Dear Friend, In This Issue. Donate Now!

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1 In This Issue Student Spotlight OTI Updates Donate Now! Dear Friend, Spring is here, and so is a busy and productive season for OTI! As our summ to Turkey-Armenia and the Middle East are right around the corner and stude new quarters, our university chapters are hard at work bringing engaging and new events to campus communities! Also, check out the amazing OTI scholars who have just received the Fulbrig Scholarship! Congratulations to Soraya Azzawi and Armaan Rowther! Winner: Soraya Azzawi Soraya will conduct public health research, exploring the psychosocial health conditions of Iraqi refugees in Jordan. A double major in Neurobiology and P Science with a 3.68 GPA, Soraya is also UCI's Dalai Lama Scholar, a membe and participant in UROP, took part in the Olive Tree Initiative and was news e the New U. She has conducted research in Prof. Marcelo Wood's laboratory mechanism for long-term memory formation since January 2010 in preparation for pursuing a in global health and medical journalism. Soraya has received several extreme prestigious awards for her research prowess and commitment to public servic Name Joey Blatt Campus UCLA Year 2014 Major Geography Minor Urban and Regional Studies Activities Olive Tree Initiative, Hillel Campus Engagement Internship Advisor, Pi Kappa Alpha, Rooting for UCLA athletics. Hobbies Sleeping, eating new foods, traveling, listening to country music Why is OTI important to you? OTI presents a new way for me to Winner: Armaan Rowther Armaan will conduct public health research, evaluating the effectiveness of m computer-aided diabetes education program with existing diabetes testing se Palestinian refugees in Jordan. The Bio Sci major has aperfect 4.0 GPA. A m CHP, Armaan received UCI's prize for excellence and a best research projec from the CA American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Conferenc was also named most outstanding undergraduate. As with Soraya, Armaan w UCI's Dalai Lama Scholar and participated in the Olive Tree Initiative. He is a of the UC President's Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture, and Inc Read more to see the inspiring work being led by OTI youth, and ways in whi can support their efforts to continue educational, experiential engagement of Armenia relations and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Warmest wishes, The Olive Tree Initiative 1 sur 8 9/14/13 18:45

2 engage Israel, Palestine, and international politics while allowing me to meet many interesting and diverse people. Through being in OTI I have incredible people that have inspired me and led me to tap into my own creativity and passion. OTI allows for this type of transformation and OTI is a magnet that draws in people from across the political and ethnic spectrum, that I otherwise would not have met at UCLA. Being exposed to these people has allowed me to engage in new and often challenging ideas that has made me more self-aware. Exposing oneself to new people and ideas, I believe, are extremely valuable and important experiences that keep pulling me back into OTI. In addition, OTI is a space that allows for student development and empowerment, where students can create and act out their own visions at the university. Creating new ways to empower students has been my favorite part of OTI this year, and I hope my contributions will help OTI and its students in the long run. Olive Tree Initiative Retreat April 2013 This past February, over 60 OTI students came together at beautiful Dancing Deer Farms for our winter retreat. For three days, students from across campuses and cultures bonded over shared passions, participated in fun and informative leadership training, challenged each other in rigorous educational discussions, and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery. After such an amazing weekend of learning and building friendships, students cannot wait for the next retreat coming up this spring! OTI Campus Chapters: UC Irvine: This year the Olive Tree Initiative chapter at UC Irvine hosted a week long ev series that was dedicated to both the the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Turke Armenia relations. Students spent the week actively advertising the club by s baklava on the campus main road. This attracted a lot of attention and helped advertise for the evening events. The evening events included a "meet and g potluck" where students had the chance to eat some delicious food and learn OTI by hearing the personal stories of students who had already attended pre trips. The next day the chapter hosted a major event focused on Turkey-Arme relations through films created by Turkish and Armenian producers. The wee with a final event focused on a panel of experts who presented on several pro issues in the Middle East, including civil rights in Syria, women's rights in Isra minority rights in Egypt. Each event followed with round table discussions wh students and OTI supporters discussed their own opinions on the topics. Ove Week proved to be a wonderful success, and the Irvine chapter cannot wait f next OTI week! 2 sur 8 9/14/13 18:45

3 Additionally, on February 4th, UCI was honored to host Dr. Gershon Baskin a of many speakers events it intends to put on as part of the OTI wide speaker "20 Years After the Oslo Peace Accords: What Happened to Peace in the Mid East?". This speaker series, which was launched earlier this year and will inc number of campuses, will feature a variety of negotiators and key players in t conflict since Oslo. The UCI Olive Tree Initiative was fortunate to work in con with the Center for Citizen Peace Building and the International Public Studie Forum to bring this esteemed guest to the UCI campus. Dr. Baskin is the form co-director and founder of the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Inform (IPCRI), a joint Israeli-Palestinian public policy think tank located in Jerusalem also served as the director of the Institute for Education for Jewish-Arab Coex and was the point person in the secret back channel negotiations that resulte successful release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Dr. Baskin gave a attended talk on Monday night in front of about 120 attendees, focusing on hi negotiations, the possibility of a two-state solution, and lessons learned from Israeli-Palestinian process, followed by several in class presentations and a m greet with OTI students. 3 sur 8 9/14/13 18:45

4 UCLA: This past month, members of UCLA Olive Tree Initiative took part in several successful educational events. One of our newest members, Yvonne Lilian, successfully orchestrated a pane the status of women in the Middle East. The panel featured: Laila Al-Maraya Palestinian-American doctor and founder of KinderUSA (an American Muslim organization focused on the health and well-being of Palestinian children), Kr Benson, the Chief Articles Editor for UCLA's Journal of Near Eastern and Isla and UCLA undergraduate Sarah Abolail. This was a successful, and highly informative event. Additionally, Condoleezza Rice visited UCLA and was the honorary speaker f 2013 Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture. Several OTI members had the unique opportunity to meet and ask questions of Secretary Rice at a private meet & g prior to the start of her lecture on democracy and revolutions. 4 sur 8 9/14/13 18:45

