On June 9, 2021, TCP Founder and Director Carla Canales was featured in Meridian International Center’s Culturefix, its inaugural cultural diplomacy celebration to honor the power of the arts and cultures to help fix global challenges faced by people, communities and the planet. The virtual program featured conversations at the intersection of diplomacy, culture, and the arts, the announcement of the Meridian Cultural Diplomacy Awards, and special performances. In this event, Carla moderated the ‘Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Through Art and Culture’ session featuring Pedro Reyes (visual artist), Art Smith (chef) and Stacy White, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. The discussion focused on how arts and culture have long played a vital role in fostering an environment of peacebuilding, cultural understanding, and reconciliation by bringing people together around shared values to address the social, political, and economic challenges we all face. The Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy is rooted in the idea that culture is the most effective tool in tackling critical issues that impact our local, national, and global communities. Cultural practitioners and educators are vital to the advancement of critical solutions and productive dialogue, thus creating a foundation for impactful conflict transformation and reconciliation efforts. You can watch the session here!