Peace On: Recent Episodes
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Your source for inspiring conversations on topics related to the strategies of building peace, fostering nonviolence, and creating a world that thrives. This dialogue will shift our understanding toward empathy, compassion and connection. Peace On gives you access to information and advice from thought leaders across the spectrum, sharing their peace related wisdom and insights that reflect the vast wealth of violence prevention technologies now emerging on the national and international stage.
A Time for Action - Group discussion of what has been effective, how we've changed from taking an action, what risks do we consider before taking action
A Dialogue on Peacebuilding and the State of Our Nation & World, in honor of The Peace Alliance 20th anniversary year, featuring founder, Marianne Williamson. Marianne shares her insights on the state of our nation and world, and the vital role of peacebuilding in these transformative times.
10/5/24 Ahimsa in Action Panel Discussion: Transforming the Future Through Nonviolence with Sulaiman Khatib, Danielle Reiff and S’bongiseni (S’bo) Vilakazi co-hosted by Ahimsa Peace Institute and Peace Alliance National Department of Peacebuilding Campaign.
Call – Speaking about the War in Gaza Without Recreating It in Our Conversations, with Aya Caspi, CNVC Certified (NVC) Trainer
4/17/24 Department of Peacebuilding Campaign Third Wednesday call: Arun Gandhi and Weaving Peace, with Guest Speaker Lynnea Bylund
This is a conversation with Sam Daley-Harris, discussing his new book "Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy." Host is Matthew Albracht. Sam Daley-Harris founded the highly respected and successful anti-poverty lobby organization RESULTS. He also co-founded the Microcredit Summit Campaign in 1995 with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus and FINCA founder John Hatch. And then in 2012 he founded Civic Courage. The 2024 edition of Sam’s book Reclaiming Our Democracy was named an editor’s pick by Publisher’s Weekly’s BookLife and Kirkus Reviews called it “A handbook for aspiring activists that readers will find to be both inspiring and practical.” In 2010, Ashoka founder Bill Drayton wrote, “Sam Daley-Harris is one of the certified great social entrepreneurs of the last decades.” Learn more at: www.reclaimingourdemocracy.com
This was a very special Hope Story Circle — our 100th! We invited all of our past guest storytellers, and everyone who has attended our Hope Story Circles, and we had a lovely group of people. We asked the storytellers if anything had come up for them from having shared their story with us? And, we asked those hearing the stories to share if anything had come up for them, having experienced the stories — was there a thread they could identify? Then, in the break-out rooms, we invited people to share a title of a story that they would like to hear, or that they would like to tell. After returning, they all typed them into the chat and upon a countdown, all entered them together in a waterfall! The connections that people have experienced in our Hope Story Circles have been deep and many have been long-lasting. We laughed, we cried, we celebrated our connections, and honored one among us who is an activist for peace in the Israel-Palestine conflict. For now, our Hope Story Circles are going on pause. We invite you to go back and listen to the many podcasts with all of our wonderful storytellers. And follow us at www.peacealliance.org/calendar - see what might emerge next to support our wonderful community in all that we each do in the furtherance of peace. Much love to all — Terry, Liz and Jelena
Jake Graydon is a filmmaker, and he told a story of creating his very first film. At first, he asked his brother to help him with his idea, but his brother was too busy. So he decided to write it himself, and after completing the script, decided he wanted to direct his film — he had grown so fond of the characters and the story, that he didn’t want to hand it off to anyone else. He created his film, had a great deal of support and wonderful actors to carry his unique story about love and family connection. He entered his film into festivals, and one — a Horror Film Festival — resulted in great acclaim. He received so much positive feedback, it has inspired him to continue. Even The Darkness Has Arms is his film - please, view it. He loves filmmaking, and he loves storytelling — and the question for the group was about how we connect with others based on the human connection, not focusing on what separates or divides us, but on what brings us together. Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories. Our next one will be October 14th, and will be our 100th Hope Story Circle! We are planning a virtual celebration where we will invite all of those who have been our guests — following which, we will put a pause on the Hope Story Circles, for now. Please join us!
