May 2026
Scroll down to access the following content...
Voices of Courage and Conviction
Displaying Multiple Truths
by Alex Sinclair
Muslim Faith Leader Reflects on War and Reconciliation
by Richard Hall
Addressing the Heart of Conflict
by Dr. Marina Nani
Convening Young Changemakers
Advocacy for Influence
by Sonya Seideman
Teen Writers Matter
by Steven Aiello
Forging New Relationships
by Tselot Efrem
Developing Emerging Leaders
Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow
by Eve Guterman
PeaceWorks Summer Program
by Nina Pollak
Committee Member Profiles
Eve Guterman
Kareem Al Fadi
Julie Fisher
Dr. Amanda Wilkerson
Guy Shalom
Voices of Courage and Conviction
Displaying Multiple Truths
by Alex Sinclair
“My kippah reminds me… that there are two peoples here. They both, through the ironies of history, have a legitimate historical connection to this land. They both have a right to national self-determination.”
Muslim Faith Leader Reflects on War and Reconciliation
by Richard Hall
"As Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa has spent more than a decade trying to prevent the kind of war that is now raging in the Middle East by promoting moderation and interfaith dialogue."
Addressing the Heart of Conflict
by Dr. Marina Nani
“The most important conversations about peace… happen in community centers, refugee camps and conflict zones where ordinary people are doing the extraordinary work of healing and reconstruction.”
Convening Young Changemakers
Advocacy for Influence
by Sonya Seideman
“I wanted to share how much I admire the mission of Heart of a Nation, which truly inspired me, because so much of the messaging I've encountered regarding Israel and Palestine has felt polarized and focused on convincing the ‘other side.’ I really appreciated the nuance and optimism you brought to the conversation, particularly the idea that many people simply want peace and to embrace "better, together." I believe I am one of those people.”
- Sonya Seideman, 17 years old
Teen Writers Matter
by Steven Aiello
"Jewish and Arab teens from the Writers Matter program recently visited Philadelphia and NYC to present their writing and discuss their experiences interacting with one another. This was the first Writers Matter trip to the US since April 2024, with two books published in the interim: The Write Path and The Write Path II. The program will soon include an Arabic writing initiative in Gaza."
Forging New Relationships
by Tselot Efram
“For the past few months, American, Israeli, and Palestinian teen girls have connected online through Heart of a Nation. They have hosted online meetings to get to know each other and discuss their interests. They have also set up a WhatsApp group chat to develop joint projects and plan activities together over the summer.”
- Tselot Efrem, 16 years old
Developing Emerging Leaders
Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow
by Eve Guterman
"Based in Jerusalem and developed in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MEET (Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow), brings together exceptional Israeli and Palestinian high school students for a rigorous, three-year program in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership."
PeaceWorks Summer Program
by Nina Pollak
After its very highly-regarded inaugural program in the summer of 2025, PeaceWorks on Campus will again convene Washington-based summer interns interested in Middle East affairs, Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding, and the formulation of American foreign policy. The following dates have been selected for its 2026 Summer Engagement Series: June 10 and 24, July 8 and 22.
Use this link to receive information about upcoming speakers
Committee Member Profiles
Eve Guterman
Eve Guterman is Director of US Engagement at MEET, Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow, where she is committed to building a more collaborative future.
Kareem Al Fadi
Kareem Al Fadi is a native of Gaza and has been actively engaged in dialogue and reconciliation efforts since participating in a year-long exchange program in the US.
Julie Fisher
Julie Fisher is the incoming Executive Director of The Good People Fund, where she identifies, supports, and elevates emerging social visionaries addressing critical challenges in the United States and Israel.
Click here to read complete bio
Dr. Amanda Wilkerson
Amanda Wilkerson is a scholar and social reformer who examines academia student achievement in order to better the human condition.
Guy Shalom
Guy currently holds a leadership position at IDI, the International Diplomacy Initiative where he focuses on modernizing international communication through innovative digital tools and narrative building.
