Transforming Police into Jedi Peacebuilders

This Olio event will focus on NYU professor Brad Heckman’s work with the NYPD to imbue police officers with skills to de-escalate conflict and build trust with civilians during our divided times — in the wake of countless tragic incidents between cops and civilians and against the backdrop of Black Lives Matter. ​We’ll focus on the question:  How do you meaningfully engage and communicate with a group that may be dissonant with your values, ethics, and beliefs?

Using his illustrations, stories, demonstrations, and drawings, Brad will discuss the challenges and outcomes of promoting peaceful change in an extraordinarily challenging environment. He’ll include skills that can not only be used on the beat, but in our daily lives as well. He’ll also speak to his recent work building young peacebuilders in Iraq and other post-conflict countries.