Captain Bill Collier is a retired helicopter pilot who flew in Viet Nam, for the CIA in Laos, the North Slope of Alaska, and in Marshall testing in the early 1990’s. Over time, he wrote three memoirs about his adventures as a helicopter pilot, and as he did so, he realized that for most of his life he had been a pawn of the Military Industrial Complex. He became angry. He lost friends in Viet Nam. He lost friends in Iraq. Both wars were based on lies. He’s had thousands of friends murdered by our government by unjust and unwarranted wars. What can we do to prevent it? He has some clear ideas of what can be done, starting with taking 1% of the Defense Budget and dedicating it to peace. That would be equivalent to $24 million a day. Imagine what you could do in your community with a slice of that pie? Imagine what a Department of Peacebuilding might provide to support spending of these funds? The break-out rooms were rich with ideas of how to solve our problems, with just 1% of the Defense budget. Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Bryan shared an inspiring story about neurodiversity, at home and in the workplace. As a parent of neurodiverse children, and as a Coach for Leaders in workplaces that involve technology and all of the different kinds of personalities and skills that exist, he has developed ways to approach those differences. In particular, he shared a Conflict Map as a tool to help people communicate through conflict. He also shared a Conflict Protocol with four sections to help people and groups find ways to work through conflict effectively, and come to solutions that respect everyone and their views. He provided a series of articles he has published, in addition to this podcast, to share. Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories! Article 1: Resolving conflict at work while incorporating neurodiverse awareness: How to ensure conflict doesn’t erode employee trust or performance https://qz.com/resolving-conflict-at-work-while-incorporating-neurodiv-1850224161
Article 2. Bedtime Scrum and 6 practices to support neurodiversity at home or work: How one executive leverages his experience at home and work https://qz.com/bedtime-scrum-and-6-practices-to-support-neurodiversity-1850085741
Article 3. A father of 4 neurodivergent children brings his learnings to work: 3 tools to support workers with Autism spectrum, ADHD, or Dyslexia https://qz.com/a-father-of-4-neurodivergent-children-brings-his-learni-1850008481
Podcast: How Tech is Embracing Neourodiversity and Fostering Different Perspectives https://techblogwriter.co.uk/lucid-bryan-stallings/
Lloyd Gordon told layers of stories around his business of the last 37 years — Estate Sales. From a long career as a performer, he got into this endeavor by sheer coincidence and for his appreciation of art and antiques that he held from his youth. At one point, he was encouraged to look positively on the service he provides, realizing that he is helping people at a very difficult time in their lives. He told one particular story about a young teenage girl who wanted to buy a knit cloche that Lloyd’s grandmother had made when escaping Italian concentration camps. He shared the story with the girl, and now that story will be told again and again as she wears the knit cloche. We all have special memories attached to things that are in our possession. The stories carry forward, and keep people alive in our hearts and memories. Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Todd Scholl told a wonderful story about a young woman named Sophie Scholl, who began an information campaign against the Nazis in Germany during World War II. She was arrested and convicted of treason, and executed for her actions. Yet, her actions were of conscience and of heart, even with the limited tools that she had. Todd is a teacher, and in sharing this story with his students, he encouraged them to use all of the tools that they had that Sophie didn’t — phones, cameras, social media, internet — to tell important stories. His students did, and an educational conference held in Turkey requested to use their video as the keynote. The power of telling stories, in addition to the need for our teachers to be supported in whole health and mindfulness, was the topic of Todd’s story. How might each of us have an impact, with the tools that we have? Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Annette Karr told a beautiful story of connection. As a guest of NPR, she joined an in-person meeting with a person of differing ideological views to have a conversation. NPR is holding these kinds of connecting meetings around the country, often via zoom, called One Small Step. The facilitators provide prompts to the two guests, and Annette’s experience was that it was a sacred space. She and her partner found many things that they connected about, and the entire experience was rich, rewarding and positive. How might each one of us seek to find common ground and connection before focusing on the differences? Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Jim Natal joined us today to share two poems from his many published collections. A multi-year Pushcart Prize nominee in poetry and a long-time literary presenter, he is co-founder of indie publisher Conflux Press. His poems sparked conversations about how artistic expression reflects society, and how each of us responds to art in different ways. The stories told in his poems are beautiful, and took us on a journey that opened our hearts. Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Peace Education: An International Perspective with the Education Committee members of the Global Alliance for Ministries & Infrastructures for Peace (GAMIP). If you would like a copy of the Presentations, email Nancy@peacealliance.org.
