She lived and worked on a collective settlement in Northern Galilee, Israel, where her living room frequently was the site of lively dialogue among her Arab, Jewish Israeli and European Christian friends and neighbors.

Upon her return to the States, she became active in the National Organization for Women as an officer and board member. She organized CROP walks for hunger and marches for peace. In the 80's she founded a center for solidarity and assistance for refugees from the civil wars in Central America. www.casademaryland.org 

For many years the Alternative to Violence Project benefitted from Bette's facilitation skills - both inside maximum security prisons and among inner city youth.  As the director of the Washington, DC/MAR (Mid Atlantic Region) office of the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers) for more than a decade, Bette honed her skills as an innovative leader, organizer and facilitator. In the nation's capital, she was involved with the movement for democracy and Statehood where there is still "taxation without representation".

Bette is currently enrolled in a Masters level program on Restorative Practices at the International Institute for Restorative Practices www.iirp.org . As a seasoned mediator, she mediates conflicts with the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center (MCRC) at Howard Community College (HCC) in Columbia, MD and the Howard County Circuit Courts.  Her training and skills include: Restorative Dialogue, the Alternative to Violence Project, Help Increase the Peace Program, The Listening Project, Community Conferencing, Nonviolent organizing, group facilitation and strategic planning.  Bette teaches the circle process and various classes on deep listening skills as a consultant and an adjunct instructor at HCC.  In the Howard County Public School System, she consults in an innovative program for staff called "Restorative Dialogue Circles".

As a member of Sandy Spring (Maryland) Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Bette serves on committees and provides leadership. She is a student of indigenous practices and a participant and leader in the contemporary sweat lodge. Bette is a registered nurse, massage therapist and practitioner of yoga.