The Need for Courage: Experiments with Peace

What does peacebuilding look like beyond diplomacy and conflict resolution? For Annie Boyd-Ramirez, it begins with accompaniment, opportunity, and hope. A 2007 Marquette graduate and co-founder of Programa Velasco, Annie joins host John Byrne to discuss how empowering women entrepreneurs, supporting families, expanding access to mental health services, and investing in children can help build more peaceful communities in El Salvador.

Drawing on nearly two decades of work, Annie shares the story of Programa Velasco's evolution from a small scholarship initiative to a holistic organization supporting economic well-being, trauma-informed care, and community resilience. She also reflects on the role of Marquette students, global citizenship, and why hope is not passive waiting but an intentional commitment to creating a better future.

Learn more about Programa Velasco and ways to support its work at Programa Velasco.

What if war is far less effective than we have been led to believe? In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne welcomes Dr. David Cochran, professor of politics at Loras College, co-director of the Peace and Justice Minor, and author of The Catholic Case Against War: A Brief Guide.

Drawing from both political science research and Catholic social teaching, Cochran examines the human costs of war, the limits of military power, and the growing movement within the Catholic Church toward a just peace ethic. He reflects on recent developments at the Vatican, his participation in a Rome conference on nonviolence, and what contemporary research reveals about the effectiveness of armed conflict compared to nonviolent alternatives.

The conversation explores just war theory, civilian suffering, international cooperation, the promise of active nonviolence, and the courageous individuals who have challenged cycles of violence around the world. At a time of global conflict and uncertainty, Cochran offers a compelling case for why peacemaking requires not naïveté, but courage, imagination, and a renewed commitment to building a more just and peaceful world.

Learn more about Professor Cochran's work here.

Artificial intelligence is transforming education, work, public policy, and daily life at a breathtaking pace. But how should we discern when these technologies serve humanity and when they threaten human dignity, privacy, and the common good?

In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne sits down with Michael Zimmer, director of Marquette University's Center for Data, Ethics, and Society, to explore the ethical challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. Drawing on decades of research in privacy, surveillance, internet ethics, and technology policy, Zimmer discusses why human judgment must remain at the center of decision-making, the importance of cultivating ethical reflection alongside technological innovation, and how Marquette's new Discerning AI Community of Practice seeks to bring Jesuit values to one of the defining issues of our time.

Their conversation explores AI regulation, privacy, data centers, social justice, the enduring influence of media scholar Neil Postman, and the question facing universities, policymakers, and citizens alike: How do we harness powerful new technologies without losing sight of our humanity?

A thoughtful discussion about technology, ethics, and the courage required to navigate an uncertain future.

What do we owe one another in an age of migration, uncertainty, and political division? In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with Dr. Sergio Gonzalez, historian at Marquette University and nationally recognized scholar of immigration, religion, and Latino history. Together they explore the history of immigration in the United States, the role of faith communities in welcoming newcomers, the origins and meaning of sanctuary movements, and the moral questions facing communities today.

Drawing on his research and forthcoming books on sanctuary activism, Gonzalez reflects on human dignity, solidarity, and the ways ordinary people can respond courageously when confronted with injustice. He also offers a hopeful vision of education, civic engagement, and the responsibility to see immigrants not simply for what they contribute, but as fellow members of our common human family.

What does it mean to live courageously in a world shaped by fear? In this episode of The Need for Courage, the Center for Peacemaking welcomes acclaimed actor, activist, and Marquette University honorary degree recipient Martin Sheen for a wide-ranging conversation on nonviolence, spirituality, community, and the lifelong work of peacemaking.

Drawing on his friendships with figures such as Daniel Berrigan, his reflections on Mahatma Gandhi, and his engagement with the nonviolent teachings of Jesus, Sheen explores how fear often limits our humanity and how courage can set us free. He discusses poetry as a “proxy language of the spirit,” the challenges and rewards of nonviolent living, and why authentic faith must be lived rather than merely professed.

