Dorothy J. Maver, PhD, is an educator and peacebuilder whose keynote is inspiring cooperation on behalf of the common good. Dot is a Founding Trustee and board member of the National Peace Academy USA, and is a co-founding board member of the Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures of Peace, and was the founding executive director of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding. Her work in education, politics and grassroots community organizing is focused on applied peacebuilding utilizing a shared responsibility and shared leadership model.

From 2005–2007 Dot served as Executive Director of The Peace Alliance and Campaign for a US Department of Peace, and prior to that she was the National Campaign Manager for Kucinich for President 2004. In the world of fast-pitch softball, Dr. Dot is known for her revolutionary fast-pitch hitting technique, The Maver Method: Secrets of Hitting Success. She is co-author of the book Conscious Education: The Bridge to Freedom; is a Fellow with the World Business Academy, and serves on the boards of Lifebridge Foundation, River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding and Garden of Light. Dot also serves on the United Nations International Day of Peace NGO Education Peace Team, the International Cities of Peace Advisory Council, the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence Advisory Board, The Shift Network Summer of Peace Wisdom Council, and is an advisor to the Compassion Games.

Heart Phoenix's work, service and activism has spanned over five decades. Having worked as an educator, activist and champion throughout the United States and numerous countries on environmental and animal rights issues, social justice, peacebuilding and gender equality, she brings the passion and energy of her name....Heart. She is the Chair of The Peace Alliance Educational Institute and co-founder of the sister organization, The Peace Alliance, a non-profit that takes the work of Peacebuilding into the center of national discourse and policy priorities. Heart is currently living her dream as President of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, in honor of her son. Her tireless efforts to launch and drive this work has lead to success​ in helping to embed Restorative Practices, Communication Skills, Law Enforcement/Minority Youth Dialogues, Peace in Sports, Trauma Responsive Community Initiative and Students for Successful Citizens​ ​by forming partnerships with the ​Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff's Department, ​Department of Juvenile Justice​,​ Florida's State Attorney's Office​, Alachua County Schools​​ a​n​d​ countless partners in the Peacebuilding community. A vegan for over 35 years, her passion and commitment to nonviolence has been the center point of her life.