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Speakers / Workshop Leader ProfilesCounter-Recruitment Conference
Tracy BatonTracy Baton is a community activist, anti-racism organizer and local Mennonite church leader. She is particularly passionate about connecting the work of the church with worship. Tracy grew up believing that her father was drafted and died in Vietnam. Although, she learned as an adult that that was not true, that calling to understand and finally work against recruitment has stayed with her. She is involved in local work with youth and with anti-war activism. She is also mother of three girls, works with women and technology and has a Masters in anthropology. Top
Joshua CasteelJoshua Casteel first enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves at the age of 17, received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point at 18, but at 25 was honorably discharged from Active Duty as a conscientious objector. During his time in service, Joshua studied Philosophy and Literature at the University of Iowa and Keble College, Oxford. Less than 30 days after receiving his B.A., Joshua was called up from the Reserves to full Active Duty in the U.S. Army. He trained first as an interrogator at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and then spent one and a half years at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California studying Arabic. From June 2004 to January 2005, Joshua served at the Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center at Abu Ghraib, Iraq as a member of the interrogation units sent to overhaul the prison after the abuse scandal had become public. Shortly after discharge from service, Joshua began writing and speaking widely in the U.S. about his wartime experiences. Joshua is currently a dual-MFA candidate at the University of Iowa Playwrights Workshop and the Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program, where he teaches Theatre History and Rhetoric. Joshua is also currently a student of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. In addition to two plays (Returns: A Meditation in Post-trauma and Ishmael and Isa) which chronicle his experiences in Iraq, Joshua is also writing a memoir entitled Iraq, Evangelical which narrates his eight years spent in the U.S. Army and eventual conversion from nationalist Evangelical Christianity to Catholic pacifism. Top
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Oskar CastroOskar Castro, Coordinator of the American Friends Service Committee's National Youth & Militarism Program, has been involved in human and civil rights discussions related to peace activism. Oskar works to educate young people about their rights and options and how to make an informed decision on whether military enlistment is right for them. Topics of discussion include: Recruitment Fraud, Conscientious Objection, and Selective Service Registration. Top
Rebecca ClevelandRebecca Cleveland is a recent high school graduate from Dowagiac, Michigan. Since her sophomore (2003-2004) year, Rebecca has been actively involved in counter-recruitment efforts, both at her high school and in surrounding areas. Risking criticism and disciplinary action, Rebecca managed to end recruitment in her high school and made the opt-out form available through the school district. In this spirit, she is involved in numerous anti-war organizations. She has worked closely with the Catholic Peace Fellowship and had the chance to live in the Catholic Worker house in South Bend, Indiana during the summer of 2006. In addition she has presented workshops on Conscientious Objection and Counter-Recruitment and has spoken out in schools throughout Michigan and Indiana. When asked why she's so passionate about Counter-Recruitment work, "Schools are not the place for military recruiters. It's hard enough being in high school now, there is so much more to worry about without worrying about being harassed, lied to, or to have recruiters and prospects of war hanging over your head." Top
Dick DavisDick Davis currently serves as the pastor of Peace Mennonite Church in Dallas, Texas and is the Minister of Urban Ministries for the Mennonite Mission Network. Dick has served the church in a number of roles for over 34 years. He has been a pastor, an Army chaplain, college instructor, and has served on various national and local boards for nonprofit organizations. Dick resigned his commission from the Army in 1992 as a conscientious objector. Top
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Michael GriffinMichael Griffin is the managing editor of the The Sign of Peace, the theological journal of the Catholic Peace Fellowship, and has experience working on the GI Rights Hotline, a network of nonprofit organizations that provide information to service members about military discharges. Michael has a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Notre Dame, and has been an Adjunct Professor of Theology at Holy Cross College in South Bend since 2004. His 2003 article "The Soldiers Came Asking" (in America Magazine 6/23/03) was among the first serious efforts to analyze the Catholic critique of the Iraq war from a soldiers' perspective. Top
