Ten years ago terror struck New York City. From the ashes of horror was born the STAR program at Eastern Mennonite University. Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience has trained more than 7,000 people from more than 60 countries including Afghanistan, Burundi, Cambodia, Fiji, Haiti, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Nepal, Palestine, Rwanda, Russia, Serbia, and Uganda.
The foundation for the Coming to the Table model of healing from the historic trauma inflicted by slavery and racism grew out of STAR.
My writing partner Sharon Morgan and I have both completed STAR training. It rests at the foundation of our healing journey that will result in our book Gather at the Table when it is published by Beacon Press next year.
To commemorate ten years of healing work, a commemorative e-book has been published. I enthusiastically encourage my friends and allies to read STAR: The Unfolding Story (2001 – 2011), pass it along, and if you don’t know much about STAR, to consider the training.
The world needs more peacebuilders who are trained in resilience in the face of trauma.