With seven award-nominated albums to his name, Emmanuel has collaborated and performed alongside musical legends like Lauryn Hill, Peter Gabriel, Ed Sheeran, Joss Stone, and Alicia Keys, marking his presence at global events including Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Concert, Live 8, and the One Concert for the Dalai Lama.

His journey from child soldier to the world stage is captured in his autobiography and the award-winning documentary "Warchild." Emmanuel’s acting talents were also showcased alongside Reese Witherspoon in "The Good Lie”.

As a dedicated peace ambassador, Emmanuel founded Gua Africa (GWA), providing educational support to those affected by war in East Africa, and spearheaded the 'We Want Peace' campaign, securing backing from global figures like George Clooney, Kofi Annan, and Richard Branson. His relentless pursuit of peace has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Vaclav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent and the Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Award.

In this episode of Conflict, Power, and Persuasion, Emmanuel shares lessons and philosophies from his experiences as a refugee and child soldier, as detailed in his new book: My Life is Art. He discusses how life, much like a canvas, is shaped by our actions and experiences, offering his principles for overcoming adversity.

Links:

Emmanuel's Website

Emmanuel's Ted Talk

My Life Is Art

Emmanuel’s Books on Amazon

Gua Africa

We Want Peace Campaign

Movie: The Good Lie

In this podcast, we feature tracks from Emmanuel Jal including 'Warchild' and 'Baaki Wara' from his album 'Warchild.' You can listen to the entire album on Spotify here: Warchild Album on Spotify.

Aqeela Sherrills is a seasoned activist with over three decades of dedication to community safety and healing from violence in underserved areas.

In 1992, he notably brokered a historic peace agreement between the rival gangs, the Bloods and the Crips. He's a nationally acknowledged expert in victim services and community-driven public safety. Aqeela co-founded the Community-Based Public Safety Collective and spearheaded the Newark Community Street Team initiative. Under his leadership, Newark saw a significant drop in its homicide rate from 2015 to 2019.

Beyond his on-ground efforts, Aqeela has advised The International Association of Chiefs of Police and is renowned for his expertise in gang violence intervention, restorative justice, and trauma healing. He's also a skilled facilitator, life coach, and mediator.

In this episode of Conflict, Power, and Persuasion, Aqeela takes us on a journey into the heart of community violence. You can feel his passion as he recounts growing up amidst the turbulent backdrop of the 1980s, in south Los Angeles,  the profound impact it had on him, and his relentless drive to intervene and prevent further community violence.

Aqeela has been a trailblazer in this arena for decades, and he shares invaluable insights on effective strategies and the necessary shifts needed to reshape the narrative surrounding street violence.

Links:

Malcolm X Autobiography

Amer-I-Can

Snowfall Series

Newark Community Street Team

EJ USA Trauma to Trust Initiative 

Community Based Public Safety Collective

Dag Nylander is a Norwegian diplomat, and is currently the director the Norwegian Centre for Conflict Resolution (NOREF). Prior to joining NOREF, he was director and head of the Section for Peace and Reconciliation in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Throughout his career, he has held several diplomatic positions, most notably as a mediator and Norwegian special envoy to Colombia. From 2010 to 2016 he led the Norwegian facilitation of the peace process between the Colombian government and the FARC. This work built on the foundations laid from 2006 to 2008, when he headed the Norwegian embassy in Bogotá. In 2017 he was appointed the United Nations Secretary-General’s personal representative on the border controversy between Venezuela and Guyana. Dag is a jurist by education and has practiced both as a lawyer and an assistant judge.

Some topics discussed include:

• Dag’s insights on the most crucial actions a mediator can take to ensure a successful outcome.
• Crafting a secure environment for participants, considering political, legal, and physical aspects.
• Cultivating trust between the parties and the mediator, and the pivotal role this plays in the mediation's success.
• Navigating the ethical complexities of stakeholder inclusivity while keeping the process efficient.
• The transformative impact of placing victims at the heart of peace talks.
• The necessity of addressing victim justice for enduring peace.
• An exploration of Track Two diplomacy, its effectiveness, and best practices within peace processes.
• And much more

Links:

Out of the Jungle, by Dag Nylander and Tove Gravdal