Boulder woman works for peace through Rotary

While the world hopes for peace, Rotary works to make it a reality.

Janelle Weissman of Boulder recently graduated from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, as a Rotary World Peace Fellow. The program was created as part of Rotary International’s ongoing effort to promote greater cooperation worldwide.

Before her move to Brisbane, Weissman served in Boulder as executive director of two organizations, Social Venture Partners Boulder County, a fund of The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, and the Rita and Harold Divine Foundation. She visited the Boulder Rotary Club in December while home for the holidays.

The University of Queensland is one of seven Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution. Rotary World Peace Fellowships cover up to two academic years and include round-trip transportation, tuition and fees, room, board and other limited expenses.

Weissman obtained a master’s degree in international studies at Queensland, and is committed to a career working toward cross-cultural cooperation and understanding. During the three-semester program of study, Weissman undertook intensive training in mediation and course work in peace-building, conflict resolution, and development administration. She also joined research teams at the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies to evaluate an innovative program in Melbourne for grant making in capacity-building, and to examine charitable giving and social enterprise activity in Australia.

In addition to academics, Rotary World Peace Fellows are required to complete an internship or research anywhere in the world to complement their studies. Weissman worked with Shatil in Jerusalem, at its Conflict Transformation and Management Center. She helped facilitate professional development and collaborative projects for Israeli and Palestinian peace practitioners, and developed an online tool kit to enhance their work.

While visiting friends and family in Boulder, Weissman said, “I feel deeply honored to have had the opportunity to pursue studies as a Rotary World Peace Fellow. Through this extraordinary academic and field experience, I plan to expand on my prior work to build stronger, more sustainable bridges of understanding and cooperation across cultures.”

Upon graduation, Weissman accepted a position with Human Ventures, in Brisbane, a social enterprise, or nonprofit organization with an income-earning business venture. Human Ventures has two facets to its work: it provides arts and cultural development programs in partnership with Indigenous communities in Queensland, and it provides graphic and website design, as well as community engagement consulting, to fee-paying clients – with all profits supporting its work in communities.

Weissman is the organization’s Director of Partnerships and Development, focusing on strategic program and partnership development and raising funds to sustain its community programs. More information about Human Ventures is available at http://www.human.org.au.

Weissman’s Fellowship was sponsored by Rotary District 5450’s Smoky Hill Club in Aurora, and supported by the Rotary Foundation.

Photos attached:
Weissman Photo 1: Janelle Weissman on graduation day, July 24, 2009, at the Rotary Peace Park at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. She earned a master’s degree in international studies as a Rotary World Peace Fellow.

Weissman Photo 2: Janelle Weissman in front of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, where she completed an internship at the Conflict Transformation and Management Center.










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January 4, 2010