Leaders from around the globe

International Cities of Peace is a nonprofit, volunteer organization. If you would like to start a City of Peace initiative in your community contact us for more information at: info@InternationalCitiesOfPeace.org

OUR ACTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

representing five continents, Europe,  Asia, Africa, North America, and South America.

Ayo Ayoola-Amale, Ph.D., (Chair) Lagos, Nigeria

Ayo Ayoola-Amale is an attorney, peace architect, and global mediator, serving as the Lead of the City of Peace Initiative (CPI), Lagos, Nigeria. CPI was established in 2017 and formally registered as an NGO in 2020 with a foundational group of women lawyers, judges, and mediators. CPI operates under a five-member Board of Trustees composed of legal and conflict-resolution thought leaders. Under Ayo’s leadership, CPI’s specialized secretariat has forged deep cross-sector partnerships with dozens of academic and civic institutions, successfully mentoring, offering pro bono legal services, and implementing peer mediation trainer of trainer frameworks that have impacted more than 500,000 pupils, students, and youth across Lagos. Her groundbreaking Women’s Empowerment Programs structurally mobilize expert women jurists, mediators, and certified restorative justice practitioners to train community leaders in advanced restorative practices, while embedding anti-bullying blueprints directly into schools to build robust social capital. A master of regional scaling, Ayo serves as a premier mentor to multiple chapters across Nigeria, having directly incubated two Cities of Peace in Abuja and is currently spearheading the strategic establishment of the International City of Peace in Adamawa in affiliation with the American University of Nigeria in Yola, seamlessly bridging grassroots execution with institutional law and higher education.

J. Frederick Arment (Founder, Chair Emeritus, Vice Chair), Dayton, Ohio

Founder and current Chair and Lead Facilitator of International Cities of Peace. Arment’s novels include the philosophical orphan’s tale, “Backbeat: A Novel of Physics,” and a political thriller, “The Synthesis.” His nonfiction work, “The Elements of Peace: How Nonviolence Works,” was released by McFarland Academic Publishers in 2012. In addition, “The Economics of Peace: Freedom, the Golden Rule, and Broadening Prosperity” was published by McFarland in fall of 2014. After an early career as a teacher, Arment founded a successful writing and marketing firm and began lecturing at Wilberforce College and Wright State University. In 2017 as the result of an International Cities of Peace alliance for Southeast Asia, Arment was engaged as Distinguished Researcher for the Institute for National Memory and International Peace Studies in Nanjing. He has keynoted events in South Korea, United States, Jamaica, China, and Northern Ireland as well as virtually on the continents of Europe, Africa, Asia, South, North and Central Americas.

Inés Palomeque, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Founder and President of Mil Milenios De Paz (MMP, or the Thousand Millennia of Peace), which has over twenty “Cities Committed to Peace” in South America. Inés is also Project Director for the Culture of Peace Art Ecology and Peace Foundation and Founding Member of the Peace Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Argentina and the Peace Council of Argentina. In 2021, she was elected President of the Honorable International Council of Peace Ambassadors.

Liu Cheng, Ph.D., Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China

Liu Cheng, born in 1964, is Professor for History and  holder of the UNESCO Chair of Peace Studies for China. He is Director of Institute for Peace Studies, in School of History, Nanjing University and holds concurrent posts as the following: vice president of Society of World History of Jiangsu Province, member of China British History Association, vice director of The Center for Collaborative Innovation in the South China Sea, director of Peace Studies Center in The Institute of Nanjing Massacre History & International Peace, senior researcher of The Charhar Institute, vice president of Peace Culture Research Association of Hunan Province, member of the executive committee of Northeast Asia Regional Peacebuilding Institute, member of Asia-Pacific Peace Research Association, member of China in Transcend International. He is Coordinator for the Nanjing Peace Forum and editor, publisher and author of many publications, including the first Peace Studies Journal in China and the five-book International Cities of Peace series published in 2023.

Danielle Henson, Quad Cities, Illinois, U.S.A.