Crystel Patterson has reinvented herself, becoming an author of a series of children’s books. It was truly a plot twist, as she had a fulfilling career in technology consulting, never considered herself a writer, nor had a passion for writing. The occasions that planted this seed had to do with her two young boys. Her 8-year old, after George Floyd’s murder, asked the question: Why do police keep killing black people? Those were his words, and they stuck with Crystel. She didn’t know how to respond. Her younger, 3-year old son had memorized a book and recited it as it was read to him. She realized that these simple books had the power to change thought, and to plant seeds. She set out to write a series of children’s books with positive messaging for young children of color, with inspiration based on real people. This inspiration crosses over to children of every color and ethnicity, and even adults whose children are touched by these books have said that they wished books like this existed when they were children. Writing is now Crystel’s passion, and it answers the question for her: What are you doing for others? Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
RJ Jennings shared a story of his personal journey, as a black male growing up in the South side of Chicago and then moving to live with other family in a different state, and how his life changed. It’s a story about early perceptions planting strong and negative ideas, and how kind mentorship shifted his thinking. Finding people who set better examples, and demonstrated possible paths forward that might redirect his thinking, changed his life completely. His is a heartfelt and tender story, that inspired people in the break-out rooms deeply. We invite you to listen, and hold the importance of mentorship, setting examples, and showing love to the young people in your life. Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Steffani Salter shared a story about an experiment with trust. In the past, she has experienced the pain and frustration that resulted from broken trust, promises made and broken, and the up and down pattern of creating trust and then having it broken. Who can you trust? She began an experiment to only trust herself. The story and the reactions from the breakout rooms were compelling and inspiring. Who are you able to trust, and how deeply are you able to trust yourself? Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
The Peace Alliance welcomes folks from The King Center as we honor the birthday of Mrs. Coretta Scott King during our National Monthly Peacebuilders Podcast. The King Center has graciously partnered with The Peace Alliance for a cohort to participate in the Nonviolence 365 training in beloved community. We celebrate this partnership as well as learn more about The King Center with our special guests Dr. Elizabeth Rosner and Dr. Tori Dudley.
Sequan Prude’s life gave him many challenges. His beginnings were a little rough, from a broken home and parents that both had their own demons, he went to 8 elementary schools, 6 junior high schools and 7 high schools. This rough start led him to make some choices that resulted in his incarceration for more than fourteen years. During that time, he had a few awakenings, and gained a college education, the achievement of which was successful in a personal goal to make his grandmother proud, as valedictorian at the top of his class. On a path of forgiveness, the last part was to learn to forgive himself as part of healing, realizing that although he had made some really bad choices in his life and had done things that he needed to pay for, that he could give himself some sort of grace that it took a lot to make the changes that he has made. The inquiry was about balancing accountability individually, with the collective responsibility to we owe as society — and how to balance those things. Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
General grew up with music and then moved into dance. He has danced in many dance companies, danced and sang on the Broadway stage in CATS, toured with Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon and other shows. He has always leaned in on the arts, and took opportunities that were presented to express himself artistically. At one point, the opportunity came to teach dance, and that has continued. He now is an associate professor of dance at West Virginia University. The break-out rooms explored the question of how to find joy in the arts, as a healer, a teacher or a creator. General has lived his life to express the joy he feels in expressing himself artistically, and we all have joy in what we came here to do. Check the calendar of events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Jan Fox-Petersen experienced grief early in her life, when she lost a beloved grandmother at age six. The grief, along with other events that transpired, made her lose her voice, and her will to be heard. It took years and much work to get past these barriers, and she is now a school psychologist in Wichita, inspiring people in the schools with principles of restorative practices, Non-violent communication, compassion and empathy. The shares following the break-outs were as personal and inspiring as Jan’s remarkable story. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org/calendar, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Description: Our March National Peacebuilder, Suraj Budathoki, co founded Peace Initiative Bhutan to advance positive peace and reconciliation between Bhutan and the Bhutanese refugees of Nepali origin. These ethnic Bhutanese were forced to flee Bhutan in the early 1990’s. Suraj wrote an article to explain the history of this forced exile:
The World’s Happiest Country Needs a Peace and Reconciliation Process.
There are now bills in the House and Senate that we can support by calling or writing our representatives. Peace Initiative Bhutan has scheduled Tuesday March 21 from 1pm ET to 4 pm ET as a time to call your Senators and Representatives to support H.R. 228 introduced on 3/14/2023 by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), and S.R. 108 introduced on 3/15/2023 by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). You can call anytime if this time frame does not work for you. You can also call Rep. Khanna and Sen. Sherrod to thank them for sponsoring the bills. Let's lend our support to positive peace and reconciliation!
