Meet the Team

  • Matt Lakenbach

    Founder & Executive Director | Board Member

    Matt Lakenbach is a dedicated advocate for peace and reconciliation within the Abrahamic family. With over a decade of experience in international peacebuilding and educational exchange, Matt has worked extensively to foster meaningful dialogue and transformative relationships.

    As a Senior Program Officer at Legacy International, he managed global exchange programs under the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. He also served at the University of Connecticut’s Office of Global Affairs, supporting international partnerships. His deep commitment to Middle East peacebuilding was strengthened through a sabbatical in northern Israel, where he lived with Elias Jabbour, founder of the House of Hope International Peace Center.

    Matt holds a Master’s in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University’s School of International Service and a BA in Economics and Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis.

  • Peter van Geldern

    Peter van Geldern

    Co-Founder | Board Member

    Peter van Geldern is a visionary peacebuilder, facilitator, and creative strategist with expertise in organizational leadership, program design, and governance modeling. With over 20 years in nonprofit peacebuilding, he has been instrumental in designing custom governance structures that foster collaboration and transformative change.

    Peter is also the Founder of UnFOLD Creative, a design leadership agency specializing in sustainable housing solutions, placemaking, and community-building. His work includes collaborations with indigenous tribes and the industrial hemp industry to develop bio-based, culturally sensitive housing solutions.

    Driven by a passion for creating systemic change, Peter is committed to pioneering new paradigms of coexistence and cooperation in the Middle East and beyond.

  • Larry Imberman

    Co-Founder | Board Member

    Larry Imberman is a lifelong advocate for Jewish-Arab reconciliation and sustainable development. Raised in Southern California, he later moved to Israel with his wife Helene to actively shape the future of the Jewish people—not with words, but with green plants on brown soil.

    For 25 years, Larry worked as a farmer, co-founding a moshav in the Negev and later joining a kibbutz near the Lebanese border. After transitioning from agriculture, he became a technical communicator serving Israeli high-tech industries.

    Larry is a member of the Middle East Peace Symposium Steering Committee and is committed to leaving a legacy of peace and sustainability for future generations, including his growing family of grandchildren.

  • Jess Bryan

    Jess Bryan

    Board Member

    Jess Bryan is an educator, speaker, and social entrepreneur committed to empowering individuals through effective communication, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding. With over 15 years of experience in global education, she specializes in fostering understanding across cultural and generational divides.

    Jess is the Founder & CEO of Future Empowered Virtual School, where she leads personal development and communication seminars designed to equip millennial women and teenagers with essential life skills. She firmly believes that transformation happens inside effective communication and is passionate about bringing this approach to Middle East peace efforts.

    Her extensive work with students, schools, and educators has shaped her commitment to bridging divides and building sustainable relationships through dialogue and empowerment.

  • Walid Seyam

    Board Member

    Walid Seyam is a Palestinian activist, scholar, and peace advocate committed to reconciliation and human dignity. With family ties in both Gaza and the West Bank, he deeply understands the realities of conflict and the urgency of creating pathways to peace.

    Walid brings a unique perspective as both an academic and grassroots leader, working to build trust, dialogue, and sustainable partnerships across divided communities.

  • Dr. Rev. Artie C. Bethea

    Team Member

    Rev. Artie Bethea is a faith leader, educator, and peace advocate. As an author and expert in biblical studies, he works to bridge divides through spiritual reconciliation.

    Based in Richmond, Virginia, Rev. Bethea serves as a mentor and professional coach, guiding individuals and communities toward mutual understanding and shared purpose.

Advisory Board

  • Majid Alsayegh

    Chair Emeritus, MEPCF | Advisory Board Member

    Born and raised in Mosul, Iraq, Majid Alsayegh is a business leader and interfaith advocate. As the Founder of Alta Management, LLC, he has overseen major capital projects in the public and private sectors.

    Majid chairs the Board of Delaware Valley University and the Dialogue Institute, which trains global leaders in critical thinking and cross-cultural dialogue. He is also a member of the National Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council, working to combat hate crimes and protect religious freedom.

    A co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of Intercultural Journeys, Majid remains committed to building bridges of understanding. He currently resides on a farm outside Philadelphia, where he raises Arabian horses.

  • Ghassan Manasra

    Sheikh Ghassan Manasra

    International Chair Emeritus, MEPCF | Advisory Board Member

    Sheikh Ghassan Manasra is a renowned spiritual leader and interfaith peacebuilder. As the International Director of The Abrahamic Reunion, he leads a team of spiritual peacemakers working to open hearts and minds to coexistence in the Holy Land and beyond.

    Through his decades of experience in conflict resolution and religious diplomacy, Sheikh Ghassan has helped transform fear into friendship and mistrust into mutual understanding.

  • Daniel Weiner

    Daniel Weiner

    Advisory Board Member

    Dr. Daniel Weiner is the Vice President for Global Affairs at the University of Connecticut, where he has led initiatives in human rights, international education, and Middle East affairs.

    Under his leadership, UConn developed the Abrahamic Initiative, which promotes interfaith scholarship and dialogue within the Abrahamic family traditions.

    Dr. Weiner’s commitment to education as a force for peace continues to guide his work in bridging divides and fostering global collaboration.

  • Samir Moussa

    Advisory Board Member

    Samir Moussa is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and music producer with global recognition, including a Hollywood Music in Media Award and two Global Music Awards. As a partner and executive producer at Sweet Spot Studio and Ambrosia Sounds, Samir has collaborated with renowned artists and contributed to award-winning films. With a strong academic foundation from the University of Toronto and a passion for fostering cultural connections, Samir brings a unique perspective to the Middle East Peace Civic Forum advisory board.