Danielle Henson is an originating member of the 116th International Cities of Peace; Elgin City of Peace (ECP), and Coordinating Chair for 10 years. Under Danielle’s leadership ECP engaged in cultural celebrations, family activities, community-wide panel discussions, and hate crime prevention events. ECP built capacity for impact for Restorative Justice circles, important nonviolence screenings and discussions, and held critical community dialogues after gang violence and an officer-involved shooting. Danielle built strong coalitions with civic, educational, Rotary, social service and health care institutions to provide free programs of impact and peacebuilding. ECP was awarded Elgin’s 2014 Dr. Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award for community programming and engagement. Danielle was honored with the 2017 YWCA Betty Brown Racial Justice award for her commitment to community dialogue, Each One Reach One documentary film production, and cultural and peacebuilding celebrations. She held positions on community boards, in public libraries and colleges, and is currently serving a college chapel and owner of The Conversation Peace blog and private Spiritual Direction practice.

Barbara Gaughen-Muller, Santa Barbara, California, U.S.A.

Barbara co-authored Revolutionary Conversations: The Tools You Need for the Success You want. Barbara is the creator and host of the popular PeacePodcast.org with over 200 interviews with world peace leaders and is the publisher of  Peace Community Magazine. She is the immediate past President of the United Nations Association – Southern California Division. Ms. Gaughen-Muller is co-founder and past President of the Rotary E-Club of World Peace as well as past President of the Rotary Action Group for Peace. She received the Spirit of the United Nations Award after her 70th anniversary speech at the U.N headquarters in New York. She will be instrumental in the Board Member Nominating Committee for International Cities of Peace.

Gail Leslie Hoffman, Ph.D., (Executive Recorder) Michigan, U.S.A.

Dr. Hoffman is a Rotarian, serving as Rotary International Foundation Peace Fellowship Subcommittee Chair. She also serves as Facilitator for the Rotarianism for Cities of Peace™ program from International Cities of Peace, Ms. Hoffman is Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Midland, Michigan, USA, where she serves as their Peacebuilding Committee Chair. She also holds positions as District 6310 Peace & Conflict Transformation Champion and Foundation Peace Fellow Chair. She earned a Ph.D. from Michigan State University in their HALE program (Higher Adult & Lifelong Education). In 2005, she retired from Delta College as Interim Vice President, Dean of Teaching & Learning, and Full Professor. Gail’s awards include a Community Peace Award at the Mridha International Institute of Peace & Happiness at Saginaw Valley State University; the Donald MacRae Peace Award at the Rotary Zones 28 & 32 Learning Summit in Toronto in 2023; and most recently, District 6310 Rotarian of the Year at the Rotary Foundation Gala in 2024.

Lonnie Franks, Dayton, Ohio, United States
Lonnie D. Franks is a business analyst, systems engineer, and mathematician whose work blends technical rigor with a deep commitment to peacebuilding, climate justice, and community resilience. In addition to his contributions to the Dayton International Peace Museum, Lonnie is actively engaged in climate‑restoration efforts through initiatives such as localized ocean fertilization, deep‑ocean tele‑illumination, and algae‑based biofuels, supporting innovative approaches to environmental healing and sustainable development. He brings extensive experience in fundraising, helping mission‑driven organizations build the resources needed to expand their impact. Lonnie’s interests span restorative justice, humanitarian engagement, regenerative systems, and the use of emerging technologies to strengthen relationships and empower communities. With roots in Midwestern manufacturing culture and a lifelong dedication to service, he brings both analytical clarity and heartfelt commitment to the mission of International Cities of Peace.