Marianne Simon shared a deeply personal story about the evolution of her thoughts about her next steps in life. When she began thinking about finding another man to share her life with after being a widow for six years, after 26 years of marriage, she realized that it was not about finding the next ‘big thing’ in her life - be it another man, or where her career would go next in this chapter of her life. Rather, it was about being open to the fire side of her spirit that had remained quiet for so long. It was about saying ‘yes.’ If you didn’t have to focus on your next ‘big thing’ what would you say ‘yes’ to, today? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
When Jeff Wallach began to plan the story he might tell, he began with change. This story morphed into a story of survival, and about his passion for full expression. In his home, within his own four walls, he was loved and supported, and felt safe. Outside of those walls, he was under attack from bullies, bigotry, and bad humans. In middle school, a teacher advised him to get out of his shell, he was seen as painfully shy — and recommended that he volunteer at an animal shelter, or a theatre. His mother took him to a community theatre that very weekend, and he found a home and a passion that has lasted for the rest of his life. Making a living as an actor, director, choreographer and teacher, performing arts has been his passion and continues to be. He strives to be a beacon for kids to see who they are, and to shine brightly with glitter and sparkle. How are you living your life, authentically, with full exposure? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
The Peace On Podcast is your source for inspiring conversations and information from thought leaders across the spectrum on topics related to the strategies of building peace, fostering nonviolence and creating a world that thrives, shifting our understanding toward empathy, compassion and connection. Our guests this month for our National Monthly Peacebuilders Podcast are JoHanna "J" Thompson and Quincie "Q" Doucet in a dialogue centering the voices of Black women as they explore the concept of “Peace” throughout the diaspora and what Peace looks like for them. Legislative focus: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act https://peacealliance.salsalabs.org/george_floyd_justice_in_policing_act Eric Garner Excessive Force Prevention Act https://peacealliance.salsalabs.org/s244ericgarnerslifematters Sign the petition in support of a US Department of Peacebuilding Act https://peacealliance.salsalabs.org/weneedausdepartmentofpeacebuilding
Karlie Everhart began with a Maya Angelou quote - “you may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” Her story was about her experiences that began with her feeling as though she was not enough, and collecting evidence to support that feeling. While outward perceptions may have been of a very successful woman in her 20’s, and while she was a strong achiever in many ways, she still felt as though she were not enough. Returning to graduate school for her Masters degree in Spiritual Psychology, she began to work with Freedom to Choose, and in doing so, participated in conversations with people in prisons. This has revealed many things to her, and in talking to one inmate who reminded her of her own birth father, she had an awakening allowing her to release the past feelings of being not enough. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Jerry Downs is an accomplished photographer and artist, and brought a story about the importance of allowing creativity. The fifth in a family of eleven children, when he wasn’t doing well in his first year of school having not attended preschool or kindergarten and not knowing how to read or do simple arithmetic, his teacher met with his parents. Their decision was that until he learned to read, he was not to be allowed to draw at all. Drawing had been his life, and his identity until that time. Looking back, he felt compassion for his parents, and for his teacher in giving that direction, seeing that they were doing the best that they could. Still, his life expression has been to release creativity and create connection. From his book, Why You Were Born, which is available for free download from his website: “We are all in this together. It’s the reason we were all born. All the answers reside within you. Listen.” Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
We began the New Year of Hope Story Circles with Marie Murtagh. Marie shared a story about personal evolution, and how she once saw herself as small and limited based on her perceptions and circumstances, and has expanded. Especially during the time of Covid, she took on a journey of observation, reflection and study. She felt physically different, and saw that the pillars of society once thought to be unshakable lose their strength. Exploring new thoughts of complexity and simplicity, she found ways to expand and now knows that her mission is to serve. What wisdom do each of us have to bring forward? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org, join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Julia Gandy Torres, BCTMB, LMT, M.Div. has been studying the intersection of peacebuilding, spirituality and wellness for over 20 years and will be speaking on Becoming Aware of the Relationship between Spirituality and Inner Peace. Julia is an International Best-Selling Author, HeartMath Coach and Trainer, Canfield Success Trainer, Peace Builder and Advocate, and Board-Certified Massage Therapist.
