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Maintaining Global Dialogue
Newsletter of UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives
Issue 35 – Summer 2026 |
GPII Presents: Memories From Ground Zero - Stories of Resilience and Remembrance |
Sunday, September 27, 2026 from 3:00 – 3:45 P.M. EDT
Afro TV - Theater 3, 7220 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819
In-Person Event
GPII, in collaboration with Global Peace 360, is proud to bring Memories From Ground Zero, a powerful documentary that shares the raw, personal recollections of 9/11 survivors. Through intimate oral histories, the film captures the sights, sounds, dust, and emotional aftermath of that tragic day, offering a moving reflection on trauma, resilience, and the enduring power of memory.
The screening will take place as part of the Global Peace Film Festival in Orlando and will be followed by a conversation with the film’s director, Rory Duffy.
UCF students receive 50% off with code UCF26.
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Beyond Borders, Beyond Books: UCF Conflict Transformation Young Leaders Find Lessons in The Troubles |
In May, students from the University of Central Florida (UCF) joined with participants from Badr University in Cairo, Egypt, and the Ginsburg Family Foundation for a transformative, one-week immersive learning journey in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Dublin, Ireland. The trip was part of GPII’s Conflict Transformation Program which serves as a catalyst to build the conditions for lasting peace by deepening understanding, fostering informed dialogue across competing narratives, and advancing innovative and sustainable solutions to complex local and global challenges.
Using the Troubles and the ongoing legacy of the Good Friday Agreement as a foundational case study, students explored how decades of violence were transformed through negotiation, compromise, and political leadership, while also examining the challenges that continue to shape reconciliation and sustainable peace today.
Students moved beyond the classroom through lectures, group discussions, guided visits, and firsthand engagement with policymakers, government officials, civic leaders, peacebuilders, scholars, authors, former combatants, victims of conflict, and members of affected communities. These conversations provided insight into the complexities of policymaking and leadership, as well as the human realities behind history. Among the highlights were a dinner and conversation with Mike Nesbitt, Northern Ireland’s Health Minister, at the Stormont Parliament Building; tea and conversation with Alderman Frank McCoubrey, High Sheriff of Belfast, at Belfast City Hall; and a dinner and conversation with Bertie Ahern, former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland. |
Students also had the opportunity to engage with Dr. Richard English and Dr. Kieran McEvoy of Queen’s University’s Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, as well as Rev. Dr. Gary Mason, founder of Rethinking Conflict. These conversations connected students’ experiences in Northern Ireland with broader perspectives on peace, security and justice. Rev. Dr. Gary Mason, a long-time collaborating partner of the program, has also been newly named a Non-Resident Fellow for GPII, further strengthening an important relationship and creating new opportunities for continued collaboration.
The trip brought history and political theory to life through the guided visits to the Peace Walls, Falls Road and Shankill Road, the Irish Parliament, and Glasnevin Cemetery. Experiencing these places firsthand helped students connect historical and political concepts to the lived realities of communities and understand how the legacies of conflict continue to influence identity, relationships, and public life.
A defining feature of the program was the opportunity for students from very different backgrounds to learn together. UCF students and students from Badr University in Cairo encountered the same stories, presentations, and experiences while bringing different cultural perspectives to the conversation. Engaging with emerging young leaders from conflict-affected communities further broadened their perspectives and challenged assumptions. The exchange demonstrated the value of learning across cultures and highlighted how dialogue and human connection can build empathy, understanding, and the capacity to work collaboratively across differences.
The lasting impact of these experiences lies in the lessons students gained and can carry forward into their lives and careers. They learned that peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but an ongoing process built through empathy, dialogue, compromise, courageous leadership, and a willingness to engage across differences. They developed greater confidence in navigating difficult conversations, listening to perspectives different from their own, collaborating across cultures, and approaching complex challenges with adaptability and creativity. These lessons extend far beyond peace building; they prepare students to become thoughtful professionals and leaders who can bridge divides, build trust, and manage disagreement. Most importantly, students came away with a deeper understanding of their own responsibility and capacity to contribute to positive change within their workplaces, communities, and future leadership roles.
Above all, it is essential to recognize that the program is strengthened by a growing network of partners and stakeholders who believe in the value of this work. We are deeply grateful to the GPII Advisory Board for their ongoing support, and especially to Jonathan and Nancy Wolf, whose generous contributions and continued friendship have been instrumental in helping build meaningful bridges with Egypt and beyond and create opportunities for students to engage across borders and cultures.
Looking ahead, we will continue to engage additional Egyptian partner institutions while strengthening collaboration with U.S. partners, broadening the network of institutions, leaders, and students involved in the program. Together, these partnerships will create new opportunities for sustained exchange and shared impact.
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Global Perspectives TV Show |
Global Perspectives is an award-winning TV show on PBS (WUCF-TV), a regional Public Broadcasting Service station. Hosted by David Dumke, Executive Director of UCF’s Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII), the show features interviews with local, national, and international experts, authors, economists, politicians, journalists, diplomats, and activists who delve into issues of global significance and local impact. |
WUCF TV's Global Perspectives Hosts Dr. Mahmoud Allam |
David Dumke sits down with Dr. Mahmoud Allam, the dean of the School of Continuing Education at the American University in Cairo. Dean Allam brings a wealth of experience in academia and business acumen. He previously served as the founding president of the Knowledge Hub Universities, hosting and operating Coventry University Branch in Egypt. Allam was also a member of the core team that founded Nile University in 2003. |
GPII interns and fellows dive into global news to bring you the latest insights on key issues and regions. Read their latest articles and analysis on current issues shaping the global landscape. |
From Investments to Influence: Analyzing the Global Impact of India’s Economic Diplomacy Initiative |
By: Ashley LaFlamme, Conflict Transformation Fellow &
Eduardo Minoga Barreto, UCF India Center Intern |
In this collaborative article between GPII and the UCF India Center, LaFlamme and Minoga Barreto explore the transformation of India's foreign policy towards economic diplomacy, through the analysis of the country's investments in energy, service, and international trade.
As the fastest growing economy in the world, LaFlamme and Minoga Barreto connect economic investments to international impact, further exploring how India's economic growth will shape future relations with China and impact greater regional stability in Asia.
This article not only demonstrates the ways India's financial investment directly shapes global influence but also underscores the impact of interdisciplinary student collaboration across UCF in advancing a shared vision for scholarly contribution and academic engagement.
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Celebrating Puerto Rican Pride: The Call to Return |
By: Alyssa "Noemi" Perez, Puerto Rico Research Hub Intern |
his year's Florida Puerto Rican Parade marked its 10th anniversary under the theme "Build the Future in Puerto Rico," spotlighting the diaspora's ongoing connection to the island amid questions of identity and return.
Drawing on the survey data from the UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub, the piece explores what draws Puerto Ricans in Florida back to the island. For many, family ties, inherited property, and a pull toward cultural roots keep them connected and visiting; however, economic instability and the high living costs remain the biggest barriers to a permanent return.
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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Barbara Ying Center
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Phone: (407) 823-0688 | Fax: (407) 823-2526 |
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