics and systemic change.
She is the founder of First Conflict Resolution Services Inc., the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom–Ghana, and International Cities of Peace–Lagos. An award-winning mediator, poet, and author, her book Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Justice in Ghana is widely recognized as a leading resource in the field.

Gary Barker, PhD, has been a global voice in engaging men and boys in advancing gender equality, gender justice, and positive masculinities for three decades. He is the CEO and co-founder of Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, a major contributor to international activism on male allyship in gender equality.
He was the first Executive Director of Instituto Promundo in Brazil, where he led pioneering work on healthy masculinities. He is also the co-founder of MenCare, a global campaign active in more than 50 countries that promotes men’s involvement as caregivers, and co-founder of MenEngage, a global alliance of more than 700 NGOs.
Dr. Barker co-created the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) — the largest survey of men’s attitudes and behaviors related to violence, fatherhood, and gender equality. He also leads Equimundo’s State of the World’s Fathers reports, a major advocacy platform for the global care economy.
He has coordinated Equimundo’s partnerships in conflict-affected settings, including community-based trauma support and restorative justice initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Balkans, the U.S., and Brazil. He advises the United Nations, the World Bank, national governments, international foundations, and corporations on strategies to engage men and boys in promoting gender equality.
In 2017, he was named by Apolitical as one of the 20 most influential people in gender policy worldwide. He is an Ashoka Fellow and a recipient of the Voices of Solidarity Award from Vital Voices for his work to engage men for gender equality.
Dr. Barker holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and serves as a Research Affiliate at the Center for Social Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal. He lived in Latin America for nearly 20 years and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Sarah Benson is the Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Aid, Ireland, where she leads national efforts to end domestic violence and support women and children affected by abuse.
Previously, she served as CEO of Ruhama for nine years, working with women impacted by prostitution and sex trafficking, and has also managed Ireland’s National Domestic Violence Helpline.
With extensive experience across the community and voluntary sector, both in Ireland and abroad, she has championed the rights of marginalized women and youth throughout her career.
An accomplished leader in the field of gender equality and human rights, Sarah has held prominent governance roles, including Chairperson of C.A.P. International and Vice Chairperson of the National Women’s Council of Ireland. She currently serves as a Ministerial appointee to the Boards of the Courts Service of Ireland and Cuan.
Sarah holds degrees from University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and University College Cork. She remains a passionate advocate for social justice, equality, and the protection of women and girls from violence.

Close-up of an older Asian man wearing glasses, with a serious expression, dressed in a suit and tie.

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury is a distinguished career diplomat who has served in numerous high-level international roles, including Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, President of the UN Security Council, President of the UNICEF Executive Board, UN Under-Secretary-General, and Senior Special Advisor to the President of the UN General Assembly.
He is the recipient of numerous international honors, including the U Thant Peace Award, the UNESCO Gandhi Gold Medal for Culture of Peace, the Spirit of the UN Award, the University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor’s Medal for Global Leadership for Peace, the Gandhi-King-Ikeda Community Builders Prize (2015), the Global Women’s Peace Award (2018), the Robert Muller Global Peace Prize (2020), the inaugural Global Citizen Award (2021), and the Visionary Leadership Award (2021), presented by civil society organizations.
Ambassador Chowdhury’s legacy is marked by two historic initiatives:
- In March 2000, as President of the UN Security Council, he led the political and conceptual breakthrough that resulted in the groundbreaking UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security.
- In September 1999, he played a key role in the adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace by the UN General Assembly.
In recognition of his contributions to peace, women's rights, and the strengthening of the United Nations, he has been awarded honorary doctorates by Soka University (Japan, 2003), Saint Peter’s University (USA, 2012), and the University of La Verne (USA, 2021).
He is the founder of the New York-based civil society coalition, The Global Movement for The Culture of Peace (GMCoP), and continues to advocate for peace, justice, and inclusive development worldwide.

A man with curly gray hair smiling, wearing a dark turtleneck and a gray sweater, standing indoors in front of a wooden wall.

Dr. Richard Davidson is a neuroscientist, author, and pioneering researcher who has dedicated his life to understanding the science of well-being and the power of the human mind to change.
A longtime professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he is best known for his groundbreaking work on the impact of meditation and compassion on the brain.
He is the founder of the Center for Healthy Minds, a research institute that explores how mental training can cultivate emotional resilience, attention, kindness, and flourishing in individuals and communities. His decades-long collaboration with the Dalai Lama has helped bridge the worlds of science and contemplative wisdom, bringing mindfulness into classrooms, clinics, and everyday life.
Named one of the world’s most influential people by TIME magazine, Dr. Davidson has been widely recognized for reshaping how we think about mental health. His work continues to inspire a global movement toward inner awareness, emotional healing, and human connection.

