USIP Celebrates International Women's Day with Tribute to Rose Lucey

On Friday, February 27th, USIP hosted Catherine Busch-Johnston, producer of the 1993 series: "The Face of Wisdom: Stories of Elder Women" for a discussion about Rose Lucey – one of the early activists who initiated the grassroots campaign for the National Peace Academy, which became the United States Institute of Peace when Congress passed legislation in 1984. USIP screened footage of Rose's recollection of a road trip she took with her husband and son from California to Indiana when the idea for a national peace academy dawned on her. After a workshop conference at Notre Dame in 1966, 200 people returned to 150 congressional districts to begin lobbying for a national peace academy. At USIP's event last Friday, the audience asked Catherine about her motivation for making the film about Rose and the significance of her films for International Women's Day, celebrated worldwide on March 8th. International Women's Day recognizes the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. Recognizing Rose Lucey for her contribution to the past and future of the Institute is part of USIP's commemoration of 25 Years of Peacebuilding: 1984-2009.