Center for Peace, Democracy, and Development

Check out the latest episode of the PaxGlobal Voices podcast from UMass Boston's CPDD, which features a conversation between co-director Jeff Pugh and Dr. Sheril Kirshenbaum: 'Increasing Impact and Communicating Research and Science from PBS to the U.S. Senate!'
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1iwvuj3Ex3KRVEVxGbo0vW?si=kv7X_mheQmajUoGNIsgoXw

Increasing Impact with Sheril Kirshenbaum: Communicating research and science from PBS to the U.S. Senate Pax Global Voices · Episode

CPDD Senior Fellow Dr. María Belén Garrido, who co-leads our Nonviolent Action and Social Change Lab, recently was the featured speaker in a webinar on Mobilizing Nonviolent Social Change: Lessons from Latin America, hosted by The Catholic Institute for Nonviolence and Pax Christi. Congratulations Belen!

Check out Jeffrey Pugh's conversation with peacebuilder Myla Leguro of Catholic Relief Services CRS Philippines, who is the founder of the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute in the Philippines, in Episode 2 of the PaxGlobal Voices Podcast! Myla shares her inspirational story and lessons learned over more than 30 years of peacebuilding in Asia, including the power of collective care and community, and the value of networks, which include thousands of grassroots peacebuilders across Asia, prominent global peace advocates like John Paul Lederach, and institutions that have helped enable and scale up her work, like the Mennonite Central Committee - MCC, Eastern Mennonite University's Summer Peacebuilding Institute, and the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame . Listen on Spotify or your podcast platform of choice, and subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes of PaxGlobal Voices!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/02qjEBhcNNzWg6nuKB1F33

cc: UMass Boston John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance Peace and Justice Studies Association (PJSA)

Don't forget that our final CPDD/MGS/SSN Policy & Public Engagement workshop is this Friday, so if you have not already registered, we encourage you to do so:
Connecting & Building Relationships with Policymakers
Friday, May 8, 2026, 1-2:30 p.m. ET (Zoom)

Register today!: https://bit.ly/4biNOnz

This foundational SSN training on building relationships gives scholars an introduction to effective strategies to ensure that researchers’ findings and perspectives inform policy. This session provides evidence-based instructions for how to begin and maintain productive relationships with policymakers, how to engage with civic intermediaries in order to better reach policymakers, and what strategies are critical for creating mutual trust.

This Thursday 4/30!

We are pleased to announce the launch of Pax Global Voices, a podcast produced by the Center for Peace, Democracy, & Development (CPDD) at UMass Boston John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies. This new podcast highlights stories of peacebuilding, nonviolent action, human security, global health, democracy, and integral development. Through interviews and special features, we talk to people doing exciting work to make the world a better place. Check out the trailer, and subscribe today on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Amazon music, or your platform of choice!
https://open.spotify.com/show/3zTTmkSuAoDmuZfTAjRQVm?si=e51e3c999d1c4325

At a time when the war in Iran is likely to intensify the displacement of Iranians, it is important to think about the effects of immigration and displacement on the health of Iranian migrants in receiving countries like the United States. Check out this recent article co-authored by Sahar Badiezadeh, CPDD Center Fellow and researcher in the Global Health and Development lab: "Health Impacts of Migration and Policy on the Iranian Diaspora." Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health (2026).

Health Impacts of Migration and Policy on the Iranian Diaspora - Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health Migration is shaped by a complex interplay of political, economic, and social factors that drive individuals to seek stability and better prospects abroad.

📢 Looking to expand the impact of your research?

The McCormack School of Policy & Global Studies (MGS) and the Center for Peace, Democracy, and Development (CPDD) invite the UMass Boston community to the Policy and Media Engagement Workshops: A Virtual Training Series.

Facilitated by the Scholars Strategy Network, this virtual series will help researchers reach broader audiences, demonstrate the public value of their work, and influence evidence-based policy.

📝 Op-ed Writing & Pitching Workshop
📅 March 26, 2026 | ⏰ 4:00–5:30 PM

🤝 Connecting & Building Relationships with Policymakers
📅 May 8, 2026 | ⏰ 1:00–2:30 PM

Open to UMass Boston faculty, staff, affiliates, graduate students, and others interested.

🔗 Register using the links below!

March 26th event: https://bit.ly/3NlkKE1
May 8th event: https://bit.ly/4biNOnz