Peace in Action: Inspiring Stories from the Grebel Peace Incubator

The Grebel Peace Incubator in the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement has mobilized a diverse range of peace-related start-ups in the Waterloo Region over the past decade. Tech companies like GeoMate and well-known charities like Theatre of the Beat and The Ripple Effect Education (TREE) are among the thirty-two initiatives that have benefited from the incubator’s mentorship, funding, and learning community. Many of the past participants have since left the Incubator with greater capacity to continue advancing peace locally and globally.  
 
A notable example of this success is GeoMate. Founded by Nastaran Saberi and Amin Gharebaghi, GeoMate joined the Grebel Peace Incubator in 2019. Their platform, AccessMate, used artificial intelligence and geographical information systems technology to address urban accessibility issues, creating detailed safety maps of city travel routes, with a focus on sidewalks. Among other services, GeoMate continues to improve mobility for people with disabilities, seniors, and families by establishing strategic partnerships with local governments. They emphasize that their platform is dedicated not to financial gain but to serving people.  
 
Theatre of the Beat, another alum of the Grebel Peace Incubator, was founded a few years before the Centre for Peace Advancement by a group of friends who felt that theatre and peacebuilding went hand in hand. They began creating thought-provoking plays to help educate and inspire a diverse audience about socially relevant topics. They went on to perform their original plays around North America and beyond. Theatre of the Beat's productions have addressed challenging topics such as mental health and consent, sparking dialogue and empowering communities through art. Theatre of the Beat also curated workshops and taught theatre at Grand Valley Institution, a federal prison in Kitchener and incorporated ideas contributed by incarcerated women into their community facing performances. Since their time in the Incubator, 2015-2016, they have continued to inspire audiences across Canada, bringing critical social issues to the forefront of public conversation.  
 
The Ripple Effect Education (TREE) also uses drama and art in their workshops for students to bring conflict resolution skills into their classrooms. TREE joined the Grebel Peace Incubator in 2016 and became a core collaborator in 2019. TREE equips people of all ages with conflict-resolution skills through interactive workshops that cultivate empathy and mindfulness. Their programs have created a way for people in the community to develop emotional intelligence, transforming classrooms, homes, and communities by fostering a culture of peace and understanding. Since 2017, TREE has also partnered with Kindred Credit Union and the Centre for Peace Advancement to deliver the Peace Innovators program for high school students. 
 
There are several other ventures supported by the Grebel Peace Incubator in the past that continue to make an impact, including Pastors in Exile, the Global Anabaptist Peace Network, Epoch, Lunaria, and Union Sustainable Development Co-operative. Many of the founders of other start-ups have gone on to apply their learnings in other organizational contexts. For example, Jessie Reesor-Rempel, co-founder of PiE, went on to be the Chaplain and then Director of Student Services at Conrad Grebel University College.  

Collectively the Grebel Peace Incubator alumni and their start-ups have meaningful impact in their communities, demonstrating that the measure of true success lies in fostering change and a culture of peace.