On November 8, 2022, The Peace Alliance hosted #Peace2thePolls Democracy Vigil, a 14-hour open zoom room where folks from all over the country could come together to celebrate our democracy, share stories of their voting experience, and connect with each other in community. Priestley Johnson, from When We All Vote, shared the importance of voter participation in our midterm elections in her short time with us. Check out other segments from the #Peace2thePolls Democracy Vigil here: https://peacealliance.org/peace2thepolls/
Kevin Winkler shared a story about transitions. His perspective is that when we are going through transitions in life, we don’t really see them as a transition — and after time passes, we have more clarity. His transitions from childhood in rural Oklahoma to living in San Diego, and through three careers — from a dancer, to a career in library science with the New York Public Library, and in his current career as an author of several books related to the performing arts, have all been connected by his passions and evolving interests. What transitions have you experienced, and what did you learn about it later? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Special Onondaga Thanksgiving Address and Reports from TPA / DoP Strategy Group Committees
Nancy Melius has lived a rich and varied life, with several different careers evolving over time. Beginning as a dancer, with success on a national tour of CATS and ‘Gypsy’ on Broadway, she moved into fashion design, then interior design, all along building her business acumen and skills. It became important that she combined her creative and business skills in everything that she pursued. She now supports her family business, both with her father and sister, in managing Oheka Castle in Long Island, and various properties with her husband. Having lived internationally as well as having toured in the United States, her perspective has grown and been informed by her life experiences. How have your experiences defined you, and how do you feel you are seen in the world? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Marie Ukeye told a beautiful story about her mother. Born in Rwanda in 1934 as one of seven children, she was supported to go to school by her father, a school teacher. When she married, she had eleven children, beginning at age 18 with the last when she was 47. During the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, she lost three of her children, and then lost two more to HIV/AIDS. She proceeded to mother her nine orphaned grandchildren. Through it all, Marie recalls that she was very busy — built buildings that she rented, ran businesses. Even now, she recently built a store with the intent to leave it to her remaining five grandchildren that still live with her. Her strength through it all, and her joy — Marie shared that she laughs a lot! — came from the love that she gives and receives. What is the strong force that propels your purpose? There were very tender and happy shares following the break-out rooms. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
This National Monthly Peacebuilders Podcast features Erin Daly, Professor of Law at Delaware Law School and the co-founder of the Dignity Rights Project. Erin will be sharing with us on the topic of the role dignity can play in uniting our country. This is the 2nd in our 3 part series around voting access, the importance of participation in our democracy, and the need to come together for a common purpose as we approach the midterm elections in November.
Joel Kimmel is a friend of the Peace Alliance, and brought a message about the power of words. By shifting from a mindset and language of ‘Doing’ to a mindset and language of ‘Being,’ he offered, we can open up greater possibilities of connection. Instead of ’tell me more,’ say ’say more about that.’ Instead of ‘forcing' (a doing action), use ‘allowing' (a being action). Instead of ’to-do lists,’ create ’to have happen lists.’ Listen in on more detail of ‘Being’ and ‘Doing’ and hear how the group reacted with a joyful and peace-filled response from the break-out rooms. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Azim Khamisa is living a spiritual journey following a tragedy of losing his son to gun violence; watch this NBC Nightly News Video to learn about it. His message about peace, purpose and leadership through forgiveness was heartfelt and powerful. The important news that he shares is that violent behavior is learned, and empathic and compassionate behavior is also learned. Through the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, begun in honor of his late son, he has touched hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom are young students, before they make decisions that may lead to violence. Tony, the man who was only 14 when he shot and killed Tariq, spent decades in prison and now volunteers for the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, speaking with Azim about the power of forgiveness. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Azim Khamisa is living a spiritual journey following a tragedy of losing his son to gun violence; watch this NBC Nightly News Video to learn about it. His message about peace, purpose and leadership through forgiveness was heartfelt and powerful. The important news that he shares is that violent behavior is learned, and empathic and compassionate behavior is also learned. Through the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, begun in honor of his late son, he has touched hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom are young students, before they make decisions that may lead to violence. Tony, the man who was only 14 when he shot and killed Tariq, spent decades in prison and now volunteers for the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, speaking with Azim about the power of forgiveness. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
We welcome three panelists who are on the front lines of voting access. Former State Senator Dwight Bullard, now with Florida Rising, will speak to the experiences in Florida with the limiting of voter access, especially for folks from marginalized communities, Diana Philip, Chief of Staff for Democracy Initiative, will give us all the data about where in the country needs the most help and support to ensure that all can vote in November and she will have real time ways you can get involved, and Amy Cohen, ED with the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service will speak to the youth vote and what is being done to increase access and enthusiasm within a coalition of colleges and universities across the country.