Matt GuynnMatt Guynn (Richmond, Indiana) is coordinator of peace witness for On Earth Peace, a peace education and action agency rooted in the Church of the Brethren, where he helps congregations develop strong and spiritually-rooted leaders and vital ministries for peace and justice. Since 2005, Matt has coordinated On Earth Peace's Encountering Recruitment Network, providing resources and support for local counter-recruitment organizers within the Church of the Brethren and beyond. Matt writes,
This spring, Matt published several poems in the collection Becoming Fire: Spiritual Writing from Rising Generations (Andover Newton Press), and an essay on theology, poetry, and social change, titled "Theopoetics: That the Dead May Be Gardeners Again," in the journal CrossCurrents. Matt previously worked as co-coordinator of training for Christian Peacemaker Teams, spending six months with CPT's Mexico project, providing unarmed accompaniment for political refugees. He holds degrees in peace studies and theology. Top
J. E. McNeilJ. E. McNeil, the Executive Director of the Center on Conscience & War, has been a practicing attorney for more than twenty-five years. Before becoming the Executive Director, J. E. McNeil worked with CCW/NISBCO on its legal committee, where she contributed to amicus briefs and represented conscientious objectors in court. J. E. McNeil has also represented military tax resistors and demonstrators. At the Center on Conscience & War, J. E. McNeil oversees the implementation of CCW's programs and is responsible for the fund raising. Top
Conrad MooreConrad Moore lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he is the founder of Njema Artwear And Design Studio — a small creative design business dealing primarily in fabric, textile and clothing. Conrad also serves as an anti-racism trainer for the MCC U.S. Damascus Road Training Program. Conrad is a former Marine who served a tour of duty in Vietnam. His commitment to peace, justice and non-violence springs from his life experiences, reflected in this quote from the DVD, Thermostat:
Some years later Conrad got into a serious fight with a fellow Marine, and spent nearly ten months in solitary confinement.
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Mari VillalunaBeing born and raised in the City of San Francisco, Mari views herself as a global citizen. This view stems from her military experiences ranging from both parents having some form of military service, to her 8th grade JROTC class experience while living in Germany, to her systemic U.S. Army 6 month basic training which led to an entry level separation. She recently completed the Mennonite Central Committee summer service program, and currently loves spending time critically analyzing films of all genres (except horror!). Top
Ertell WhighamErtell Whigham lives in King of Prussia Pennsylvania with his wife Pat and serves as Associate Pastor of Norristown New Life Church, a multi-cultural, bilingual congregation. Ertell also serves half-time as a Conference Minister for Franconia Mennonite Conference and Facilitator Team Leader for The Philadelphia Urban Ministry Partnership. Ertell served 6 years in the U.S. Marine Corps both with a combat unit in Vietnam (1968-1969) and as a recruiting Sergeant (1973-1974). As a young man growing up in North Philadelphia, there were few options for advancement or escape. During Ertell's junior and senior years in high school there were more than 35 gang- related deaths in Philadelphia. You either had to fight or be connected with someone who could. While it was not Ertell's nature to be violent, he knew there wasn't much of a future for an 18 year-old father with limited education and resources. Ertell saw the Marine Corps as an opportunity to change his life and provide resources for the future. What the Marine Corps claimed to offer was impressive and exciting. However at the young age of 18 Ertell discovered there wasn't much glamour in the jungles of Vietnam, only death, fear and destruction. During Ertell's time as a recruiter he felt good about what the Marine Corps offered, even though it wasn't perfect. After his discharge in 1974, Ertell connected with the Mennonites who talked of peace and nonviolence and were very anti-military. However, Ertell notes that Mennonites didn't do a very good job of offering an alternative. The military had helped Ertell care for his family as well as paid for his college education. Some years later, God spoke to Ertell's heart and said "How can you share the Love of Jesus with someone and want to take their life?." At that point Ertell knew it was not only about the alternatives offered by the Mennonites, it was about the way of the gospel. Today, as a Mennonite pastor, Ertell brings the gospel and alternatives together, as he helps young people follow Jesus and find meaningful opportunities for the future. Top |
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