Ms. Valree was recognized for strengthening the potential for positive impact with local conflicts exacerbating peace, justice, and community connections.
LANCASTER, CA, April 17, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Renata E. Valree has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Valree is a distinguished figure in the field of peace education and conflict resolution, currently serving as a professor and chief executive officer at Peace in Education. She founded Peace in Education, a nonprofit organization, on campus to promote community mediation. For nearly 30 years, she has worked to improve community life and reduce violence. Peace in Education hosts pro bono activities, such as youth summits with Black Women for Positive Change and youth events like the California Association of Youth Courts Summit. Additionally, they recently collaborated with Los Angeles on the Skid Row Housing Trust project, addressing service gaps through social service dialogues.
In addition to her work via Peace in Education, Ms. Valree has been the owner and chief executive officer of Ambassadors of Peace in Los Angeles County, California, since 2015. Moreover, she has contributed her expertise as a peacebuilder with Pollack Peacebuilding Systems and as a community coalition consultant and conflict coach for the state of Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addictions, beginning in 2016. Additionally, since 2019, she has been an associate professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills, in Carson, California, where she imparts her knowledge to graduates pursuing careers in conflict resolution.
Ms. Valree's leadership extends to various organizations dedicated to mediation and peacebuilding. She has been an active member of the Board of Governors for the National Association of Nonprofit Organizations and Executives since 2018. Previously, she held multiple positions with the National Association for Community Mediation, including as a chairperson from 2012 to 2017 and previously served as vice chair. Ms. Valree's roles with the Association for Conflict Resolution include serving as a tri-chair of the Community Mediation and Restorative Practices Section since 2014 and remains involved on the leadership team.
Her work with educational institutions is equally notable. Ms. Valree has been involved with ThriveLA at E Pluribus University in Venice, California, since 2015, serving as both executive director and volunteer director of collaboration at the Institute of Collaboration. Her dedication to emotional intelligence is evident through her ongoing vice chairmanship with the Society of Emotional Intelligence's Los Angeles Chapter since 2012. Prior to these roles, Ms. Valree made significant contributions as director of the Dispute Resolution Program for the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney from 2011 to 2013 and as a criminal hearing officer for the City of Los Angeles for several years.
The culmination of Ms. Valree's efforts was recognized when she received the David Brandon Community Mediation Movement Local Catalyst Award from the JAMS Foundation in October 2023. This prestigious accolade was presented to her at a ceremony at George Mason University. Ms. Valree was recognized for strengthening the potential for positive impact with local conflicts exacerbating peace, justice, and community connections. Additionally, she has been honored with the Female Leader Agent of Change Award and the Female Professional Leader in the Field of Mediation Award. Ms. Valree's contributions to the sheriff's department have also been acknowledged with awards for her exceptional work.
Ms. Valree's academic background laid a strong foundation for her professional achievements. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelors in Healthcare Management and summa cum laude with a MPA in public administration. After a two-year hiatus, she pursued her second Masters in Conflict Resolution from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in 1995. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in health care administration management from the same institution. To further hone her expertise, Ms. Valree has also earned a Conflict Coaching Certificate and Mindfulness Certification.
As a testament to her dedication to her field, Ms. Valree has served in several capacities with the National Association for Community Mediation Association including chair of the legislative committee, membership, and strategic partnerships. She is an active member of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators, American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, Mediators Beyond Borders Internation, and Braver Angels.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Ms. Valree enjoys a rich personal life filled with creative pursuits such as journaling, writing short stories and poetry, taking walks and long drives, engaging in photography, and listening to music. As a mother of three children, she balances her career aspirations with family life. Looking ahead, she envisions expanding Peace in Education beyond its current scope to become a medium-sized community mediation center that not only focuses on community mediation but also intensifies its efforts in peace-building activities across various sectors.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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