THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE: A PROFILE

When you visualize the National Mall in Washington, DC, what do you see? Perhaps stately buildings like the US Capitol or the Smithsonian castle. Or, perhaps you see some of the monuments and memorials that remind us of conflict and war, for example, the World War II, Korean, and Vietnam war memorials. Even the majestic monuments to Washington and Lincoln are reminiscent of wars that our country fought for freedom. On the next Peace Talks Radio, we explore a new memorial on the National Mall: The United States Institute of Peace. The USIP is an independent, nonpartisan, national institution established in 1984 and funded by Congress to increase the nation's capacity to manage international conflict without violence. The new 150,000 square-foot, five-story USIP building on the northwest corner of the Mall will house staff offices, a library, conference center, classrooms, and a public education center designed to heighten understanding of the challenges of international conflict management. Host Suzanne Kryder talks with several staff members about the history of USIP, their national and international programs, and the new building that recently opened. By virtue of its purpose and location--it faces the Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials--the headquarters of the United States Institute of Peace will serve as a symbol of the country's efforts for peace.