From UC Berkeley News:
On a journey to Israel this summer, Berkeley undergrad Shannon Thomas visited the hill where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount.... For Thomas, however, “Blessed are the peacemakers” was the “big line” — the one that spoke to her viscerally.  A third-year double major in peace and conflict studies and Middle Eastern studies with a minor in Arabic, Thomas has been keenly interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since her youth in San Diego. Once she came to Berkeley, she went hunting for more information.... She did learn of a group, founded at UC Irvine, that promotes “conflict analysis and resolution through experiential education” for college students. Impressed by its approach, Thomas decided to bring the Olive Tree Initiative to Berkeley, and now serves as founding president of the organization’s campus chapter.

For the full story, please visit http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2012/12/04/peacemaking-is-her-passion/.