 Sr. Placida Awour, OSB is a teacher by profession. She served and worked as a youth coordinator in the diocese of Eldoret for eleven years. Sr. Placida also worked as a grade school and high school principal for over six years in her home country of Kenya. Sr. Placida says, "I enjoy working with young people because in the them I see the continuation of my hope for a world marked by sparks of peace, love, harmony and integrity of the all creation into a web of meaningful relationships." Placida loves talking about God to those who are seekers, like she. About returning to Peacebuilders as a mentor for the second year, Sr. Placida says, "The spirit of peacebuilding runs deep into my veins and I love to be in the company of those who are committed to this vision and mission. It is a call which calls us to listen to God's voice deep within our hearts and in our surroundings that we are engaged in."
Sr. Placida is currently a student at CTU, hoping, as she puts it, "to finish soon and start all over again, God willing!" Sr. Placida's motto in life is: What matters at the end of life is not how much knowledge you have acquired but that you have made it possible for another, better world. To this end, Sr. Placida says that we must "invest in healthy relationships with God, self, family, friends and those you consider strangers." |
 Vicki Izzo Blaszak is excited to be a mentor with Peacebuilders for the 2011-2012 year! She is currently in her third year as the Director of Campus Ministry at St. Rita of Cascia High School. Vicki enjoys working with students particularly on retreats and service experiences, so she is excited to combine both passions as a Peacebuilder mentor. In 2004, Vicki received her BA in Psychology from Merrimack College. She then spent a year serving as an Augustinian Volunteer in San Diego, CA, working at the St. Vincent De Paul Village. Vicki received an MA in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College in 2008 while working as a campus minister at Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, MA. Vicki enjoys taking trips back home to New England, spending time with friends, reading, and being outdoors. She lives with her husband, Zach, in Chicago. |
 TC Conlon is a second-year mentor and graduate of Catholic Theological Union, earning a dual degree in biblical studies and interreligious dialogue. Raised on a horse ranch in South Dakota, TC was first exposed to life as a country boy, viewing life under the shade of his cowboy hat. However, in time his passion for learning and curiosity about tall buildings led him to the city of Chicago, where he now teaches religious studies at St. Rita High School on the south-side. You can usually find TC sipping tea while thumbing through a book at a cafe in Hyde Park or taking his cat out for an evening walk along the lake shore. However, as of late he has become very eager to accompany you on your journey to faith and self-discovery. |
 Steven Cottam is a CTU student currently pursuing a MA in Theology, concentrating in Interreligious Dialogue. Originally from Arizona, Steven previously attended Arizona State University where he earned a B.A. in History and Religious Studies. After graduating, he spent a year of service working at Andre House, a Catholic Worker inspired Homelessness Outreach Center serving the poor and homeless population of downtown Phoenix. He now works as a Religion Teacher at St. Therese Chinese Catholic school, where he teaches the older children the history of the Church and the depth of Catholic Social Teaching, while teaching the younger children that Jesus loves them and they ought not to bite each other quite so much. He spends most of his free time drinking coffee and studying Islam, and he aspires to follow in the footsteps of his heroes: Edward Elric, Ender Wiggin, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. He is also deeply committed to and inspired by both social justice and young people, and is thus both pleased and privileged to be able to work with this year’s Peacebuilders class. |
 Stacion Dorrant, our longest-tenured mentor, has been a mentor with Peacebuilders Initiative since its commencement in 2003. She is a mother and a current teacher at Maria High School on Chicago's south side. Stacy is a 2004 graduate of CTU, where she earned a Masters in Theology, and 2000 graduate of St. Joseph's Teacher's College in Jamaica, where she earned a B.A. in Education. Stacy has been a teacher for over 10 years and especially loves working with young adults. While in the beautiful island of Jamaica, Stacy did much work with her youth group and started to develop a natural passion for working with young people. About being a Peacebuilders mentor, Stacy says, "I love every moment of getting the opportunity to partner with the youth who have so many gifts and talents to offer to our church and our world." |
 Lauren Hackman is very excited for her first year as a mentor for Peacebuilders! Lauren's many talents and skills include driving mini-buses, directing retreats, teaching technology classes, coaching sports teams, and being a Peacebuilders partner contact. She has had the joy of developing these skills during her two years as a Jesuit Alumni Volunteer at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. In the fall, she will continue working at at Cristo Rey as the Director of Campus Ministry and will begin graduate studies as a Master of Divinity student.Lauren was born and raised in Cincinnati, then studied Psychology and Religious Studies at the University of Dayton. She has a passion for social justice, going on adventures, and meeting new people. These passions have led her to a life of service, ministry and being involved with Peacebuilders. Lauren enjoys coffee, running, books, baking, and attempting to speak Spanish. |
