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Peace Builders Academy

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Books for Sale by Rev. Dr. Joyce Penfield

Cover of The Power of African Proverbs in Mediating Disputes: The Igbo Case by Joyce Penfield

The Power of African Proverbs in Mediating Disputes: The Igbo Case

2026. Kindle e-book Direct Publishing.

The African continent has given the world many gifts, including the collective wisdom and advice of proverbs. For centuries, the skilled use of proverbs has played a powerful role in settling conflicts in African daily life. Why are they so powerful and how do they do this? This book is based on an ethnographic study of the stages of conflict management traditionally used by the Igbo of southeastern Nigeria and the role that the skillful use of proverbs can play in mediation.

Kindle/e-book format only.

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Cover of Before You Die, Plant a Tree by Joyce Penfield, showing a tall tree with a red cloth tied around its trunk

Before You Die, Plant a Tree: Practical Lessons for Peace Building from Cambodia

2021. Stillwater River Publications, RI.

As the title indicates, this book is a descriptive case study intended for social justice activists, faith groups, and others who seek practical ways to work together to repair their communities and care for their ecosystem. The author uses personal interviews, stories, and testimonies of Cambodians along with her own journal notes and trauma-informed training to explain how Peace Bridges Organization, a Cambodian nonprofit organization, is using nonviolent communication techniques, conflict management training, partnership with indigenous forest dwellers, and healing of those traumatized by violence to transform Cambodia into a healthier, more nonviolent society.

Paperback & Kindle/e-book format.

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Cover of Respecting Diversity, Working for Equity: A Handbook for Trainers by Joyce Penfield

Respecting Diversity, Working for Equity: A Handbook for Trainers and Educators

1998. 272pp.

Peace is the product of interpersonal respect for the dignity of all and institutions that demonstrate this in their policies and practices. This handbook is a practical tool for educators and workshop trainers who are open to a learning model that values: shared leadership, respect for one another, democratic organization, and a vision of a multicultural world that both values human diversity and strives for systems that are just and fair for all.

Most of this handbook consists of concrete activities/lesson plans for addressing nine multicultural competencies:

  • Valuing our Differences and Similarities (7)
  • Building Community (6)
  • Exploring Different Perspectives on Diversity (4)
  • Envisioning Multiculturalism (5)
  • Increasing Our Knowledge of Diversity (6)
  • Promoting Harmony (5)
  • Recognizing Prejudice and Bias (6)
  • Identifying Oppression (6)
  • Becoming Allies and Advocates (6)

Paperback copy only.

$75plus shipping

Order by email
How to order a paperback copy
Cover of The Hispanic Student: Questions & Answers by Joyce Penfield

The Hispanic Student: Questions and Answers

1989. 121pp.

To respect the dignity of others is to know about their culture, history, language, educational background, and political systems. This book provides a quick introduction to dominant Spanish-speakers from Latin America and the Caribbean for educators, social workers, health care workers, and other professionals. It was originally written to address some of the key misunderstandings and stereotypes that English-only speaking educators held about Latino/Latina, LatinX, Hispanic students.

Topics include:

  • Demographics
  • Diversity in the Hispanic community
  • Literacy
  • The Classroom
  • Child rearing and parenting
  • Language acquisition
  • Spanish & English: differences and similarities

Paperback copy only.

$40plus shipping

Order by email
How to order a paperback copy

How to order a paperback copy

  1. Press “Order by email” under the book you want. An email opens with the book title filled in.
  2. Add your name, mailing address, and number of copies, then send it.
  3. Joyce emails you back with the total, including shipping.
  4. Pay the total with Cash App ($JoycePenfield26) and put the book title in the note.
  5. Joyce copies your book and mails it to you.
Pay with Cash App

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