Photograph of Ela Gandhi, South African peace activist and speaker at the Peace Begins at Home Summit, holding a microphone and speaking while seated. Granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, wearing a rust-colored shawl and glasses.

Ela Gandhi was born on 1 July 1940 at the historic Phoenix Settlement in Inanda, South Africa. She holds an Honours degree in Social Work from the University of South Africa and dedicated over 20 years to the fields of child welfare and career education.
From 1973 to 1982, Ela was placed under house arrest and subjected to banning orders for her anti-apartheid activism. Despite the risks, she continued her work in social justice and community development.
In 1993, she participated in the Convention for a Democratic South Africa and later served on the Transitional Executive Council. In 1994, she was elected to the first democratic Parliament of South Africa.
Ela Gandhi has received numerous awards from community organizations as well as from the South African and Indian governments. She holds four honorary doctorates from the Durban University of Technology, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Shridhar University in Pilani, India, and the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom.
She currently serves as Trustee and Chairperson of the Gandhi Development Trust, the Phoenix Settlement Trust, and the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Trust, and is also Co-President of Religions for Peace International.

Sheku Mohamed Gassimu Jr. is the Partnership & Program Director at OneVillage Partners, a community-led development leader in Sierra Leone. With over eight years of experience at OVP, he designs and oversees programs that empower rural communities through participatory planning, leadership development, and women’s and youth-centered initiatives rooted in local wisdom and ownership.
Since joining OVP in 2014 as a community facilitator, Sheku worked his way through roles as program officer, supervisor, manager, and now leads nationwide program strategy and partnership engagement across Sierra Leone. Holding a BSc (Hons) in Sociology from Njala University, he applies academic insight to community-based action, championing development initiatives anchored in consensus and local leadership.
Under Sheku’s leadership, OneVillage Partners has expanded programming in agriculture, women’s financial literacy (NOW program), infrastructure, governance, and clean water—reaching tens of thousands through initiatives that only communities define and drive In 2025, he continues building partnerships and scaling locally owned impact across Kono and beyond, motivating community members to shape and sustain their own wellbeing trajectories.

Portrait of a man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a checkered shirt and dark fleece jacket, seated outdoors with greenery in the background

Franz Jedlicka is a sociologist and peace researcher whose work explores how societies can move beyond violence to cultivate lasting peace. Writing his dissertation at the University of Vienna, he investigates the deep connections between legislation, culture, and nonviolence.
His research began with a focus on corporal punishment, examining how the widespread use of violence against children shapes the peacefulness of entire nations. This inquiry expanded into a broader study of violence still permitted by law in many parts of the world, leading to the creation of the Culture of Violence Scale—most recently applied in the Culture of Violence Index 2025.
From this work emerged the concept of the Legislation–Peace Nexus: the insight that banning all forms of violence is essential if countries wish to achieve sustainable peace.
Beyond research, Franz advocates for practical pathways to build nonviolent societies through his “Peace Mainstreaming” approach. These strategies include promoting caring masculinities, integrating nonviolent conflict resolution into education, and reshaping cultural norms that sustain domination.
Through his scholarship and advocacy, Franz calls attention to the structural roots of violence—and offers a vision of peace grounded in equity, care, and the dignity of every human being.

Portrait of a woman with dark hair tied back, wearing traditional jewelry and a dark sweater, standing in front of stone arches.

Dr. Lyla June Johnston (aka Lyla June) is a poet, musician, and human ecologist who weaves Indigenous wisdom with contemporary thought to inspire healing across cultures, communities, and ecosystems.
Of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne), and European ancestry, she blends ceremony, scholarship, and song to uplift pathways of restoration rooted in ancestral knowledge.
Her work spans hip-hop, poetry, acoustic music, and public speaking—reaching audiences around the world with powerful messages on Indigenous resilience, youth empowerment, land stewardship, and intergenerational healing.
With degrees from Stanford and a doctorate in Indigenous food systems, her research illuminates how pre-colonial Native nations cultivated abundant, sustainable ecologies across the Americas.
Through every performance and presentation, Lyla calls us to remember our sacred relationship to the Earth and one another. Her life’s work is a prayer for reconnection, resilience, and a deeper love—for Creator, for community, and for the living world.

