Entries by Eileen Borris

Powerful Women Changing Mindsets and Forging Political Forgiveness

Commemorating International Women’s Day Gloria Steinem, a world-renowned feminist once explained: “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” This is what International Women’s Day (IWD) commemorates. March 1911 was the birth of IWD, […]

Extraordinary Personal Forgiveness Leads to the Healing of a Community

While we still are working toward racial justice, there are inspiring stories that shine a light on bravery and perseverance, stories that show when people can begin to question their basic values, we can change and experience and learn new things. The following story about the Echo Theater is a reminder that we can acknowledge […]

Political Forgiveness and the Healing of Nations

Keynote Address to Ethiopia Symposium on Higher Education for Post-Conflict Transformation This is a condensed version of the keynote speech delivered by Eileen Borris in Addis Ababa on November 6, 2023. It is such an honor and a pleasure to be invited to Ethiopia and to meet such wonderful people committed to building peace, and […]

‘Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. without them humanity cannot survive.’ — the Dalai Lama

I was talking to a dear friend of mine, Father Leonel Narváez who has been very involved with the issues of political forgiveness especially in Colombia, his home. I asked him what was his inspiration for his tireless work in forgiveness. What he said was no surprise. “The importance of forgiveness came to me when […]

Deep Healing and Emotional Expression: Political Forgiveness as a Unique Peacebuilding Process

On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying both the presidents of Burundi and Rwanda was shot down over the Rwandan capital, Kigali, leaving no survivors. Although it was thought that Hutu extremist were responsible for the downing of the plane, there were allegations placed on RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front) leaders for what happened. This ignited […]

The Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Movement: A Political Forgiveness Process in Action

There is a movement afoot. It is called the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation movement where like-minded people have come together from all walks of life to address the historical and contemporary effects of racism. Not only is this movement concerned with the effects of racism found in social, economic and government policies, it is […]

The Inclusive Leader Podcast #28: Healing Through Political Forgiveness

 Utilizing and Facilitating Forgiveness for Individuals, Communities, and Nations (with Eileen Boriss) Part of the expansive idea of inclusive leadership that we are promoting at the Inclusive Leadership Institute is the ability to bring healing to fractured social systems, that includes communities, societies, and also organizations that require healing from a variety of social […]

Political Forgiveness 101

There is so much good work happening in the field of peacebuilding and conflict resolution that goes unnoticed and which is very inspiring. Especially heartwarming are the women peace makers who bring to the mix compassion, understanding and nurturance. With all the division and “us versus them” mentality, to heal these divisions and transform conflict […]