Desmond Tutu Peace Lab
Promoting peace, reconciliation & global justice.
The Desmond Tutu Peace Lab was created at Butler in 2018 to address conflicts and injustices that are prevalent in the U.S. and beyond. We are an innovative think tank dedicated to undergraduate research, activism, dialogue, and advocacy around peace and social justice issues broadly defined. We work to develop and disseminate innovative and strategic approaches to peace education, leadership, policy, practice, and advocacy. Through our programs, students grow their capacity for activism and leadership in the areas of peace and justice.
The Peace Lab is named after Nobel Peace Prize awardee Desmond Tutu, a renowned South African Anglican cleric known for his staunch opposition to the policies of apartheid. Despite bloody violations committed against the Black population in South Africa during Apartheid, Tutu adhered to nonviolence. Since, he has emerged as a global voice for peace, reconciliation, and social justice.
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” — Desmond Tutu
How We Work for Peace
Butler students are at the heart of the Peace Lab, working alongside faculty and local community partners to host lectures, workshops, dialogues, study tours, trainings, and other experiences in research and activism. To get involved, contact Faculty Director Siobhan McEvoy-Levy.
Think Tank
Students from any discipline or college can apply to be members of the Desmond Tutu Peace Lab Think Tank.
Internships
The Peace Lab offers year-long paid internships for students during the fall and spring semesters.
Lectures & Workshops
We provide the space for interdisciplinary visions of peace, social justice storytelling, and talks by scholar activists.
Roundtables & Dialogues
We convene roundtables and dialogues on cultures of future peace, themed around the arts, media, religion, education, politics, gender, race, law, science, business, and other topics.
Study Tours
We design and lead study tours for students, faculty, alumni, and community youth leaders to learn about peace and justice practices. We emphasize visiting “sites of conscience” and studying how divided societies have constructive dialogues about the past.
Research & Writing
Students, faculty, and community partners are engaged in a range of research and writing projects for presentation at professional conferences, for publication, and for community use.