History of Coexistence International

Coexistence International (CI) has been housed at the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life at Brandeis University since early 2005. Before that time, CI, formerly called The Coexistence Initiative (TCI), was based in New York City. TCI was founded in 1996 to develop and promote programs that create a world safe for difference.

Originally a London-based strategic program of the State of the World Forum, TCI was incorporated in January 2000 as an independent non-profit organization in New York. It was founded primarily to enhance the impact and effectiveness of the work being undertaken internationally by individuals and organizations pursuing coexistence, tolerance, and peace. Through the demand-driven development of information and communication tools, a commitment to the exchange of experience, know-how, and the reduction of the duplication of effort, TCI sought to heighten awareness of coexistence techniques and thinking and to enshrine principles of coexistence in policy, curricula, and institutions.  TCI was funded through a gift of the Alan B. Slifka Foundation.

In working to achieve its mission of catalyzing a global awareness of, and commitment to, a world safe for difference, the former TCI organized events in Uganda on coexistence and networking between police and the community, in Guinea on post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding in the Mano River Basin, and a coexistence film festival in India, among many others.

Since coming to Brandeis CI has engaged in a strategic planning process and the implementation of its first programs. By engaging in a thorough and participatory process, CI was able to rearticulate its vision, mission and goals early on. The strategic planning process led CI to develop a new mission statement: CI strengthens the effectiveness of policymakers, practitioners, researchers, advocates, organizations, and networks promoting coexistence at local, national, and international levels; and promotes the adoption of a complementary or integrated approach to coexistence through facilitating connections, learning, reflection, and strategic thinking between those in the coexistence field and those in related areas. CI has developed goals to accompany this mission statement and corresponding areas of work.