This is the sixth and final in an occasional series of blog posts occasioned by a visit I made to Rwanda in the summer of 2024. The first, second, third, fourth and fifth can be found at the included links.

The Roots of Violence: From Rwanda to Milwaukee
In my second blog post, Putting a Face to the Harm—Commemorating Lives, I wrote about the Kigali Genocide Memorial and how violence rarely erupts suddenly. It builds slowly through layers of conflict, division, and systemic inequity. In Rwanda, colonial rule imposed rigid racial hierarchies, embedding discrimination deep within institutions. Over time, these injustices intensified, leading to devastating violence and, ultimately, genocide.

While the scale and circumstances differ, aspects of this pattern are tragically familiar. In cities such as Milwaukee, cycles of community violence—especially gun violence—continue to disproportionately impact Black communities. Each act of harm, beyond its own wrongfulness, reinforces historical trauma and inequity, mistrust, and disconnection. In 2022, according to the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Wisconsin ranked second in the nation for Black homicide victimization—a sobering statistic that reflects both the depth of harm and the urgency of response.

This is the fifth in an occasional series of blog posts occasioned by a visit to Rwanda this past summer. The first, second, third, and fourth can be found at the included links.

In previous blog posts, I have reflected on the powerful experiences that shaped my 2024 visit to Rwanda—observing the resilience of communities, the deep listening that fosters healing, and the transformative work being done to advance justice and reconciliation. These experiences culminated in two pivotal events: our visit to the future site of the Isoko Peace Institute and attendance at the international conference, Listening & Leading: The Art and Science of Peace, Resilience & Transformational Justice, from Rwanda to the World, held in Kigali.

The visit to the site of the Isoko Peace Institute (IPI) and the conference were hosted by Aegis Trust, an organization at the forefront of genocide prevention and peacebuilding. Aegis Trust operates the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which serves as both a site of remembrance and an educational center for reconciliation. The IPI and the conference embodied Aegis Trust’s mission, uniting voices from across the world to explore how Rwanda’s experiences can inform global efforts to counter hate, foster justice, and build sustainable peace.

The Birth of the Isoko Peace Institute

Before the official announcement at the conference, my friends from the Medical College of Wisconsin and I had the extraordinary opportunity to visit the future site of the IPI at the invitation of Freddie Mutanguha, CEO of Aegis Trust.

This invitation-only event was a deeply moving experience. As we stood on that land, surrounded by cultural celebrations, music, and dance, we could feel simultaneously the weight of history and the hope for the future. It was a profound reminder that, even in a nation once devastated by violence, joy and resilience endure. The rhythms of the drums, the grace of the dancers, and the warmth of the community embodied the essence of rebuilding not just structures, but relationships and trust.

The IPI will serve as a global center for learning, where Rwanda’s lessons on resilience, justice, and healing will be shared with the world—a vision that felt profoundly real in our onsite moment. An ambitious initiative, the IPI will be constructed by Aegis Trust in Bugesera in Eastern Rwanda. Designed as a “sister campus” to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the institute will be a hub for research, training, and policy development in peace and conflict resolution. It will serve as a space where scholars, practitioners, and future leaders can engage in transformative dialogue and action.

As we stood on that land, we were not just visitors; we were witnesses to a future in the making. The IPI will be more than a building; it will be a beacon of education, reconciliation, and global peacebuilding.

Shortly after the Isoko Peace Institute visit, we had the privilege of attending the conference in Kigali, a global gathering that brought together some 380 participants from more than 25 countries, all committed to building peace in their own communities. The conference was a testament to Rwanda’s post-genocide transformation—one that has turned unimaginable loss into a model for healing and justice. It provided a space for learning, connection, and action, reaffirming that peace is possible when we choose to pursue it with intention and courage.

A Conference with Global Impact

Throughout the conference, we were honored by the presence of Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, who spoke powerfully about the urgency of addressing hate speech and fostering reconciliation. A historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the UN Office of Prevention of Genocide and Aegis Trust was signed, ensuring continued collaboration in global peace efforts. Other MOUs were also formalized, strengthening Aegis Trust’s partnerships with the Rwanda Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement, the Rwanda Ministry of Education, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and UNESCO. These partnerships will help expand education, research, and practical applications of peacebuilding initiatives worldwide. In my next and final blog in this series, I will discuss the developing partnership between Aegis Trust and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

We learned that the conference was bookended by two significant gatherings which extended its reach. Before the main event, the United Nations Office on the Prevention of Genocide hosted a three-day workshop on hate speech, bringing together forty journalists—particularly from Africa—to discuss the rising dangers of misinformation and incitement. On the other end of the conference, the International Membership Organization for Memorials and Museums Related to Human Rights convened forty museum directors, including Professor Emma Nardi, who leads the global consortium of museums and memorials. These conversations deepened the conference’s impact, reinforcing the critical role of education and storytelling in preventing future atrocities.

