Center for Peace & Conflict Studies
Center for Peace & Conflict Studies
Our Mission (Draft): The Center for Peace & Conflict Studies at ACC is dedicated to advancing the understanding of peace, justice, and conflict within both the college and Austin communities. The Center’s programming offers intra- and interpersonal skill building and creates opportunities to have conversations across conflict lines that impact our community, empowering individuals to incorporate a peace and conflict studies lens in their personal, academic, and professional lives.
Our Vision (Draft): The Center for Peace & Conflict Studies will empower the College and local community to prevent, deescalate, and transform conflicts and to build more empathetic and peaceful intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intergroup relationships using a peace and conflict studies lens.
What We Do
Through avenues of academic study, professional development training, community events, service learning, and travel abroad opportunities, the Peace & Conflict Center maintains its commitment to establishing frameworks for nonviolent conflict transformation at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, local, national, and international levels.
Center Events
The Center for Peace & Conflict Studies provides opportunities for active engagement in the community through ongoing events, service learning, and international programs. The Center features lectures, panel discussions, a film series, and cultural events that allow students, faculty and staff, and the broader Austin community the opportunity to engage with topics pertaining to social justice, conflict, and sustainable peace.
Date: Friday, November 5, 2025
Time: Refreshments & Social Starts @ 4:30 PM
Programming starts @ 5:00-6:00 PM
Location: Highland Campus Gallery 2000
Restorative Listening Circle: Exploring UncertaintyNovember 5, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Gallery 2000: Highland Campus 2.2450 |
| The Art Galleries(TAG) and the ACC Center for Peace & Conflict Studies will host a Restorative Listening Circle with the aim of creating a space where visitors can gather together to explore how moments of uncertainty can spark positive social and personal change.
Developed in tandem with ACC faculty, this exhibition features artworks by ACC Studio Art faculty shown alongside works by students, alumni, and Austin-based artists. Thematic interactive activities are included to provide creative and generative spaces for gallery visitors to explore uncertainty through collaborative visual experiences and shared artistic expression. Restorative Listening Circles offer an inclusive and collaborative space for participants to share openly and build trust with each other. Everyone will have a chance to speak without interruption and all voices are valued as equally important. Circles strengthen community relationships and provide the space to understand others’ perspectives. Arrive 30 minutes early for refreshments, explore the gallery at your own pace, and connect with your peers. Events are free & open to the public. No RSVP required. |
How to Have Difficult Conversations
Part One: Building the Basics
Series Overview
How to Have Difficult Conversations is a dialogue series designed to help students, faculty, and staff develop the confidence and skills to engage in meaningful conversations around challenging topics.
This series focuses on building conflict transformation skills that help turn difficult conversations into opportunities for growth, connection, and understanding. By the end of the series, participants will not only gain practical tips for navigating tough conversations but will also strengthen their ability to approach conflict as a catalyst for positive change.
Part One: Building the Basics
Join us for a hybrid interactive session where you’ll gain practical tips for navigating tough conversations with confidence. Learn grounding techniques, reflective listening, and how to use conflict transformation skills to build understanding. You’ll have the chance to practice these tools in a supportive, facilitated dialogue with your peers.
Whether it’s preparing for tricky family interactions over the holiday break, navigating disagreements with friends, or finding ways to connect across differences, this session will help you turn difficult conversations into opportunities for connection.
