Rama J. Vernon, Founder of the Center for International Dialogue has traveled to the former Soviet Union 47 times organizing counterpart meetings, exchange programs, events and conferences. She initiated the First and Second Soviet-American Citizens Summits as well as the first Conflict Resolution and Dialogue Roundtables between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Ukraine. During the Gulf War Rama formed weekly Arab-American and Middle East Dialogues with citizens of warring countries. In 1992 she began facilitating women's gatherings throughout the United States and in 1994 she organized the Women of Vision: Leadership for a New World Conference in Washington, D.C., attended by over 500 women. This conference led to the formation of the Women of Vision and Action Network, an international organization that embraces and supports spiritually motivated social action. Founder of six successful non-profit organizations including the magazine "Yoga Journal", Ms Vernon, the mother of five children is the recipient of the 1991 Inside Edge Foundation World Peace Award, the Evart T. Loomis World Peace Award as well as Outstanding Achievement Awards from South America, India and the former USSR.