About the Institute
What is Peacebuilding?
Peace is more than the absence of war, conflict and violence and it requires the wide and complex field of peacebuilding to ensure that it exists. The field of peacebuilding was developed in response to the world’s most severe cases of direct and structural (indirect) violence. It aims to prevent, reduce, transform and help people recover from all forms of violence, while at the same time it empowers them to foster relationships at all levels in society that sustain them and their environment.
Peacebuilding:
Peacebuilding:
- Is not soft or idealistic
- Is not the same as conflict transformation
- Is not only for post-war societies
- Is not based primarily on Western ideas
- Does not avoid conflict or ignore structural forms of violence and injustice.
Peacebuilding is practiced not only at an international level in war zones or in countries that are in the post-war process, but also at a local level, in our own communities.*
History of the Institute
In 2002, the Plowshares Collaborative was founded by Earlham, Goshen and Manchester Colleges and funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. Out of this collaboration, the Indianapolis Peace Institute (formerly Indianapolis Peace House) was born. The Institute launched its first off-campus study program in 2004. This program provides students from around the United States with an opportunity to participate in rigorous academics. Students also engage in practical peacebuilding, linking these efforts to their chosen major(s) or career interests. The Institute also works to build peace in Indianapolis through our partnerships with other community-based organizations, government entities and businesses.Our Mission
To provide dynamic academic and field experiences for students, across various disciplinesTo teach conflict transformation skills
To develop leadership skills
To be an educational partner with other peacebuilding initiatives in our community
To engage questions of values, faith, beliefs, and ethical practice in peacebuilding
Board of Directors
Doug Bennett | President, Earlham CollegeNelson Bingham | Vice Chair, Provost, Earlham College
Jim Brenneman | President, Goshen College
Jan Clark | Vice President for Leadership Development & HR, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis
Richard Hamilton | Retired Minister, United Methodist Church
Peter M. Michael, Chair | Director of Grants Administration, Clarian Health, Methodist-IU-Riley
Kim Overdyck, Executive Committee | Executive Director, Indianapolis Peace Institute
Beth Sweitzer-Riley | Vice President for Student Development, Manchester College
Alicia S. Roberts | Assistant Manager of Philanthropy, USA Funds
Martha Yoder | Secretary/Treasurer | Family Physician, HealthNet People’s Health Center
*Schirch, Lisa. The Little Book of Strategic Peacebuilding: A vision and framework for peace with justice, 2004
Kim Overdyck brings diverse theoretical and practical experiences in the field of peacebuilding to the position of Executive Director. She has a Masters of Arts (MA) in International Peace Studies, with a concentration in International Human Rights Law, from the University of Notre Dame, IN and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. In 2001, Kim was admitted as an Advocate (Litigator), with right of appearance of the High Court of South Africa. She has extensive experience in the investigation of specialized crimes, violence prevention, mentoring of college students and has worked in diverse and impoverished areas.
Laura Harms, Associate Director
Laura Harms brings enthusiasm, experience and a wealth of practical and theoretical understandings of peacebuilding to the position of Associate Director. She has a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and is a Peace and Global Studies graduate from Earlham College. She has built a repertoire of knowledge and experience in fostering personal transformation, unlocking leadership potential, and structuring participatory community processes in domestic and international settings. She is an experienced mediator, facilitator and trainer in a range of family and community issues and a qualified facilitator of the Strengths Deployment Inventory and Teen Talking Circles.
Jennifer Burchett, Recruitment and Marketing Coordinator
Jennifer Burchett combines in-depth experience with the non-profit sector with her proven leadership and organizational skills in the Recruitment and Marketing Coordinator position. Her history of working on college and high school campuses is an asset to her goals with the Institute. She successfully pursued her Bachelor's Degree at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, with an emphasis in Public Relations.
Kate Williams, Special Projects Coordinator
Katharine Williams brings a variety of competencies to the position of Special Projects Coordinator. Before coming to the Institute, she gained experience as a manager and administrator in the service industry. She gained proficiency in a number of organizational methods, and enjoys employing them in her present work. She pursued her Bachelor’s Degree at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Humanistic Studies.
Image Credit: ©Michael Vaughn Photography.
Martha Yoder | Secretary/Treasurer | Family Physician, HealthNet People’s Health Center
*Schirch, Lisa. The Little Book of Strategic Peacebuilding: A vision and framework for peace with justice, 2004
Our Staff
Kim Overdyck, Executive DirectorKim Overdyck brings diverse theoretical and practical experiences in the field of peacebuilding to the position of Executive Director. She has a Masters of Arts (MA) in International Peace Studies, with a concentration in International Human Rights Law, from the University of Notre Dame, IN and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. In 2001, Kim was admitted as an Advocate (Litigator), with right of appearance of the High Court of South Africa. She has extensive experience in the investigation of specialized crimes, violence prevention, mentoring of college students and has worked in diverse and impoverished areas.
Laura Harms, Associate Director
Laura Harms brings enthusiasm, experience and a wealth of practical and theoretical understandings of peacebuilding to the position of Associate Director. She has a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and is a Peace and Global Studies graduate from Earlham College. She has built a repertoire of knowledge and experience in fostering personal transformation, unlocking leadership potential, and structuring participatory community processes in domestic and international settings. She is an experienced mediator, facilitator and trainer in a range of family and community issues and a qualified facilitator of the Strengths Deployment Inventory and Teen Talking Circles.
Jennifer Burchett, Recruitment and Marketing Coordinator
Jennifer Burchett combines in-depth experience with the non-profit sector with her proven leadership and organizational skills in the Recruitment and Marketing Coordinator position. Her history of working on college and high school campuses is an asset to her goals with the Institute. She successfully pursued her Bachelor's Degree at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, with an emphasis in Public Relations.
Kate Williams, Special Projects Coordinator
Katharine Williams brings a variety of competencies to the position of Special Projects Coordinator. Before coming to the Institute, she gained experience as a manager and administrator in the service industry. She gained proficiency in a number of organizational methods, and enjoys employing them in her present work. She pursued her Bachelor’s Degree at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Humanistic Studies.
Image Credit: ©Michael Vaughn Photography.