Peacebuilding
We are Peacebuilders! Peace is so much more than the absence of violence or the looming threat of war. True peace – positive peace – is transformative. It’s the foundation where individuals thrive and communities flourish. It’s about equipping people, groups, and organizations with the resources and tools to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence and to reduce the conflicts that arise in the first place.
As Rotarians, we are uniquely positioned to lay the groundwork for positive peace in countless, often unrecognized, ways. Together, we have the power to transform Rotary from a collection of service clubs into a global force for peacebuilding!
Below, you’ll find carefully selected resources and tools designed to help Rotarians, clubs, and districts amplify our impact in peacebuilding efforts. The time to act is now – explore how you can be part of this transformative mission and take the next step towards building a more peaceful world.
Suzanne Bragdon | Peacebuilder Coordinator
Suzanne Bragdon served as District Governor in 2022-23 (D5160) and is currently serving as a Rotary Positive Peace Activator for North America and the Caribbean. As a retired city manager and aspiring screenwriter who sees the world through stories, she is excited to share the latest on Rotary’s peace-building efforts, and the role we all play in building a more stable, resilient and peaceful world.
Larry Horton | Peacebuilding Coordinator
Larry joined a satellite club in Phoenix in 2011 and led its transformation into the Rotary Club of Camelback Crossroads in August 2024. He served as District Governor in D5495, northern Arizona, in 2022-23. After retiring from law enforcement and commercial real estate, Larry became an IEP Positive Peace Activator through Rotary International’s partnership with the Institute for Economics & Peace, receiving training at RI headquarters in Evanston. As a Positive Peace Activator, Larry distinguishes between negative peace and positive peace, explaining the latter as attitudes, institutions, and structures that sustain peaceful societies, and discusses the eight Pillars of Positive Peace. He encourages Rotarians to leverage the IEP/Rotary partnership to align their peace building efforts with Rotary’s Area of Focus, offering workshops, training, and presentations to promote positive peace. Larry also advocates for public peace promotion, such as establishing Peace Poles or conducting peace symposia, and helps Rotarians develop a personal positive peace ethic for everyday life.