
Building peaceful communities at the intersection of social justice, education, and the arts to foster healing since 1999.
We create cross-cultural collaborative programs, models, spaces, and places to build peace.
The Genesis Peace Hub
Institutionalizes our cross-cultural collaborative model and consolidates all of Genesis’ work under one roof
We envision a world where cross-cultural artistic expression and collaboration serve as a catalyst for interethnic dialogue and innovation, global understanding, healing and world peace. Education and humanitarian-centric business initiatives sustain and further those bridges while nurturing global leadership.
Together, we foster a just world for all, honoring our collective humanity.

Healing is a pre-condition for building peace anywhere and everywhere.
Without it, peace is nothing more than a pipe dream.

The Anatomy of a Peacebuilding Movement
Upcoming Events
Sounds of Healing™
Summer 2023 Tour
Washington, DC and Chicago
Wednesday, June 21st
Washington, DC
Capitol Hill for the US Congress
Rayburn House Office Building
5:30 – 7:30 PM with VIP reception to follow
Invitation-only event
Thursday, June 22nd
Chicago, IL
Francis W. Parker School
Diane and David B Heller Auditorium
4:30 – 6:30 PM
$125 VIP · Includes VIP concert seating, dinner with artists, name in program
$35 Adults · General admission
$20 Students and Seniors
Tickets & registration opening soon! Stay tuned…

Immerse Yourself in Art
Timeline Highlights
- 1999
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Hamsa-Fest & Saffron Caravan
Music festival showcasing the Middle East and N. Africa transitions to full-weekend outdoor music festival with national/international tour of original finale.
Performances include United Nations 60th Anniversary and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
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Art of Peace
A series of arts-education literacy programs for public schools and arts-education leadership for universities exploring character choices and outcomes, personal/cultural history and understanding through musical theater, dance and drumming workshops.
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Iraqi Plastics Art Gallery
Silent auction for group of Baghdadi artists who lost their homes and galleries due to war; sale of their art at Genesis festival in Chicago enabled us to return proceeds to the artists and their families while raising awareness of the plight of artists in active war zones.
Learn More… -
Peace Quilt Program
400+ Chicago-area and 150+ LA-area children designed quilts with their images for world peace for Iraqi children abroad. Exhibited at Chicago Children’s Museum and LA’s Museum of Tolerance
Refugee women’s quilting co-op at the Genesis Peace Hub’s Social Entrepreneurship Center.
Learn More… -
Saffron Caravan
Creation of Saffron Caravan, Genesis’ Professional World Music Ensemble with WFMT live global broadcast.
From 2007-2019, performances and artist-in-residency programs throughout the world; roundtables on music and conflict transformation.
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Arm Them with Instruments
Humanitarian program brings gently used instruments and professional music education to at-risk youth living through conflict and/or challenged circumstances channeling potentially destructive passion into constructive activities.
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The Love the Questions Salon Series
A multi-segmented salon series explores thought provoking inquiries augmented through art.
- How do the Arts Transcend Barriers?
- What is a New Conversation for Human Rights?
- How Can Women’s Leadership Transform the 21st Century? (annual since 2019)
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Genesis Academy Summer Institute
Pre-university Chicago students join with others from areas of conflict. They love and learn together in four curricular areas:
- Heroes and Human Rights
- Music and Peacebuilding
- Environmental Sustainability
- Peace Journalism.
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Sounds of Healing™
Program combines Saffron Caravan with Genesis youth musicians (Genesis Academy Summer Institute graduates). First programs out of virtual Peace Hub during the pandemic.
2022 – 2024: Live, in-person programs
- Chicagoland, DC, Philly, and NYC
- Global Tour to E and W Europe, the ME, Africa, and Latin America
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Genesis Peace Hub
Physically place-making our legacy piece. Institutionalizes our cross-cultural collaborative model. Designed as a convener, incubator, catalyst, and accelerator for building peaceful communities.
In additional to all Genesis arts and cultural programs and educational ones, it features a:
Learn More… - Onwards
Photo credits to Megan Bearder Photography, Michelle Zousmer and Wendy Sternberg