She was committed to peacemaking and conflict resolution through open dialogue. She founded the non-profit Public Conversations Project, which works to foster better relationships and resolve diverse issues. Public Conversations works to address topics including same-sex marriage, immigration, abortion, diversity, and firearms. Their work is truly global in scope, opening dialogues between communities in conflict in Israel-Palestine, Burundi, and Nigeria.
We will remember Laura fondly. Although we must grieve as a community of peacemakers, she leaves behind a lasting legacy that touched the lives of so many.
From her obituary, published in the Boston Globe, November 20th - 22nd:
[caption id="attachment_8962" align="alignright" width="217"]
Laura and Dick Chasin at their Wedding in 1971. Photo Credit: Chasin Family; Public Conversations Project[/caption] Laura Chasin grew up in Manhattan and attended Bryn Mawr College where she received a B.A. in History of Art. She earned an M.A. in Government from Harvard and an M.S.W. from Simmons College. Chasin served on numerous Boards including the James Jackson Putnam Children's Center of Roxbury, the Conflict Management Group, the Institute for Faith and Politics, the Children's Defense Fund, the Rockefeller Family Fund, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. She was a Life Trustee of Spelman College of Atlanta, GA. In 1989, she founded the Public Conversations Project of Watertown, MA, a non-profit organization promoting constructive dialogue on issues involving clashing values, world views, and identities, such as abortion, sexual orientation, immigration, gun safety, and religious tolerance. The Project teaches extensively and has worked on dozens of issues on four continents. The Project has been given awards by the New York State Mediators Association, the American Association of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama, the American Family Therapy Association, and the American Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to publicconversations.org. The family will announce memorial services in the near future. Public conversations will share more news about memorial plans as it becomes available. Messages of condolence for the family can be sent to Public Conversations Project at 46 Kondazian Street, Watertown, MA 02472, or via email.