Events
GPI-BAU Talk Series: The Power of Listening: Culture, Communication, and Conflict Resolution
On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 05:30 PM (EST) the Global Policy Institute (GPI) and Bay Atlantic University (BAU) held a talk titled “The Power of Listening: Culture, Communication, and Conflict Resolution” via Zoom and in-person at BAU. Our guest speaker, Rev. Mark Farr shared key lessons from his career in dialogue and conflict resolution. We learned how to develop self-awareness, refine our internal voice, and apply active listening skills in professional and interpersonal settings. This discussion will provided practical takeaways for students and professionals alike, applicable to any workplace or conflict-resolution scenario.
Speaker
Rev. Mark Farr currently oversees a global program in around 20 countries to develop leadership and peacebuilding in young people, and engage them in conflict resolution, with the Global Peace Foundation, with more than 30 years of coalition building, dialogue initiation and conflict transformation in political and public service in the United States and the United Kingdom.
He is also Vice President and Founding Board Member of the John Lewis Institute for Peace, a non-profit created by Congressman Lewis to carry on the work and promote the values of the prominent civil rights leader.
Until 2022, Mark was President of the Sustained Dialogue Institute on Capitol Hill, (SDI) an influential dialogue organization. SDI aims to reverse the polarization of civic space and build bridges through enhanced relationship-building and leadership development especially among young people. Mark served co-host of the twice-yearly Dartmouth Conference, which seeks to enhance relationships with the Russian Federation (RF) and avoid nuclear war, principally using private dialogues with high-level participants.
Prior to that, Mark was President & CEO of the Faith and Politics Institute, a non-profit organization that serves members of Congress, national political leaders, and senior congressional staff by offering experiential pilgrimages, reflection groups, retreats and public forums. This included the Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage, both Senate and House Chiefs of Staff meetings, Member Reflection Groups, retreats and forums.
Between 2003 and 2010, Mark was a Senior Director of The Points of Light Foundation, founded by President George H.W. Bush, dedicated to engaging more people and resources in solving serious social problems through voluntary service. There he directed interfaith efforts, including National Faith Day at the National Points of Light Conference, and led delivery outcomes for a $1M gift for post-Katrina efforts. Mark was also Senior National Faith Director at America’s Promise, the organization founded by General Colin L. Powell between 1997 and 2003.
Mark was ordained into the Episcopalian church in 1987. His last parish was Wimbledon in the United Kingdom. Mark is also a qualified Systemic Psychotherapist with a former practice in London, where he also lectured in Systemic Psychotherapy. He is a keen painter and musician, and in England was chair of the Wimbledon Arts Festival. Mark lives in Silver Spring, MD, with his daughter, Sadie (16); and Riley, a crazy, rollicking and beloved Irish Setter.
Moderator
Dr. Chinedu Anumudu is an adjunct faculty member in the Communications department of the General Education Department at Bay Atlantic University. Her research interests include organizational development, public speaking, intercultural communication, ESL, and embodied learning. Dr. Anumudu holds an M.A. in Communication Studies from California State University, San Bernardino, and a Ph.D. in Adult, Professional, and Community Education from Texas State University.