Brian and Lisa Berman’s story begins in one of the darkest chapters of human history and arcs toward a lifelong dedication to healing and peace. Brian, an award-winning sculptor whose relatives perished in the Holocaust, and Lisa, a German citizen struggling to reconcile her country’s past, first met at a memorial event in Germany. That moment of shared reckoning became the foundation of a partnership that has spanned decades and continents.
Together, they founded Awakening Peace, an organization devoted to cultivating compassion, reconciliation, and community. From their years living in Ojai to their time on the ground in Poland helping Ukrainian refugees, the Bermans have worked where peace is most urgently needed. They recently traveled to Hiroshima for the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, carrying their message of remembrance and resilience to the global stage.
In this episode, we talk about their lives in Ojai, their international peace work, and the deep connection between art, healing, and humanity. We did not talk about the Ojai Studio Artists Tour Oct. 11-13, the Storytelling Festival, Oct. 23-26 or the Ojai Film Festival, Nov. 6-10.
For more information on the Bermans, or to help their cause, visit AwakeningPeace.org.
