Conflict is inevitable. War is not.

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Beyond War Northwest People

 Board of Directors:

Anne O'Brien photo

-Anne O’Brien,  Board Member

Anne dreamed of how to end wars when she was 8 but never sent her solution to President Truman.  She log ago forgot what the details of that solution was, but she believes it comes from living out the principals of peace in our relationships with others and our commitments to helping to create a more just and loving world. She is a retired RN, who was head of the nursing program at Lane Community College and head of Home Health Services at PeaceHealth. She is married to Dave O’Brien, and they have three grown children and four grandchildren.

Dave O'Brien

– Dave O’Brien,  Treasurer

As an ex-USAF intelligence officer (1968-73), Dave had always thought of himself as half warrior and half peacemaker.  Being introduced to Beyond War principals and ideas changed his life.  It requires study, reflection, and exposure to new ways of thinking to realize that war is not inevitable—-it is always a choice.  In fact, it is a choice that from now on we should always reject.

Martin Jones photo

 – Martin Jones,  Board Member

Martin Jones, MD  is a retired internist in Eugene, Oregon.  He is a former President of the Lane County Medical Society and has been active in social justice, peace and health issues for many years. He has been honored as Oregon Physician Citizen of the Year. He was instrumental in restarting Beyond War in 2002 and in creating the DVD “Building a World Beyond War: A Roadmap for Citizens.” He is an active member of the Lane County Outreach Committee.

Jim Anderson photo

– Jim Anderson, Board Member

After completing a master’s degree in economics, Jim spent two years working in agricultural development in Iran. The remainder of his working life was spent in the vegetable seed business developing new cultivars and taking care of customers in the Northwest. He feels excited by the Beyond War vision that we can find new ways to reconcile conflicts without resorting to the tragedy of violence or war.

Ann Cole photo

– Ann Cole,  Board Member

Ann Cole, MA LPC – former President of the BWNW Board of Directors. As a key participant of Beyond War since 2003, Ann helped lead strategic planning, organized the family Beyond War group, and facilitated the Eugene Outreach Committee meetings beginning in 2011.  In the meantime, she took a yearlong nonprofit management course at Lane Community College and served as President of Tamarack Wellness Center. She provided much of the energy, determination and vision for the rebirth of Beyond War as Beyond War Northwest. She looks forward to working with our group and others creatively and collaboratively to continue producing and disseminating excellent educational materials that engage people in dialogue and help each person find his or her passion in contributing to building a world that resolves conflicts nonviolently, where war is obsolete.

– Kara Steffensen,  President of the Board

Kara grew up in Springfield, Oregon and studied Spanish and International Studies at the University of Oregon. Her lifelong interest in helping to create  a more peaceful world began in childhood, sparked by the tension of growing up with brothers in the era of the Vietnam War. She was also lucky to have the wonderful experience of meeting some political leaders like Senator Wayne Morse in her youth. In the 1980s, Kara moved to Costa Rica, where she lived and worked for various environmental organizations for a decade. She traveled throughout Central America during that period and witnessed the destructive impact of the region’s civil wars and the U.S. interventions. She has been active in peacework in Eugene since 2003, when she helped to create Friendly Neighbors for Peace. She has been collaborating with other many other local peace and justice organizations ever since. Kara has also worked as a Spanish/English interpreter and serves on the steering committee of the Amazon Neighbors Association. She is married with two sons, who are also active in peace and justice work.