Peace Talks: Where convictions take center stage
Peace Talks is a speech competition for college students highlighting peacebuilding and courageous communication.
The goals of Peace Talks include:
- Establish an annual public speaking event for young people
- Cultivate student leadership through mentorship
- Elevate faith-based speaking and storytelling about peace
Eligible student speakers and an accompanying faculty or staff member are invited to attend this all-expenses-paid trip to Goshen College for the inaugural Peace Talks intensive weekend and speech contest on Sept. 18-20, 2026. The weekend will include workshops for the students and faculty/staff, speech coaching and time to connect through shared meals and other activities. On Saturday at 7 p.m., Sept. 19, finalists will compete in the Umble Center on campus in a closing event that will be livestreamed so home campuses and communities can watch.
The first year of Peace Talks is by invitation only. In the second year (2027), students at faith-based schools in Indiana will be invited to participate; in the third year (2028), students at any Indiana college or university can apply; and in the fourth year (2029), students from colleges and universities across the nation will be eligible.
Peace Talks builds on, extends and expands the model of the C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical contests. Peace Talks is a project of More Than Just Stories, a new media hub made possible through a five-year, $5 million faith and storytelling grant to Goshen College from Lilly Endowment, Inc.