Barbara Simmons

Barbara Simmons, Mediator, Facilitator and Educator is the executive director of The Peace Center for over 30 years. She created and implemented programs focused on prevention, intervention and tertiary methods to address conflict, violence, racism and bigotry in over 300 schools, businesses and communities in the tri-state area. Her work in coalition-building (such as Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Task Force and Bucks County Violence Prevention Task Force) helped the community view violence as a public health issue related to the cycle of trauma.

Simmons has been a Professor at Arcadia University’s International Peace and Conflict Resolution master’s program for the last 20 years, teaching Advanced Mediation, Conflict Facilitation and Restorative Justice. She has delivered trainings and workshops in Rwanda, South Africa and Northern Ireland in healing such as HROC: Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities, Multi-Track Diplomacy, and Peacebuilding & Reconciliation.

Simmons was founding creator and producer of audio documentaries to bring awareness of peacebuilding in Nagasaki & Hiroshima, Japan, Israel & Palestine, Rwanda, South Africa, Vietnam, Northern Ireland, Canada and throughout the US. The PeaceTalks programs aired on National Public Radio, Public Radio International and many other stations across the country. Veteran journalist Walter Cronkite hosted several of the programs. She also traveled with the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers to Dharamsala, India to meet with the Dalai Lama.

Simmons served as Ambassador to WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer, to address both the fear and reality of police violence against people of color through the use of dialogue and collaborative art projects such as murals (we have painted 4 murals to date in Bucks County); she serves on the Board of the Nakashima Foundation for Peace, the Executive Committee of the NAACP, co-chair of the MLK Peace & Justice Summit, and several other peace and justice efforts in Bucks County. She is rising Clerk of Newtown Friends Meeting.

Debra Radin

Having lived in the Princeton area since college, Debra has created deep roots in her community. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Early Childhood Education, and Sociology.

Debra has been with the Peace Center since 2014, acting as a facilitator for all our educational classes as well as a trainer for new facilitators.

Debra is an accredited Camp Director, earning a certification from The American Camp Association, with over 20 years’ experience in the industry. Each summer, she works with more than 300 children and supervises over 80 staff members. She additionally is trained in QPR, behavior modification, and intervention.

Debra has provided decades of community service in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey for many charities and nonprofit organizations. She has served on several boards of directors in her community with primary goals of raising funds, developing grants, and chairing fundraising events.

In her spare time, Debra enjoys reading while at the beach with her family, making event centerpieces, and playing with her dog, Oliver!

Tayna Longino

Tayna has had a rewarding career in Human Resources for more than 30 years. Her HR career spans over several industries and specialties, including Finance, IT, Banking, Specialty Materials, Pharmaceuticals, Retail, Health Care, Education, and Law Enforcement.

As an equity and inclusion practitioner, Tayna’s work focuses on the dimensions of diversity that each person brings with them into their workspace and the impacts of systems, processes, and practices. In her training and consulting she brings an examination of the systemic outcomes to include the broader environmental and social determinants of well-being and opportunity.

She has managed, coached, trained, and interviewed professionals from entry level through executive levels. While Tayna credits her corporate work with providing tools necessary for success, she readily recognizes her work with non-profit organizations like the YWCA, Jack and Jill of America, The Links Incorporated, The Peace Center of Bucks County and The Urban League. Every engagement has offered practical experience. As the Human Resources Director and the Director of Employee Relations she developed and trained on a variety of topics, Diversity and Inclusion, Racial Equity, Leadership Styles, Conflict Resolution, Organizational Effectiveness, and Workforce Training and Development.

Tayna received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Indiana University’s O’Neil School of Public and Environmental Affairs with a concentration in Business Administration. Continuing her studies at the Richland Campus of Dallas College, Tayna completed their Human Resources Management Program. Professional development in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is important to Tayna. She has received certifications from Cornell University and the Race Equity Institute.

Tayna is passionate about serving the community. She serves as a Board Member for several organizations: Planned Parenthood of Eastern PA and The YWCA of Bucks County. Making a difference is her goal each day!

Gayle Evans

Is a peace educator and creator of the INVEST Student Success program. She brings to The Peace Center Board a rich and varied background working in both the for-profit and non-profit world. Gayle has managed programs and grants, (doing amazing work in the Bristol community in a leadership capacity with United Way) and was an adjunct teacher with Bucks County Community College. She also led the Diversity office of BCCC. Gayle is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Holy Family University. She lives in Newtown with her husband and is the mother of six daughters, and has just become a grandmother.