Founder

Charles Busch
Charles is an ordained Minister in the United Church of Christ, and the Founder of Peace Village in Lincoln City, Oregon. Charles has an M.A. from Trinity University. He also holds a Masters of Divinity from Harvard University, and is a Merrill Fellow.
cathey.charles.busch@charter.net
www.fieldsofpeacepv.org

Co-Founders & Directors

Wintry Whitt Smith

A graduate of Pacific University, with a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Wintry Whitt Smith has been involved with Peace Village since its inception in 1996.  She has taught all of the core classes, and directed the Peace Village camp in Lincoln City for several years. She started a school in Maweni Village, Kenya, where she facilitated study abroad courses for university students.  For the last six years, she directed Tumbleweeds Playschool. Wintry is a certified and practicing mediator.

Elizabeth Wilson

Elizabeth Wilson co-founded Peace Village Global in 1996 along with Wintry Whitt. The two went on to create the curricula, direct camps and educate both camp directors and new trainers. Elizabeth was an adjunct professor in the Peace and Social Justice Department at Pacific University for over 20 years where she developed and led programs for students. She enjoys teaching outside the classroom and has worked in a UN camp for SE Asian refugees, with the Navajo Nation, and for many years leading expeditions in the wilderness. She has studied natural medicine, yoga and meditation for over 25 years, and delights in playing and teaching music, being outside, and spending time with family.

Board Of Directors                                                         

Suzanne Miller:  President

Suzanne is a retired marketing executive, grateful for a 27-year career with the Port of Portland that took her all over the world and gave her the opportunity to meet and work with people in many countries. She is now active with a number of peace building organizations, and considers her post-retirement title to be "Peace Synergist."  She came to Peace Village Inc, after three years on the steering committee for the Newberg camp and seeing the wonderful effects of the program on the children and community there. 

Stacy Renfro: Treasurer / Secretary

Stacy has worked as an educator, naturalist, and in the administration of non-profit organizations for more than 20 years. Experience has shown her that we must practice the implementation of our ideals in order to make them true. With 4 young children to raise, she relearns this lesson on a daily basis. Stacy believes that this organization is providing the peace building skills that our society needs. By starting with children, Peace Village Global is empowering future generations to walk this crazy world with honesty and the courage to stand up for one another.

Taryn Oakley: Secretary

Taryn is a graduate of the University of Colorado, with a B.A. in Environmental Science and a M.A. in Geography. For the past 8 years, she has been teaching environmental science classes at Portland Community College. She is passionate about teaching others how to care for our planet, as well as one another. Taryn has been involved with Peace Village since 2014, teaching both at a summer camp and our after school program. She has two young children that keep her on her toes and believes that time outside can cure the soul. She loves gardening, yoga and anything DIY.

Aaron Nigel Smith: Board Member

Aaron has been involved with Peace Village since 2016. He has been a focused community building teacher at many camps using his masterful skills with music and drumming. He has been an integral part of the team, bringing the understanding of Peace Village Global’s work to many Rotary clubs and community organizations.  Aaron has worked to educate, empower, and entertain youth and families around the world. In 2009 Aaron and his wife formed the non-profit One World Chorus with the goal of building bridges internationally through choral singing. Aaron also works with Ben & Jerry’s, The Bob Marley Foundation and PYE Global to organize the One Love Youth Camp.

Larry Strober:  Board Member

Over 30 years of senior management, fundraising, marketing, public relations and financial experience. Proven ability to make things happen; develop business plans, build effective and diverse teams, operate within a budget, fundraise and jump start new business opportunities. Just completed a one-year term as President of McMinnville Sunrise Rotary with a focus on peace. Currently organizing the inaugural McMinnville Peace Village for August 2017 and the Fourth Annual Sunrise Rotary Bocce Ball Tournament. Larry is a  Business Advisor to the Chemeketa SBDC, a Special Olympics Bocce Coach and a past Director of Strategic Development for The Elijah Interfaith Institute. Larry serves on the board of directors of several young and growing companies in Yamhill County.

Reem Ghunaim:  Board Member

Reem is currently the Executive Director for the Rotarian Action Group for Peace based in Portland, Oregon. She is also a Global Peace Index Ambassador for the Institute for Economics and Peace based in New York City, and a Rotarian at the Rotary Club of Portland, District 5100. Reem received her B.A. in Business Administration from Birzeit University in Palestine. Later, she acquired a Community Leadership Certificate from the International Association for Human Values and the Art of Living Organization in Germany. As a Duke UNC Rotary Peace Fellow, Reem obtained her Masters in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina and an International Peace and Conflict Resolution Certificate from Duke University. Reem’s personal mission is to build mutual understanding on important issues for peace that revolves around compassion, empowers individuality, and embraces differences in a positive light. She serves as a board member for Peace Village, an organization that teaches these peaceful values to young children.

Advisors

Ted Sturdevant
Christy Laurenzo
Dr. Keith Russell