Licypriya Kangujam, a young climate activist, stands smiling in front of a large wooden United Nations emblem. She wears a light blue top and a conference badge, with her hands clasped in front of her.

Licypriya Kangujam is a climate activist from Manipur, India, and one of the world’s youngest voices for environmental action. Since 2018, she has campaigned for stronger climate laws, cleaner air, and compulsory climate education in schools.
At just 11, she addressed world leaders at the UN Climate Conference (COP25) in Madrid, urging urgent action to protect future generations. She is the founder of The Child Movement, a youth-led initiative empowering children to demand accountability from governments and institutions.
Through her fearless advocacy, Licypriya reminds us that children are not only the inheritors of the planet’s future, but also powerful leaders shaping it today.

Scarlett Lewis is the founder of the nonprofit Choose Love Movement, created in honor of her six-year-old son, Jesse, who was tragically killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. In the days following his death, Scarlett discovered a message Jesse had left on their kitchen chalkboard: “Nurturing, Healing, Love.” These three words—part of the definition of compassion across all cultures—became the foundation of a powerful formula: courage + gratitude + forgiveness + compassion-in-action.
This message sparked a global movement that now reaches millions of children and adults. The Choose Love Movement offers free, comprehensive social-emotional learning programs for schools, homes, and communities, teaching critical life skills such as emotional regulation, resilience, and interpersonal connection.
Scarlett is the author of Nurturing Healing Love and From Sandy Hook to the World, and has shared her story and message on international stages and media platforms. A Forbes 50 Over 50 honoree and award-winning speaker, she is a passionate advocate for creating safer, more connected communities—one thoughtful choice at a time.

A smiling woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a blue blazer and patterned blouse, standing against a neutral background.

Refilwe Mokoena is a development leader with more than 16 years of experience advancing social impact across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. As Head of the Child Safety & Protection Programme at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, she leads initiatives that strengthen child protection systems in homes, schools, and communities—environments where children live, learn, and play.
Previously, Refilwe served as Social Impact Director at GVI and Acting Director of Programmes at the Graça Machel Trust. She holds a Master of Management with distinction in Public & Development Sector Monitoring & Evaluation and is known for her data-driven, collaborative approach to building safe, nurturing ecosystems that uphold children’s rights and help them thrive.

Portrait of Na'kuset, a woman with dark hair wearing a white top and a decorative hair clip, looking to the side with a thoughtful expression

Na’kuset is a Cree Indigenous activist, storyteller, and community builder whose life journey weaves resilience with leadership. Born in Thompson, Manitoba, and raised through the trauma of the Sixties Scoop, she rediscovered her ancestral roots as a young adult—reclaiming her name, identity, and status within her Cree community of La Ronge,
Building on her lived experience, Na’kuset earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Relations from Concordia University and began working as a volunteer and front-line advocate at the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal. She later became the Executive Director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, where she has fiercely championed the rights and safety of Indigenous women and families.
Na’kuset co-founded Resilience Montreal, a grassroots outreach initiative supporting unhoused Indigenous people in Montreal’s Cabot Square. She has also developed a vital cultural guide for non-Indigenous adoptive and foster parents of Indigenous children—promoting deeper reconciliation and understanding within family life.
Her life and advocacy have been spotlighted across media: the documentary Becoming Nakuset, storytelling on Indigenous Power, and advisory work on Little Bird, a TV series inspired by her own personal experiences.
A sought-after voice on reconciliation and social justice, Na’kuset has received multiple distinctions—including nominations as Woman of the Year (2014) and the Paul‑Gérin‑Lajoie Award for Diversity (2021)—and was inducted onto Montreal’s Human Rights Walkway in 2023.

Close-up of smiling woman with gray hair, wearing pearl earrings, outdoors with green leaves in the background.

Helena Norberg-Hodge is an author, filmmaker, and pioneer of the new economy movement. As founder of Local Futures and producer of the award-winning documentary The Economics of Happiness, she has spent more than four decades working with communities—particularly in Ladakh—to resist the damaging effects of globalization and revitalize traditional knowledge systems.
A recipient of the Right Livelihood Award (often called the “Alternative Nobel Prize”), Helena’s work powerfully connects ecological sustainability with economic justice and deep cultural renewal.