Listening as a Tool for Justice

A recurring theme throughout the conference was the power of listening as a tool for transformation. In Rwanda, listening to stories has played a vital role in reconciliation—whether through gacaca courts, community dialogues, or reconciliation villages. One particularly moving experience for the audience was listening to stories from Rweru Reconciliation Village, where genocide survivors and former perpetrators now live side by side. Their journey toward coexistence is about not simply forgiving the past but actively creating a shared future. Their testimonies reminded us that deep listening is itself an act of justice—it acknowledges pain, fosters understanding, and opens the door to healing.

Having previously visited this village just before the start of the conference, I had the opportunity to witness this remarkable community firsthand, an experience I shared in my blog, Rweru Reconciliation Village: A Symbol of Forgiveness and Healing in Post-Genocide Rwanda. Walking through the village, I saw not just a place of survival but one of intentional reconciliation, where courage and humanity intersect. Hearing the villagers speak again at the conference reinforced that reconciliation is—far from a passive process—an active, ongoing commitment to rebuilding trust and dignity. Their stories remain some of the most powerful examples of what is possible when a society chooses peace over division.

Transformational Leadership and Global Justice Practices

The conference underscored the necessity for visionary leadership in post-conflict societies. Rwanda’s leaders have focused not only on rebuilding infrastructure but also on restoring social cohesion. This dual approach—addressing both physical and relational wounds—has enabled the country to make extraordinary strides in just three decades.

Keynote speakers emphasized that effective leadership requires courage, transparency, and inclusivity. Their discussions reinforced that, whether in government, education, or community initiatives, true leadership is about bringing people together and bridging divides.

This theme resonated beyond Rwanda. The conference facilitated an exchange of global justice practices, with attendees sharing lessons from restorative justice programs in the United States, Indigenous peace traditions in Latin America, and community-led reconciliation efforts in Africa to name a few. While every society faces unique challenges, the core principles of listening, humility, and accountability transcend borders.

The Leadership of Freddie Mutanguha

Among the most inspiring figures at the conference was Freddie Mutanguha, the CEO of Aegis Trust, whose personal story is a testament to resilience and purpose. Having lost nearly eighty family members and friends in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Mutanguha transformed his unimaginable grief into a lifelong commitment to genocide prevention and peacebuilding. Under his leadership, Aegis Trust has expanded its impact, from running the Kigali Genocide Memorial to leading educational initiatives that challenge hatred and promote reconciliation worldwide. His work serves as a powerful reminder that leadership in post-genocide societies is not about rhetoric but about action, education, and healing.

The Founding Vision of James and John Smith

The legacy of Aegis Trust is also shaped by the dedication of James and John Smith, who have been instrumental in genocide prevention and historical memory. Their unwavering commitment to justice and peace led to the founding of Aegis Trust, which has played a pivotal role in documenting the history of genocide, supporting survivors, and equipping communities with the tools to prevent future atrocities. Through their leadership, Aegis Trust has built global partnerships, influenced policy, and provided a platform for voices that might otherwise have been forgotten. Their work, alongside leaders like Freddie Mutanguha, illustrates that transformational leadership is about more than responding to the past—it is about actively shaping a future where justice, dignity, and peace prevail.

A Call to Action: Rising Beyond Doubt

The story of Rwanda’s transformation is not just about overcoming the tragedy of genocide—it is about the intentional, courageous work of building a more just and peaceful society. Standing at the future site of the Isoko Peace Institute and participating in the conference were more than moments of reflection—they were calls to action. The resilience and determination I witnessed in Rwanda reminded me that peace is not a passive state; it is an ongoing process that requires collective effort, moral courage, and deep listening.

The creation of the IPI and the powerful exchanges at the conference demonstrated that healing and justice are not abstract ideals—they are lived experiences shaped by bold leadership, honest dialogue, and the willingness to confront painful truths. As Rwanda shares its lessons with the world, the Isoko Peace Institute will become a symbol of what is possible when a nation chooses reconciliation over division, and hope over despair.

My previous blog post, Memory Matters—Recalling Rwanda, introduced the unforgettable experience I had at a 2024 summer conference in that country, which was held in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Genocide Against the Tutsi. What I saw, what I heard, what I felt furthered my foundational belief and commitment directing the Andrew Center for Restorative Justice at Marquette University Law School.

