Biographical Information
Below is a brief description of Omar Bandar's goals,
accomplishments, and educational background.
Omar Bandar is first generation American of Palestinian heritage. Omar currently works as a Property Manager for several commercial properties in the Greater Boston area and is currently working to develop an artist community center in Somerville , Massachusetts
. Most recently Omar worked for the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts,
as a Council Aide for City Councillor Marjorie C. Decker. Prior to this
position Omar served as a Special Assistant and project manager for the
Mayor of Cambridge in the office of former Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves. For
the last ten years Omar has been deeply devoted, both professionally
and personally, to human rights and social justice issues, to peace and community building, and to anti-violence efforts.
In his community, Omar has worked with the mentally handicapped, the homeless, and on neighborhood safety issues. Within his State, Omar had worked on reforming Massachusetts ’ Criminal Offender Records Information legislation. Nationally, Omar has promoted human rights for the incarcerated and has worked to improve upon the living and economic conditions within Native American communities. Internationally,
Omar has worked with the Delphi International Program of World
Learning, contributing to the diplomatic efforts of the U.S. State
Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, has participated in public diplomacy efforts in the West Bank, and represented the City of Cambridge at the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities’ Executive Board meetings and General Assemblies in Suwon, South Korea; Sochi, Russian Federation; and Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Omar is currently writing a book about his recent 50 day, eleven county, comparative study tour of criminal justice and human/prisoners’ rights organizations and prisons in Europe.
Omar holds a Certificate in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy in Paris, France, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts, and an Associates Degree in Business Administration from Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
With a diverse background including incarceration, academic excellence,
and altruistic volunteerism, Omar has unique insight into violence,
human rights, peace building, and the power of education and the power
of the individual to work towards personal and societal change.