Chaimae Ribani in black suit standing in front of auditorium

Chaïmae Ribani is a Moroccan Riffian and Arab feminist, human rights advocate, and peacebuilder. She currently serves as Programme Officer at the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), where she advances feminist leadership and global justice through grantmaking and advocacy. With a background in law and diplomacy, she works at the intersection of human security, decolonization, and gender justice.
Her career spans collaborations with organizations across the MENA region, the U.S., and Europe, contributing to initiatives such as Morocco’s Parity Petition, the 16 Days of Activism campaign, and UNFPA’s Telling Women Differently project. A former fellow of both the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen and the Swedish Institute’s Leadership Lab, she has published research on feminist foreign policy and systemic change. Through her work, Chaïmae challenges traditional paradigms of power and representation, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities in global decision-making.

Zainab Salbi is a humanitarian, author, and media host who has dedicated her life to advancing women’s rights and global freedom. At the age of 23, she founded Women for Women International, an organization that has helped over 460,000 women survivors of war rebuild their lives through education, skills training, and financial support.
She is also the co-founder of Daughters for Earth, a philanthropic fund and movement that supports, celebrates, and mobilizes women to protect and restore the Earth. Throughout her career, Zainab has brought attention to the power of women’s voices in peacebuilding, environmental justice, and human rights.
Named to the TIME100 Impact List, she has been honored by Oprah Winfrey, People, and Harper’s Bazaar for her visionary leadership and lasting impact on women worldwide.

A smiling elderly woman with short, layered blonde hair wearing red glasses, a white blouse with ruffled collar, and a colorful beaded necklace.

Dr. Edit Schlaffer is a pioneering social scientist, author, and activist, and the founder of Women Without Borders and the global SAVE (Sisters Against Violent Extremism) network. With decades of experience in conflict-affected regions, she has dedicated her work to empowering women as agents of change—elevating their voices in the prevention of violence, radicalization, and extremism.
Through grassroots initiatives, policy engagement, and global advocacy, Dr. Schlaffer has championed the critical role of mothers and families in building more resilient and peaceful communities around the world.

Young man smiling with a blurred background of lights and buildings at night.

Eli Stone is a Gen‑Z marketing entrepreneur and storyteller whose content explores mental health, positive masculinity, and what it means to grow up in the digital age.

He built a combined following of approximately 1.2 million across TikTok and Instagram by early 2023, using authentic short‑form storytelling to foster connection and spark conversations around young men’s wellbeing.
Born and raised in Centennial, Colorado, Eli earned a degree in Business Management with emphases in Strategy & Entrepreneurship and Leadership from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2021, where he co‑founded his first digital marketing firm—later evolving into Bouta, a Gen‑Z consulting agency bridging brands to younger audiences.
Based in Los Angeles, Eli has launched influencer‑driven ventures including content creation agencies and events; he’s spoken about burnout, mental health, and community in creative spaces while also helping brands engage authentically with Gen‑Z consumers.
Currently, he is particularly focused on destigmatizing peer mental health and promoting positive masculinity among young men.

Dr. Yalda T. Uhls is a developmental psychologist, author, and former film executive who has dedicated her career to shaping media that supports the healthy development of young people. After nearly two decades at major studios like MGM and Sony, she turned her focus to research, earning a Ph.D. from UCLA to study how digital media impacts youth well-being.
She is the founder of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, a groundbreaking organization that brings together researchers and creatives to build more inclusive, authentic narratives for the next generation. Her work has helped reimagine how stories are told—on screens big and small—to reflect the realities and needs of today’s children and teens.
A trusted voice at the intersection of entertainment and child psychology, Dr. Uhls teaches at UCLA and advises leading organizations including the NAACP, YouTube, and Common Sense Media. Her insights have been featured in The New York Times, NPR, and Time, and her book Media Moms and Digital Dads continues to guide parents navigating the digital age.

Portrait of Diane Williams smiling against a plain light background, with shoulder-length dark hair and wearing a green patterned blouse.

Diane Marie Williams is the Founder and President of The Source of Synergy Foundation and a pioneering voice in conscious evolution. She co-initiated the Evolutionary Leaders Circle with Deepak Chopra, a global community committed to uplifting humanity through spiritual and social transformation.
Diane served as Founding Chairperson of the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns at the United Nations in New York and later as Co-Chair in Geneva. She is currently a UN Representative for the Academy for Future Science, a Board Member of the Garden of Light, and serves on the Boards of Advisors for Humanity’s Team and the Interstellar Community Foundation.

