(ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Aug. 13, 2010) Few people, including peacemakers, know about the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) or its role in preventing, managing and resolving global conflicts. The Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) will offer a free teleconference about this little-known institution and its mission on Tuesday, Sept. 7, from noon to 1 p.m.

The USIP works primarily in conflict zones, but there are also national projects emphasizing peace building. The teleconference will be led by David J. Smith, the USIP’s national educational outreach officer. A Maryland resident, Smith is a Fulbright scholar who has done work in Estonia. He has a master’s degree from the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) at George Mason University, and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law. He will answer questions about the organization and discuss the role of mediation and facilitation within the USIP, and how private citizens can support the institute’s efforts.

Smith speaks frequently to community, faculty and student groups on a variety of issues including civil society and peace-building, child soldiers, conflict resolution education and international education. He has worked in the fields of domestic and community conflict resolution, and as a practicing attorney.

This free lunchtime teleconference is designed for people who work with mediation or alternative dispute resolution, and also for people who want to learn more about peacemaking. Members of the public are invited to join the conversation.

For more information about how to join the teleconference, go to MACRO’s website, www.mdcourts.gov/macro.

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