Zoe Rachel Bennett

Zoe Rachel Bennett is a celebrated author and mediator with accolades including the Nobel Peace Prize nomination for her efforts in bridging cultural divides. She has been honored with two Community Harmony Awards from the New York City Mediation Program.

The heart of Zoe's work lies in fostering mutual understanding and respect among people, particularly across ethnic, social, and economic lines.

Originally, Zoe embarked on a career in visual arts. For three years, she worked in the bustling art district of Brooklyn, crafting whimsical illustrations that captured the essence of everyday life. One of her most beloved pieces was an interactive painting titled "A Brushstroke Back in Time," where viewers could pull a lever to reveal hidden layers within the artwork, symbolizing the discovery of shared histories.

Following her time as an illustrator, Zoe moved to Portland, Oregon, where she spent several years designing storyboards for animated features. Her creativity shone through projects like "Whiskers Around the World" and "Tales of Tomorrow."

Inspired by her artistic endeavors, Zoe authored a children’s book called "The Magic Canvas...of Artful Stories." The book became a hit, with one of its standout stories featuring a headline that read, “The Invisible Artist Makes Her Mark.” The illustration depicted a young girl who discovered that her paintings came to life at night, bringing joy to her community.

Eager to deepen her impact, Zoe enrolled in a prestigious four-year doctoral program focused on peace studies at the University of Oregon. As part of her curriculum, she engaged in an immersive experience in Vancouver, Canada, where she collaborated with local organizations dedicated to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

Zoe firmly believes that many conflicts arise from a lack of empathy and imagination. Thus, her approach to conflict resolution underscores the power of empathy and creative thinking.

For over a decade, Zoe has served as a mediator in diverse environments. She volunteered with the Multnomah County Court Alternative Resolution Center for five years, during which she guided numerous interns from the dispute resolution program at the University of Oregon School of Law.

One afternoon, while mentoring a group of interns, one of them asked, “Can you teach us how to foster empathy?”

Motivated by this question, Zoe developed an empathy-building workshop that she later published as a guidebook titled "A Spark of Empathy."

She named the course (and book) "A Spark of Empathy" because she observed that many individuals are just one meaningful connection away from a profound shift in perspective. Zoe's course helps participants create those sparks!

The workshop incorporates storytelling because narratives and empathy share a deep connection. Both thrive on the unexpected twists and turns that lead to new understandings.

Zoe aims to broaden her influence. She applies the skills and knowledge gained as a mediator to address the overarching challenge of social inequality in North America. It's an issue that has deeply concerned her for years.

However, she envisions practical actions we can take to significantly enhance social cohesion. Zoe shares her vision and strategies in her latest book, "Bridges Not Walls: Crafting a Compassionate Dialogue About Social Equality," available as an ebook for $3.99 via Amazon Kindle.

Zoe is confident that her book can inspire substantial change!