We welcome three panelists who are on the front lines of voting access. Former State Senator Dwight Bullard, now with Florida Rising, will speak to the experiences in Florida with the limiting of voter access, especially for folks from marginalized communities, Diana Philip, Chief of Staff for Democracy Initiative, will give us all the data about where in the country needs the most help and support to ensure that all can vote in November and she will have real time ways you can get involved, and Amy Cohen, ED with the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service will speak to the youth vote and what is being done to increase access and enthusiasm within a coalition of colleges and universities across the country.
Carol is a dancer, choreographer, dance teacher and director living in New York City. She brought a multi-layered story of how her three C’s — Community, Connection and Center — guide her in her current teaching paths that take her in three directions. She teaches adults with special needs, she teaches professional dancers, and she teaches high-school age kids, in three different forums each week. From her own personal history in performing, as a competitive gymnast as a child to a professional dancer as an adult, she has found that being heart-driven brings her back to these three C’s with one additional C — Consistency. Listen to this story, and feel your heart open wide. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Carol is a dancer, choreographer, dance teacher and director living in New York City. She brought a multi-layered story of how her three C’s — Community, Connection and Center — guide her in her current teaching paths that take her in three directions. She teaches adults with special needs, she teaches professional dancers, and she teaches high-school age kids, in three different forums each week. From her own personal history in performing, as a competitive gymnast as a child to a professional dancer as an adult, she has found that being heart-driven brings her back to these three C’s with one additional C — Consistency. Listen to this story, and feel your heart open wide. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Do you want to work for peace within an organization of people who want to support and collaborate with you? Then listen to this recording as we describe what positions The Peace Alliance has available for volunteer action for peace.
Ari Cowan brought a multi-layered story to share, that began with his learning the practice of meditation at age 13 from his mother, who was a Yogi, and then being on a path to be an Air Force pilot at age 15. That path was not taken, and he continued in his life to be guided by meditation. A significant event was when he created the PAR model of violent behavior modification, and ran a pilot of the model at Clallam Bay Correctional facility in Washington State. He had low expectations given the circumstances under which the pilot was being run, hoping for a 2.5-5% reduction in violence. The results were an astounding 100%! Come and listen to this remarkable story, including ways to meditate for the good of all people, and the skills to execute a power swap, a key component to shifting the script of violence, which he sees as a health issue. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle, and share your emerging stories!
Description: Dr. Garfield Vernon is the author of Toward Cultural Intelligence where he breaks down the importance of understanding and openness to cultural differences to build and maintain peace.
Jerilyn Stapleton is a long-time friend and colleague in the Peace Alliance. She was on her way to Chicago for a National NOW conference, and had several challenges in traveling, not the least of which was inadvertently leaving her drivers license at home. Flying out of Burbank, CA, she easily used her SAG Film Society card as identification. Flying out of Chicago, however, she encountered obstacles. It’s a story of being seen, being recognized, and how much our society relies on these small pieces of paper to make each of us a real person. Thankfully, she was able to complete her travels, having met new friends along the way. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle, and share your emerging stories!
Our July Consciousness-Raising Book Club highlights the book We Need a Department of Peace. Tonight we gathered to discuss the history, the highlights, the challenges, and the future for this transformative legislation. The midterms are coming, and it's never been more important for all of us to understand our role in making real and lasting change happen.
With the recent SCOTUS reversal of Roe v Wade, Judy told a multi-generational story. Beginning with her Grandmother, who chose to get a divorce more than 100 years ago, and all of the steps that had to be taken to allow that to legally occur. She then went on to live a bohemian life, surrounded by art and music, and by political-social debates and conversations, including the topic of birth control even at that time. Fast forward to Judy’s own life in the 1960’s as a young woman, falling in love with Joel, and wanting to get birth control. She was refused by the older, white, male Ob Gyn at her all-female college, and had to find another route. This history of restrictions, in contrast and parallel with the recent decision, led to conversations about where we can find hope, when circumstances cause constraint. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle, and share your emerging stories.