To begin basically: Memory, through storytelling, is essential to moving beyond violence and harm—the first step toward cultivating healing and safety for those harmed and accountability and compassion for those who harmed. In Rwanda, where more than one million children, women, and men were slaughtered over three months, any hope for peace requires remembering to commemorate those innocents who died because of ethnic hatred propagated in the name of revenge. In a country where genocide survivors and perpetrators are neighbors, co-workers, and even family members living side-by-side, that means putting a face to those behind the staggering statistics, which alone cannot truly speak to the senseless brutality.

Last July, I saw some of the faces during visits to two of nearly ten genocide memorials the Rwandan government created a decade after the unspeakable happened in summer 1994. This blog post is harder to write than the previous one because each of those faces—captured in time by photographs or symbolically present through stark physical remnants of the victims as well as perpetrators—represents a life story. Maurice, a guide at one of the memorials and genocide survivor, explained simply, “Sharing stories brings the humanity back to us.” That struck me. Who is remembered readily by loved ones left behind is why we all must not look away but rather remember through respectful commemoration. I write this perhaps-painful-to-read blog in that spirit.

Kigali Genocide Memorial

As the largest in the nation, the genocide memorial in the city of Kigali is the final resting place of more than 250,000 Tutsi murdered in the area. Funded in part by the city and organizations such as Aegis Trust, which facilitated the summer conference I attended, the memorial opened in 2004. It consists of the Exhibit Building, Burial Place, and Gardens of Reflection, all designed to serve as the starting point for education in peace and values, which is now built into Rwanda’s national school curriculum to strengthen community resilience against division. The site does so in many ways:

• Providing a dignified place of burial for Tutsi victims
• Educating visitors about the causes of the Genocide Against the Tutsi and other genocides throughout history and the world
• Teaching how to prevent future genocides
• Documenting evidence of the Genocide Against the Tutsi, testimonials of survivors, and stories of the victims
• Supporting survivors, especially widows and orphans.

Accompanied by our guide, Maurice (pictured with permission), we first toured three permanent exhibitions at the Kigali memorial.

“The 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi”

Detailing colonial roots of the ethnic hatred behind the genocide and the failure of the international community to intervene, this exhibit depicts the horrors and atrocities of 1994. That includes attempting to explain how friends, neighbors, and family members committed violent crimes against the Tutsi and Tutsi sympathizers—including brutality against women and children who, if not killed, were raped and mutilated in an effort to prevent a new generation of Tutsi from emerging.

“Wasted Lives”

Describing similar horrors including the Holocaust and Srebenica, this exhibit demonstrates that Rwanda is among too many instances of lives senselessly wasted through genocide.

“The Children’s Room”

A memorial to the murdered Tutsi children, this was the most painful exhibit for me and clearly the most real to Maurice, himself a child in 1994 who lost many in his family. Large pictures of boys and girls, each depicting the personal story behind the once-smiling face and including age and favorite foods, concluded with his/her last words, memories, and details of death. Some of those like Maurice who survived are also pictured, including quotes about watching their mothers chopped to death and witnessing babies slammed against walls. The inhumane acts I read about were so unthinkable that I don’t have the luxury to forget. Rather, I have the duty to relay, in order to commemorate the victims.

In stark contrast to the exhibitions’ vivid depictions and descriptions, two other parts of the memorial—the Burial Place and Gardens of Reflection—completed my visit. The sanctity of the underground tombs and concrete-covered mass graves filled with caskets and bones of unidentified victims forbids any photography inside. None is needed to feel the depth of such loss—compounded by the reality that remains continue to be found and placed in the tombs. The day I visited, two lone roses on the ground stood as sentinels to the quarter-million lives lost in this vicinity alone.

Nyamata Genocide Memorial

Another 10,000 lives are commemorated at the memorial located around the grounds of the former Nyamata Church. What remains of the church—where Tutsi sought refuge, only to be massacred over two weeks in April 1994—is a chilling site of remembrance, especially for women survivors who were systematically raped and abused in that once-hallowed space.

Led by a survivor-guide, I saw the tin roof riddled with bullet holes. A white altar cloth red from blood. Benches for prayer repurposed to display the clothing of the once prayerful. The basement that resembles catacombs, with coffins and racks of skulls and bones, including those of many infants. Haunting and profound words of survivors appear on plaques throughout the church, now sacred for a reason much different that the structure’s original intent. Two examples only:

“I remember the sound of blood flowing on the floor.”

“If you had known me, and you had really known yourself, you would not have killed me.”

The memorials I experienced are vital reminders of the human capacity for evil and destruction. But if we allow the story to end there, we fail those who perished. In my next blog post, I will plumb the better side of humankind as I share my visit to the Rweru Reconciliation Village—a model of hope rooted in the human capacity to forgive and build peace.

Thank you for being on this journey with me.