Our Inspiration

Chic Dambach came to OSU on a football scholarship. Off the gridiron, his experiences and the new skills he developed at OSU were the beginning of his lifelong commitment seeking to make the world a better, more peaceful place.

Chic’s participation in the OSU Debate Team introduced him to his mentor, Dale Stockton, and caused him to take a more questioning, critical approach to social issues, particularly the Viet Nam War. Chic’s study of the issue led him to oppose the war, first by organizing debates within OSU dorms and then through other anti-war activities and public forums.

As chair of the Forum Committee, Chic challenged restraints of academic freedom and free speech when the university administration refused to allow controversial speakers to be invited to campus.

The Peace Corps

Upon graduation from OSU, Chic joined the Peace Corps. That decision and the resulting experience were pivotal to his future as a Peacebuilder. Chic served in the Peace Corps at a small fishing village in Colombia. He helped them form a workers’ co-op, obtain loans, and acquire nets and other gear including motors for their boats. These changes resulted in a more equitable distribution of revenue for the villagers.

Decades later, Chic was recruited to help rescue the floundering National Peace Corps Association. Under his leadership, the organization was revitalized and became an avenue for returning Peace Corps volunteers to focus their ongoing concern for peace in the world.

Post-Peace Corps Peacebuilding Efforts

Chic began to develop and use his peacebuilding knowledge and experience by assisting in the negotiations of an end to the deadly war over the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia. He also engaged in similar peacemaking services in other nations, including in Mali and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Chic’s professional career culminated with the leadership of the Alliance for Peacebuilding, an international network of 130 agencies.

Chic’s peacebuilding efforts have been recognized by many of the individuals, groups, organizations and governments who benefitted from those efforts. Most notably, he was nominated in 2017 for the Nobel Prize by two members of Congress, Representatives John Garamendi and Sam Farr.

Founding Members

Doug Caves, Middleton, WI
Sherry Caves, Middleton, WI
Hank Hankla, Durham, NC
Connie Kantzer, WA †
Keith McGlamery, Charlottesville, VA
Gene Reid, Powell, OH
Ron Stevens, Chicago, IL
Jim Troxel, Chicago, IL

Dambach Family Representative

Kay Dambach, Crownsville, MD

† Deceased