5 At the beginning of the month we hosted a dinner discussion at a popular fres dinning hall. The topic was "Iran-Israel-US Relationship Debate." People rec free swipe for attending, and were able to engage in discussion of a prominen political topic currently in the news. An esteemed university Teachers Assista attended the event, and provided the students with an educational overview o relationships. Discussions such as these are meant to attract new members, facilitate a relational educational platform for those interested in international Furthermore, UCLA OTI has invited several guest speakers to their weekly le meetings. A portion of the weekly meeting is an educational session followed critical analysis among attendees. This has created an open space of discuss fostered critical thinking that has only improved knowledge of the conflict. In a it has created fresh ideas for new exciting events on campus. UC Berkeley: This semester, UC Berkeley has been incredibly active in student education a growing OTI's presence on campus. Our dedicated officer's board has been w to hold informative and inspiring weekly academic meetings (ranging in focus recent Israeli elections to Palestinian governance to religion to UN involveme bringing in guest speakers, and attending local events as a group. Through th process, more and more students have become active in OTI, with around 30 attendees and over 20 applicants for this summer's delegation to the Middle E In addition, OTI has been striving tirelessly to bring interesting and challengin to spark interest, raise awareness, and encourage critical thinking at Berkeley regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Early this year, we had the unique opportunity to host the Voices for Change Concert, featuring My Favorite Ene made up of top performing Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and American mus This event, emphasizing the possibility for civil society engagement and seco diplomacy, garnered over 400 attendees and catalyzed deep conversation at concurrent dinner discussion around conflict and identity. The rousing and po music had the audience alternatively in tears or dancing in the aisles, and wa 5 sur 8 9/14/13 18:45

6 overall success in bringing students to engage with and continue discussion the conflict. San Diego State University: Spring semester at SDSU has been productive, and looking forward we can o positive things to come. We have had a new change in leadership, many mem have shown initiative and as a result we now have a new slate of executive o From this also comes a new section within SDSU's OTI that is specifically foc community outreach. We contacted a former IDF soldier from AFI (Aztecs for she as well as her colleagues is coming to speak at our meeting on March 5t topics will range from IDF preparation and training, to her personal opinions r the United States role as a mediator. We are planning other events like a scre and discussion of 5 Broken Cameras, the Oscar nominated film on Bilin. Add we plan to visit with the local communities involved with the Middle East and scheduled to meet with the ICSD (Islamic Center of San Diego) and and othe around San Diego. Overall, the next couple of weeks will prove to be exciting as mentally challenging for San Diego State's OTI members. For more information contact oti.sdsu@gmail.com UC Santa Cruz: OTI at UCSC is excited to continue to be leading education on campus, and w hosting a movie night at the beginning of Spring quarter screening the docum "Promises" at 7pm on April 8th. In addition, our chapter is planning a fundraiser during the week of April 29th we'll be selling baked goods, boba tea and other goods to fundraise students 6 sur 8 9/14/13 18:45

7 to attend the OTI summer mission to the Middle East. We look forward to hos more events on campus and inspiring more students to get involved! Upcoming Events: UCI: April 16th Presentation with OneVoice women leaders, Malaka Samara (Tul and Elanit Gree (Kfar Saba) on "From the Grassroots to the World Stage - Empowered women working to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" - Social a Behavioral Science Gateway Building (SBSG), room 1518, 12noon-1:30pm. UCLA: UC Berkeley Berkeley Month of Ideas April 3 PART 1 of Visions on Nationalism in the Israeli- Palestinian Conflict: What is the Meaning of a Jewish State? April 10 PART 2 of Visions on Nationalism in the Israeli- Palestinian Conflict: Histories of Palestinian Nationalism April 16 Panel on Trauma and Restorative Justice in Post-Conflict Societies April 26 Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza May 2 Youth and the Arab Spring May 8 American Engagement in the Middle East April 18th Talk by Dr. Abuelaish on "Perspectives on Peace, Health and Hop Gaza Doctor's Journey from Personal Tragedy to a Search for Peace and Human Dignity" - Broad Auditorium, 2160E Broad Art Center, U Campus, 6:30-7:30pm (doors opening at 6:00 p.m.). 7 sur 8 9/14/13 18:45

8 RSVP today: Save the Date OTI Gala: May 19, 2013 The Center Club, Costa Mesa 6pm-9pm OTI Gala, feat. Speaker DR. ROBERT MALLEY, former Special Assis President Bill Clinton, and American Negotiator in the Camp David Ac National Security Council Please join the Staff, Faculty, and Students of the Olive T Initiative from 6-9pm for an invigorating talk on American engagement in the Middle East and night of dinner and conversation! All proceeds will go to support the top stud leaders chosen to be a "Student Diplomat" for this summ Trips. Contact Susan Seely at sseely@uci.edu for information o reserving tickets, and program or table sponsorships. Getting Involved: All of the campus chapters are already busy planning an exciting next semes events and opportunities for students. If you are interested in getting involved the OTI chapters, contact info@olivetreeinitiative.org for campus contacts an meeting times! SUPPORT Any donation, even less than $20, helps us empower students to become eff leaders in conflict analysis and resolution. CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Forward This was sent to info@otiatucla.com by info@olivetreeinitiative.org Update Profile/ Address Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. Olive Tree Initiative UC Irvine 3151 Social Science Plaza Irvine CA sur 8 9/14/13 18:45