From Conflict to Coexistence: Tomorrow’s Women Brings 21 Years of Peacebuilding to Dent

Written By Jeff Hadfield

Tomorrow’s Women (TW) is a 21-year-old nonprofit organization that trains Palestinian, Israeli, and American young women in leadership and peacebuilding skills to become agents of change in Middle East diplomacy.  At Dent Santa Fe 2025, they will share the human side of international events on the main stage, and will shine a spotlight on their  mission, to train and support Palestinian, Israeli, and American women to become strong, compassionate leaders.

While TW has been around for over 20 years, recent world events have thrust its efforts into the spotlight. The United Nations now recognizes its proven model of mental healing and leadership training as vital for peacebuilding. The Israel-Hamas conflict highlights the urgent need for this work, spreading hope, coexistence, and real transformation. TW looks to expand its impact in Israel and Palestine and to bring its leadership programs to conflict-affected U.S. college campuses and other communities over the next few years.

At Dent The Future 2025, two TW alumni will speak on the main stage just before lunch. They are part of an eight-woman delegation of Palestinian and Israeli leaders who trained with Tomorrow’s Women. In theory, and in practice, it changes their outlook on politics and moves them and the world a little bit closer towards resolution in the Middle East. After the short presentation, eight TW alumni will be available during lunch for conversation. Conference attendees will get a chance to hear their personal stories, ask about their experiences growing up in the Middle East, get perspective on today’s conflicts, and learn how their leadership training creates real change.

Tomorrow’s Women trainees in Diablorets Village, Switzerland

About Tomorrow’s Women

For the last 21 years, Tomorrow’s Women (TW), a 501(c)(3), has been the only cross-border peace-building organization in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank that is exclusively focused on investing in the leadership skills of young women as a pathway to peace. We’ve trained ~700 young women from Israel, Palestine, and the U.S. to engage in Track II diplomacy—unofficial communication channels and conflict resolution programs between ordinary citizens that address historical traumas and complex grievances, rebuild relationships and result in more durable and robust co-existence. While young women don’t (yet) have the formal levers of power, we’re investing in their huge potential because we believe young women are the pathway towards sustainable change. TW has a variety of programs for teens and older.

According to the United Nations, women are largely excluded from processes to end violent conflict, despite the growing body of evidence that suggests their participation significantly increases the success and duration of peace.

In Israel, Palestine, and even the U.S., women (and especially young women) are severely underrepresented in political life. Women constitute less than 30% of all members of the Knesset and U.S. Congress, and account for only 5% of the members of the Palestinian Central Council. Since October 7, 2023, women have been sidelined or excluded entirely from formal, Track I diplomatic negotiations.

The ~700 alums of TW’s programming confront cross-cutting issues that permeate social, economic, health, and environmental aspects in Israel, Palestine, and beyond. Our graduates have spoken at international summits, such as the U.S. Congressional Democratic Women’s Caucus, the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum, and many have gone on to pursue professional careers in journalism, law, and government, making a lifelong commitment to social justice advocacy. For a vivid example of our alums on U.S. speaking tour, please watch this 2-minute video.

For more about Tomorrow’s Women:

Jeff Hadfield
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