Humanitarian Leadership Award
Humanitarian Leadership Award
Humanitarian Leadership Award
Barbara Simmons
Barbara Simmons has served as the executive director of The Peace Center for more than 30 years. She has created prevention and intervention programs to address conflict, violence, racism, and bigotry in over 300 schools, businesses and communities in the tri-state area. Her work in coalition-building – such as with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Task Force and the Bucks County Violence Prevention Task Force – has helped the community view violence as a public health issue related to the cycle of trauma.
Simmons has been a professor at Arcadia University’s International Peace and Conflict Resolution master’s program for more than 20 years. She has delivered trainings and workshops in Rwanda, South Africa, and Northern Ireland on topics such as diplomacy, peacebuilding and reconciliation.
Simmons was the creator and producer of PeaceTalks audio documentaries to bring awareness of peacebuilding across the world, including Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan; Israel and Palestine, and throughout the U.S. The programs aired on NPR, Public Radio International, and many other stations, with legendary journalist Walter Cronkite hosting several programs.
Simmons served as ambassador to WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer, serves on the Board of the Nakashima Foundation for Peace, the Executive Committee of the Bucks County NAACP, and co-chairs the MLK Peace & Justice Summit. She is Clerk of Newtown Friends Meeting.