Diane also co-facilitates the Contact and Conscious Evolution Synergy Circle and its Inner Focus Group within the Evolutionary Leaders Circle.
A contributing author to the Gold Nautilus Award-winning book Our Moment of Choice, she has received numerous honors including the Spirit of the United Nations Award, the Golden Rule Award, the PEMAC Peace Award, and recognition as one of the Emily Fund’s Heroes for a Better World.
Diane will be acting as the facilitator of the Solutions Showcase at the Peace Begins at Home Summit.

Portrait of Dr Suzanne Zeedyk in a red sweater smiling against a plain light background, with blonde curly hair

Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk is a research scientist, developmental psychologist, and founder of Connected Baby. For more than 25 years, she has been a leading voice in deepening public understanding of how early relationships shape human resilience, empathy, and wellbeing.
A former senior lecturer at the University of Dundee, Suzanne has dedicated her career to bridging science and society. She is widely recognized for translating cutting-edge research in infant brain development and attachment into accessible insights for parents, educators, policymakers, and communities.
Suzanne is the author of Sabre Toothed Tigers & Teddy Bears and co-author of Consolations of Kindness, and she has advised governments, charities, and grassroots organizations across the UK and internationally. Through her talks, workshops, and films, she has reached thousands worldwide, inspiring new ways of thinking about connection, trauma, and the power of care.
She also convenes conversations on cultural change, exploring how childhood experiences ripple out into education, justice, economics, and social policy.

Close-up of a man with short hair and a beard, looking at the camera with a neutral expression

Jackson Katz, Ph.D is an educator, author, and activist internationally renowned for his pioneering work in the field of gender violence prevention and critical media literacy. For more than three decades, he has been a leading voice in engaging men in promoting gender equality and preventing violence against women.
He is the co-founder of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program, one of the longest-running and most influential gender violence prevention initiatives in North America and beyond. Jackson also founded MVP Strategies, which has trained leaders in the military, sports, education, and corporate sectors worldwide. His work has helped to shape institutional approaches to addressing bullying, sexual harassment, and domestic violence.
A dynamic public speaker, Jackson has delivered talks in all 50 U.S. states and on every continent except Antarctica. His TEDx talk “Violence Against Women—It’s a Men’s Issue” has been viewed by millions, making it one of the most widely watched talks on gender-based violence.
He is the author of The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help and Man Enough? Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and the Politics of Presidential Masculinity, and is a contributor to numerous documentaries and publications on masculinity, media, and violence.
Through his teaching, advocacy, and writing, Jackson Katz continues to challenge entrenched norms of gender and power, inspiring a cultural shift toward respect, equity, and accountability.

At the start of the day, the Summit will feature a Transformance — a short activation with music, created by Gary Malkin in collaboration with Sarah McCrum.
Gary, a seven-time Emmy® award-winning composer, producer, and performer, has dedicated his work to catalyzing healing through music-driven experiences. Transformances are exceptionally powerful for helping us land in the moment, no matter where we are in the world. They invite us to shift our mood and energy, connect with our true selves, and open to a deeper, heart-touching inner experience.
Beginning with this shared musical grounding will unify participants across time zones and cultures, creating the presence we need to carry us into the day.

At the close of the Summit, we’ll be joined by the acclaimed musical duo Rising Appalachia, performing Wider Circles as a powerful finale to the day. Their music will carry us out of the conversations and into community — a reminder that peace is something we create together.
As they share:
“We believe peace begins in the everyday, within our homes, our relationships, our stories. The Peace Begins at Home Summit invites us to shift from patterns of domination toward partnership, and that echoes deeply with what we strive to do through our music: to uplift, to heal, and to build connection. We are honored to join this gathering and bring our voices into that circle.” — Rising Appalachia

Voices of Change

“We cannot expect peace in the world until we address the hidden foundations of violence — the structures of domination in our families and communities.
This Summit brings those conversations to the forefront.”

Voices of Change

“We cannot expect peace in the world until we address the hidden foundations of violence — the structures of domination in our families and communities. This Summit brings those conversations to the forefront.”

“We cannot expect peace in the world until we address the hidden foundations of violence — the structures of domination in our families and communities.
This Summit brings those conversations to the forefront.”