Mary Zerkel

Mary Zerkel

(she/her) (she/her)

Associate Regional Director, Midwest Region

Militarism | "War on Terror" policies

Mary Zerkel is the Associate Regional Director of the Midwest Region and also supervises two programs in the West Region. She is Coordinator of Communities Against Islamophobia, which works in partnership with the Muslim community to train allies to recognize and counter anti-Muslim policies and practices — with the long-term goal of reducing profiling and surveillance of the Muslim community.  Mary formerly directed the Chicago Peacebuilding program, which works toward the demilitarization of U.S. foreign and domestic policy.  

Mary has worked for AFSC for 28 years on a variety of issues and projects including coordinating the internationally acclaimed Eyes Wide Open exhibit, as well as the nationally touring Cost of War and Windows and Mirrors:  Reflections on the War in Afghanistan exhibits.  

Mary has published articles and op-eds in the Huffington Post, Truthout, Radical Teacher and Signs: The Journal of Women and Culture in Society.  She is the author of Critical Thinking for Meaningful Action, and co-author of Economics Education, both published by AFSC and is the co-director of "Benaat Chicago," a widely viewed documentary about the lives of Arab youth on the south side of Chicago.

Articles by Mary Zerkel

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