This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Why the Middle East Matters

About the talk: The Middle East is the site of wars and terrorism, the major source of the world’s energy, and the birthplace of monotheistic religion. The world needs informed individuals thinking about this important region and able to go beyond media sound bites and stereotypes. This talk will explore current trends in the Middle East and their underlying issues and causes, as well as inspiring examples of hope and progress. Janessa will also discuss how building bridges with this critical region begins with each of us.

Janessa Gans Wilder, a former CIA officer, founded Euphrates Institute on the heels of a 21-month assignment in Iraq. Janessa was liaising with top Iraqi leaders in the run up to the first elections in 2005, and witnessed first hand the clashes between Americans and Iraqis and the lack of cultural, religious, and historical understanding that pervaded both sides. Convinced that our foreign policy challenges require citizen action along with government effort, Janessa resigned from the CIA to start a grassroots movement to allay fear and restore trust between the West and Middle East in the aftermath of 9/11.  Her Middle East experience has included Arabic study in Syria, the Palestinian Territories and extended travel throughout the Arab world. After five years of government service on the Middle East and South Asia, she became a consultant to the State Department and a visiting professor of Middle East issues at Principia College. She has published over a dozen articles in both English and Arabic, for publications such as the Los Angeles Times, the Christian Science Monitor and the leading Iraqi news weekly, Alesbuyia, and has been interviewed on CBS, CNN, FOX syndicates, Democracy Now, American Public Media, and Radio Netherlands.  She travels and speaks widely on Middle East issues and Euphrates Institute activities.  Janessa received a Master’s degree in International Policy Studies from Stanford University, and her BA from Principia College. 

 

Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Eureka-Wildwood