Whether discussing activism, faith, poetry, or patriotism, Sheen offers a compelling invitation to become more fully human by embracing courage, community, and the practice of nonviolence.

Listen to the Martin Sheen Podcast: https://martinsheenpodcast.com/

In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with Father John Dear, peace activist, author, and Executive Director of the Beatitudes Center for the Nonviolent Jesus. Drawing on decades of advocacy, more than forty books, and a lifetime of work for peace and justice, Dear reflects on the nonviolence of Jesus, the spiritual foundations of civil disobedience, and the challenges facing peacemakers in a time of war, political polarization, nuclear threat, and climate crisis.

The conversation explores Dear's latest book, Universal Love: Surrendering to the God of Peace, his longstanding collaboration with Terry Rynne and the Center for Peacemaking, lessons from leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Andrew Young, and Cornel West, and his hopes for forming a new generation of peacemakers.

Ultimately, Dear offers a vision of hope grounded not in optimism, but in faithfulness to the work of nonviolence and universal compassion.

You can find Dear’s new book, Universal Love: Surrendering to the God of Peace, here:
https://johndear.org/universal-love-surrendering-to-the-god-of-peace/

Dear’s podcast, The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast, is here: https://beatitudescenter.org/podcast/

In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with renowned peace activist Kathy Kelly about the challenges and possibilities facing peacemakers today. Drawing on decades of experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, Central America, and beyond, Kelly reflects on the human costs of war, economic sanctions, forced migration, and growing global militarization.

The conversation explores the importance of bearing witness to suffering, building relationships across borders, and embracing nonviolent action in the face of injustice. Kelly also discusses her work with Voices in the Wilderness and World BEYOND War, her experiences engaging in civil disobedience and serving time in prison, and the lessons young people can teach us about courage, solidarity, and hope.

From the realities of conflict zones to practical ways individuals can get involved in peacemaking efforts, this episode offers a powerful reflection on what it means to choose courage in an increasingly uncertain world.

What does peacemaking look like in a world shaped by war, displacement, trauma, and division?

In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with Basir Bita, a clinical counselor, peace educator, writer, and longtime advocate for nonviolence. Drawing on his experiences as an Afghan refugee, mental health professional, and collaborator with Marquette University's Center for Peacemaking, Basir explores the connections between healing, resilience, and social change.

The conversation examines the ongoing challenges facing Afghanistan, including restrictions on women and girls, economic hardship, migration, and the lasting effects of conflict. Basir also reflects on the role of mental health in peacemaking, the importance of listening to one another's stories, and how communities can respond to trauma with compassion rather than fear. Basir offers a powerful vision of peacemaking as a way of living rooted in connection, dignity, and hope.

You can follow and read Basir's writing on Substack: https://basirbita.substack.com/

What does peacemaking look like when it begins with access to justice?

In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with Fr. Owen Chourappa, S.J., Executive Director of the Legal Cell for Human Rights in Northeast India. For nearly two decades, Fr. Owen and his team have empowered vulnerable communities by providing legal education, advocating for children's rights, combating human trafficking, and offering free legal representation to those who cannot afford it.

Fr. Owen shares how the organization trains local youth as "barefoot lawyers" and paralegals, equipping them to educate their communities, connect families with government resources, resolve local disputes, and assist victims of trafficking. He also reflects on the importance of dignity, community empowerment, and the role of international partnerships, including the Center for Peacemaking's relationship with the Jesuits of Northeast India.

Join us for a conversation about justice as a pathway to peace and how ordinary people can become powerful agents of change in their communities.

How do neighborhoods recover from decades of disinvestment? What role do residents, businesses, universities, government, and community organizations play in creating lasting change?

In this episode of the Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with Lindsey St. Arnold Bell, Executive Director of Near West Side Partners, about the ongoing revitalization of Milwaukee's Near West Side. Lindsey shares the history of the neighborhood, the impact of infrastructure and economic change, and how community-driven development can build trust, opportunity, and long-term prosperity.

Center for Peacemaking staff, students, and faculty have been key partners in the Near West Side Partners' community impact since it started in 2015.