Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Leymah Gbowee did not retreat in the face of civil war. Instead, she found a path forward by helping child soldiers heal as a trauma therapist and ultimately leading a grassroots movement that united women across faiths to promote peace and transform Liberia’s future.
Laureate Gbowee will visit Utah on April 16, 2026, to share her powerful story on stage with Women for Women International CEO, Thelma Ekiyor, at Bellwether International’s Annual Nobel Peace Prize Dinner. This event is held in conjunction with the Third Annual Bridging Religious Divides Symposium and is co-hosted by Utah Global Diplomacy. Building on the success of previous years, the event will empower Utah leaders to disrupt cycles of genocide through citizen diplomacy and cross-cultural engagement.
“Nobel Laureate Gbowee’s work is an inspiring example of how centering women in interfaith movements can disrupt the cycle of violence and create genocide resistance for entire nations,” said Bellwether International Founder and CEO Rachel Miner. “We believe the key to genocide prevention is bridging divides and creating a movement where people of all backgrounds unite to promote understanding, respect, and human dignity.”
Following Liberia’s civil war, Gbowee mobilized women to help elect Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the first female president in 2005. She later helped bring global attention to women’s experiences during the civil war through the award-winning documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell. Her collective impact led to her selection as a 2011 Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
This symposium, held at the University of Utah, will include a screening of Pray the Devil Back to Hell, followed by a discussion led by Utah Valley University President Astrid Tuminez. Attendees will also participate in workshops led by Palina Louangketh, Founder and Executive Director of the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora; Shima Baradaran Baughman, Woodruff J. Deem Professor of Law at Brigham Young University; and Ambassador Matthew Tueller, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (2019–2022).
“We are thrilled to welcome Nobel Laureate Gbowee to Utah and learn from her powerful, bridge-building work,” said Utah Global Diplomacy Board Chair Jennie Lloyd. “Her mission resonates with people of all faiths and backgrounds across our state and her example empowers us to practice citizen diplomacy by lowering the temperature and building bridges of understanding. Her work and example demonstrate how we can strengthen and uplift our communities and world.”
The Third Annual Bridging Religious Divides Symposium is open to the public. Attendees can register online for both the symposium and the evening keynote address.
ABOUT BELLWETHER INTERNATIONAL
Bellwether International is a nonprofit dedicated to disrupting the cycle of genocide and building genocide-resistant communities worldwide. Partnering with local leaders, it strengthens social cohesion, expands economic opportunity, and promotes freedom of religion or belief. Through locally driven solutions, research, and programming, Bellwether addresses root causes of violence and equips communities to prevent conflict and foster long-term resilience. Learn more at www.bellwetherngo.org
ABOUT UTAH GLOBAL DIPLOMACY
Utah Global Diplomacy is committed to promoting respect and understanding between the people of Utah and other nations. This work is grounded in citizen diplomacy—the belief that every individual has the right and responsibility to help shape U.S. foreign relations through personal connections. The organization advances this mission through international exchange programs, home hosting, and global affairs events. Learn more at www.utahglobaldiplomacy.org
