Diasporas in Dialogue : Conflict Transformation and Reconciliation in Worldwide Refugee Communities

Diasporas in Dialogue is an indispensable guide for those leading or participating in dialogue processes, especially in ethnically diverse communities. The text offers both a theoretical and practical framework for dialogue, providing insight into the needs, assets and challenges of working in this capacity. The first book to offer structured processes for dialogue with refugee communities - demonstrates how diaspora communities can be engaged in dialogue that heals, reconciles and builds peace Relates the story of the Portland Diaspora Dialogue Project, a remarkable collaboration between university researchers and African community activists committed to helping newly arrived refugees Written accessibly to provide practitioners, academics, and community members with a simple and cogent account of how, step by step, the process of healing communities and re-building can begin Published at a critical time in the face of the worldwide refugee crisis, and offers helpful frameworks and practical tools for dialogue in situations where individuals and communities are displaced This is an indispensable guide for those leading or participating in dialogue processes, especially in ethnically diverse communities. The text offers both a theoretical and practical framework for dialogue, providing insight into the needs, assets and challenges of working in this capacity. The first book to offer structured processes for dialogue with refugee communities - demonstrates how diaspora communities can be engaged in dialogue that heals, reconciles and builds peace, it relates the story of the Portland Diaspora Dialogue Project, a remarkable collaboration between university researchers and African community activists committed to helping newly arrived refugees. Written accessibly to provide practitioners, academics, and community members with a simple and cogent account of how, step by step, the process of healing communities and re-building can begin, it is published at a critical time in the face of the worldwide refugee crisis, and offers helpful frameworks and practical tools for dialogue in situations where individuals and communities are displaced Diasporas in Dialogue integrates Western and traditional community modes of peacebuilding to provide a unique blueprint for working with diaspora populations all over the world. Communities in conflict import the conflict relationship with them when they migrate to a resettlement context, and it is therefore crucial to understand and address these issues. Documenting the landmark Diaspora Dialogue Project (DDP) from first vision to final evaluation, the text reflects the culmination of five years of work conducting needs assessment, dialogue processes, facilitator training, and capacity building in refugee communities rooted in historical conflict. It presents both a theoretical and practical framework for dialogue, offering insight into the many challenges of working in this capacity, along with Dialogue Session templates, worksheets, evaluation tools, and recommendations for addressing issues of recruitment and cultural congruence About the Authors vii About the Partners xi Foreword by Paula Green xiii Foreword by Mette Brogden xvi Preface xviii Acknowledgments xxii 01 Diaspora Stories: Endings 1 02 Diaspora Populations 6 03 The Transition Framework 23 04 Recruitment 40 05 Cultural Considerations 48 06 Dialogue 62 07 Evaluation 131 08 Implications for Policy 169 09 Diaspora Stories: New Beginnings 172 10 Closing Reflections 176 Bibliography 184 Index 194