Isabella Cuevas Celis is a Colombian community engagement specialist who holds both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree from the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University. As the Outreach Coordinator for the Better Evidence Project, she has contributed to research, curriculum development, program design, and conflict resolution training. Her work focuses on community development and resilience through locally centered leadership, capacity strengthening, and bottom-up peacebuilding that promotes dignified livelihoods. As a facilitator working with diverse communities, particularly youth in Latin America and the United States, she bridges theory and practice through an integrated approach that combines local strengths with multidisciplinary tools to advance social change, support sustainable development, and foster coalition building.
Christina Gizzi is an honors student at George Mason University, pursuing a B.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a minor in Global Affairs. She has a particular interest in human rights, community-building, cross-cultural understanding, and religious freedom. Last summer, she studied international affairs in Switzerland, France, and Belgium for three weeks and recently attended a conference on human rights violations in war and climate emergencies at Oxford University. At the end of the conference, she and her colleague presented their research and experience from local peacebuilding efforts, emphasizing that change starts from within ordinary people. Christina also recently completed a Diplomacy class and a Negotiation class, where she learned how to navigate a variety of interests, actively listen to different viewpoints, and work with people from all walks of life to find sustainable solutions to fulfill everyone’s needs. She plans to study abroad in South Korea during the following semester. In her free time, Christina participates and volunteers at her local chapel and parish, plays volleyball and soccer, creates art, and writes stories. She values curiosity, respect, and humor and is excited to use her interests and skills to further PBI’s mission of protecting human rights.