Darlene Doiron, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

A Chartered Mediator, peacebuilder, educator, and facilitator with more than 25 years of experience advancing peace through dialogue, collaboration, and conflict transformation, Darlene Doiron is the founder of Medi8 Solutions Inc. and serves as Manager of Psychological Health with the Government of Canada, where she helps build psychologically healthy and respectful workplaces. Darlene holds a master’s degree in Sustainable World Peace from the United Nations-mandated University for Peace and completed advanced studies in negotiation and mediation through Dalhousie University and Harvard University. In recognition of her commitment to community peacebuilding, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2024 for her contributions to advancing peace and was awarded the YMCA Peace Medal in April 2026 for her community leadership. Through her work, Darlene continues to champion the belief that peace begins with everyday conversations and that each of us has the power to create lasting ripples of positive change.

Gabreegziabher Tadele Desalegn, Makelle, Tigray, Ethiopia

A City of Peace leader in Ethiopia, Tadele is currently acting as ICP Facilitator, Media. He is a journalist and communication expert with over eleven years of experience in the field. Tadele was appointed as the deputy head of Ambassadors by the International Diplomats Organization and awarded the Business Administration international certificate from Faith Leads University, Florida, U.S.A. He has been certified by international media outlets like CNN Academy, AFP, Reuters, NBCU Academy, The International Lens and others. He is also a global peace ambassador certified by Institute for Economics and Peace, Global Peace Chain, United Nations Peace Ambassadors Foundation, My body is my Body foundation, the deputy head of Ambassadors at International Diplomats, a volunteer of US-Africa Initiative, country ambassador of International Leadership Competition, peace ambassador At Large for The Implementation of Universal Human Rights Declaration, and has over 140 international certificates.

Kjeld Lanng, Aalborg, Juteland, Denmark

Board Member of Aalborg, Denmark City of Peace; ICP U.N. Representative to Geneva Human Rights Commission; Previously, Director of Human Resources at Danish Universities. Master in Social Sciences (Aalborg University – dissertation within Peace and Conflict Studies) and Master in Mediation and Conflict Resolution (University of Copenhagen). Among other distinguishments: Seniors without Borders North (Chairman), The Danish UN Association North (board member), SDG-Center North Jutland Initiative (member of steering committee), The Conflict Resolution Committee Villa Vangile in Tuscany/Italy (member).

 

For information on Cities of Peace, inc. Nonprofit Governance, click here:

SPECIAL DISTINGUISHED ADVISOR

Peter vanden Dungen, Ph.D, Bradford, England

Foremost scholar and author of the definitive paper on cities of peace, “Idee und Geschichte der neuzeitlichen, Friedensstadt”. Peter is General Coordinator of the International Network of Museums for Peace and author of many books including “Pacifism,” “Peace Movements and Political Cultures, Vol. I (co-edited),” and “Twentieth Century Peace Movement.”

 

ICP Central Facilitators

Cities of Peace, Inc., is currently looking for professional partners to provide pro bono support for accounting, bookkeeping, grant writing, and other professional capabilities. If you are interested in working with a successful peace organization, please contact: arment@internationalcitiesofpeace.org

Official Facilitators

  • Lead Facilitator: J. Frederick Arment, Space Coast, United States
  • U.N. Geneva Representatives: Kjeld Lanng, Finn Reske-Neilsen, Denmark; Rahul Chaly, Thrissur, India
  • U.N. Representative, New York: Darlene Doiron, Canada
  • Media/Public Relations: Gebreegziabher Tadele Desalegn, Ethiopia
  • Systems Advisor: Hafiz Uzzaman Tuhin, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Program Advisor: Christine Jones, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
  • Legal: Terry Arnold, Lagos, Nigeria
  • Continent Facilitators:

    • South/Central America: Inés Palomeque, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Asia: Liu Cheng, Nanjing, China
  • Compliance, Legal, Accounting, Development, Grant Writing: Open

VOLUNTEERS FOR INTERNATIONAL CITIES OF PEACE:

There are many dedicated volunteers that have been working with International Cities of Peace for years, even decades. A new Strategic Plan for the future of the organization is available in the Documents section of the website. Positions, position descriptions, titles, etc. are detailed.

Above all, thanks to all the volunteers, facilitators, donors, mentors, and advocates for the Cities of Peace movement at the core of our vision.