CIRCLE CONNECTIONS
	U.N. Women's Circles Connecting

Barbara began her educational journey as a nurse in England. Later she worked in a community hospital in Maine where she developed the Community Health Education Department. Barbara chaired the AIDS Coalition for Lincoln County during the 80’s working with others to bring AIDS education, awareness and support to the communities throughout out Maine.

While looking for child care for her son, she discovered that lack of qualified early child care providers in her area. She then founded and directed the Four Seasons Nanny School which was a licensed, short term occupational training program for those wishing to become highly qualified childcare providers, or nannies.

Barbara transitioned to NH from Maine where she attended Antioch New England Graduate School. After receiving her Master’s in Education with Waldorf Certification, Barbara worked for over 10 years in several elementary and middle schools in the Monadnock Region. During that time she volunteered as an EMT/Firefighter with the Temple Volunteer Fire Department and trained as a canine specialist with the FEMA Task Force in MA.

During the summer of 2001 Barbara was part of an international organization, Hands in Peace that went to Greece, Ecuador and China over the next 6 years working with children from communities in conflict. The children were brought together to learn about peace through physical fitness activities, art and games. The results were astonishing!

Barbara also became the NH Coordinator for the Department of Peace campaign in 2004 and worked tirelessly to bring this old idea (since 1072) to a new audience; this lead to her work with the Student Peace Alliance.

Since 2001 Barbara has volunteered at the NH State Prison for Men in Concord NH with the Alternatives to Violence Project workshops where she has been the Outside Facilities Coordinator since 2005.

All these experiences helped to inform Barbara and convince her that Peace is Possible, it is a matter of awareness, education, skill and a heartfelt desire to become a more engaged citizen who is capable of bringing about a more peaceful planet.

With this information Barbara returned to teaching at Nashua Community College in 2007 when she began her work to create the Peace and Social Justice Studies Program that was launched in September 2009. She has worked closely with the National Peace Academy, The United States Institute of Peace and the University for Peace in Costa Rica to bring a rich array of opportunities and material to her students at NCC. Barbara was the Education Department Chairperson and the Program Coordinator for the Peace and Social Justice Studies Program at NCC.

In 2006 Barbara started her business, PeaceWorks New Hampshire, LLC. During her tenure at NCC the business was resting. After leaving NCC in the summer of 2012, Barbara has reactivated her business which provides Collaborative Educational Consulting and creative conflict resolution programs. She is a teacher and group facilitator for the Circle Process, an ancient social gathering form that promotes and builds healthy communities through the art of communication. Barbara enjoys incorporating art and experiential exercises and fun activities in all her work. Barbara is a Reiki Practitioner and volunteers with the Gather the Women Global Matrix promoting circle gatherings in NH.

Barbara is currently working with a local horse farm to create retreats. Together with the horses, she is developing a new program in collaboration with others called, Harness Our Courage: Restore and Soar!

Barbara has two grown married sons; the youngest is in the Service. She lives in southern NH with her husband Peter, her dog, cat, 14 chickens and four bee hives! She is an artist, avid gardener and loves to walk in the woods.