 Nereida Pereda has been working at Regina Dominican High School teaching Theology for the past eight years. She has been involved in Youth Ministry for over fifteen years. Nereida serves as a Core Group Member of Teen Service Week, a non-profit organization that has been working with youth in the Chicago-land area for over 15 years. She graduated with a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Catholic Theological Union in May of 2010. She is excited to be returning to Peacebuilders as a Mentor, after taking some time for her studies. She is looking forward to the many experiences that Peacebuilders has to offer. |
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Jayne Pickett, native of Wisconsin and former accountant, is excited to be returning as a mentor with Peacebuilders. She moved to Chicago to pursue, full-time, a Master’s degree in Theology. Previously, she spent the past several years ministering in a Catholic High School in New York City, where she fell in love with accompanying young people in their faith journey through service projects, retreats, and religion in the classroom. In her very rare free time, she loves practicing yoga, enjoying the outdoors, baking, watching movies, and relaxing with the company of her friends. |
 Josh Reilly is excited to return for another year as a Peacebuilders mentor! Josh originally came to Chicago with nothing but his down-home South Dakotan sensibilities and a perpetually optimistic outlook on life for the purpose of pursuing his passion. While working on a degree from Catholic Theological Union, Josh has been called to immerse himself in the often challenging but always rewarding arena of interreligious dialogue. Specifically, he has struggled to build positive relationships with Chicagoland’s diverse Muslim community. The guiding principle behind his work is a conviction that positive cooperation between faith groups can be one of the most influential forces for social progress. To that end, Josh currently teaches Islam and courses in the Humanities at Benedictine University in Lisle as an adjunct professor. If not recharging his batteries with his family back home, Josh finds his focus and energy from a great circle of friends, the whiniest cat known to man or beast, and the quirkiest music he can get his hands on. |
 Kristin Scandora is a first-time mentor for the Peacebuilders Initiative. Prior to Peacebuilders, she has volunteered in youth ministry, catechesis, and education with at-risk youth. Kristin is from the Chicagoland area, a DePaul University graduate with a bachelor's degree in history, and is a current Master of Divinity student at Catholic Theological Union. Kristin enjoys painting, playing the ukelele, Taize Prayer, and exploring the neighborhoods of Chicago. |
 Tara Suchland, a native of Chicago, did her undergraduate work at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Since graduating with a degree in Spanish Literature, Tara has worked in a youth-centered non-profit agency in Chicago, taught at Mount Carmel Academy and currently serves as Campus Minister at Trinity High School in River Forest. Tara completed her M.A. degree at Catholic Theological Union last spring. She lives in Forest Park with her husband, Jonathan, their moody cat, Storm, and their recently retired racing greyhound, Ralphie. When she is not at Trinity, Tara enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling and reading all kinds of books. This is her fifth year with the Peacebuilders Initiative. |
 Sr. Julia Walsh, FSPA is excited to return to Peacebuilders as the program is centered on her main passions in life: God, service, Catholic Social Teaching, and peacemaking. While completing her BA in History, Education and Catholic Studies at Loras College in Iowa, she studied abroad in South Africa and became passionate about working for change. Since then she has worked with youth in Iowa, Minnesota, California and Illinois. She currently ministers as a Religion Teacher and Service Learning Coordinator at Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago. Although Sister Julia loves Chicago and having adventures all over the city, she frequently visits her community in La Crosse, Wisconsin or goes to the woods to hike, camp, and pray. She loves to garden, read, cook, write, travel, discuss social justice, watch foreign movies, be crafty and drink herbal tea. |
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Kelly Wilda currently works as a Campus Minister at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights. She considers her work at Saint Viator to be a true blessing in her life and she enjoys it immensely. Kelly is thrilled to begin working as a mentor with Peacebuilders and she looks forward to helping teenagers further develop their leadership skills while responding, within the context of their faith, to the injustices within their communities. Kelly graduated from St. Norbert College in 2004 with a B.A. in Religious Studies and a minor in Peace Studies. She earned her M.A. in Non-Profit Management from Marquette University in 2007. When not commuting to and from work in Arlington Heights, Kelly enjoys spending time with family in WI, running, baking, and exploring all that Chicago has to offer! |
 Aaron Zeleske is about to embark on his third go 'round as a mentor with Peacebuilders Initiative. He looks forward to the Summer Program especially, because of the energy of the participants and the action-packed nature of the week. He works full-time in youth ministry at St. Nicholas parish in Evanston. Before moving to the Chicago area, Aaron served as a Jesuit Volunteer in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, teaching high school. He also spent time working in Camden, New Jersey after graduating from Marquette University. Aaron enjoys reading voraciously, bicycling safely, and cooking deliciously. |