Peace Alliance's Community Peacebuilding Team Lead J Thompson, activist and leader Emerald Garner, and Etan Thomas as we explore the real stories of support and community with folks who have suffered trauma through the loss of a loved one from violence (often in custody of the carceral system) and how they cope in community with each other. We will welcome stories from people directly impacted by violence whose trauma captured national attention, speaking on their pursuit of peace and the platforms that amplify these stories. How do we build peace while the same state sanctioned violence continues? Our speakers illuminated their journey of creating peace after the cameras and spotlight are gone and speak into their needs for navigating the justice system and finding healing, if possible. You don't want to miss these stories, they will change your life.
Barbara Thorngren says that she is a steward of the 7-acre property called Avalon, where she has lived for 30 years. Initially drawn by a giant maple tree, there are now chickens, goats, ducks. Since her husband passed in 2016, she has been creating the Barn Studio, a 60x25 space, as a place to make a massive mess, instruments and sound healing. After attending Spirit Seminary, she became an interfaith spiritual minister in 2021, and has invited people into Avalon on spiritual retreats, experiences, a hub. The conversation focused on the importance of connecting with nature, and how healing it can be — and Barbara advised everyone that even a small blade of grass can be the focus. We can be in nature in our imaginations. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle, and share your emerging stories.
Liz Gannon Graydon told a story about preparing for her third act in life, as defined by the timings from Jane Fonda’s memoir. She is reaching a place where she wants to move from being the Sage on the Stage, to being a Guide on the Side (La Sarmiento), and to mentor others with the wisdom of the elders. What wisdom might you offer those around you, whether they be younger or older? What can we all offer one another? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle, and share your emerging stories!
Terry Mason has only been on a cruise once in her life, invited by a friend who was booked as a performer on the ship. The performers on this ship didn’t have luxury accommodations, but it was a wonderful adventure that involved a short plane ride, boarding a second ship, and sharing Greek Easter dinner with the Greek crew. It’s a story of seeing others, and being seen — and has a twist at the end that ended up with Terry almost being arrested! The meditation and the ending all tied in with being seen, and inviting everyone to really see one another, knowing that everyone we meet has a full life and existence, and deserves to be seen. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle, and share your emerging stories!
Especially following the Uvalde school shooting, and the other mass shootings in the 2 weeks prior, Darin Detweiler’s story was especially tender and poignant. Having begun his life as a nuclear engineer aboard a submarine in the Navy, he had a baby boy in 1991 with his wife, named Riley. After a year of being away, he left the Navy so that he could be with his family. Soon after, an invisible threat took hold, and his little, 16-month old son, caught eColi from exposure at day care. Just 23 days later, Riley died from the devastation to his small body. Darin decided that the best way he could continue to be a father to Riley, was to learn more, find out why, and attempt to overcome the invisible threats that are posed by food borne illness every day. He now has a PhD, has written books, and is an advisor to the USDA and Department of Agriculture. Yet, the numbers of people who get sick, and of those who die - 3000 each year - from food borne illnesses have not changed in 30 years. Making eColi a household name was a success. Shades of improvement can be defined. Binary options of all or nothing are unlikely to be possible. The breakout rooms invited people to share their feelings, about Darin’s story, or the recent events. Finding hope in dark times is easier in the gentle presence of others. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle, and share your emerging stories.
Kate Katz shared a wonderful story about her noble path in life. Beginning with a passion for puppetry, she made that her career, through various incarnations and with many different twists and turns in her noble path. Other events added special effects and then training in soft skills to her puppeteer foundation. Puppetry was Kate’s metaphor, from a very young age. What was your metaphor? What spoke to you as a child that ended up carrying through your lifetime, even if the path shifted many times along the way? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle, and share your emerging stories!
Ann Cummings is a professional facilitator of Restorative Justice Circles at www.circlepracticeconsulting.com, and brought forth a tender and vulnerable story of how a circle went wrong. The core of the story is looking at how do each of us recognize with awareness and attunement to a given situation, and see the relational aspects between people — or do not do those things. Often we have the skills and operate poorly. Often we do not have the skills, and don’t know how to react. In some cases, we are in situations where we feel less power to take action and possibly make things better. The conversations brought forth how each of us might be aware in a heightened way, understanding that everyone in any circle — any situation — has different lived experiences that they are bringing in. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Co-facilitated by Kathy Kidd and Dan Kahn with special guests Dot Maver, Heart Phoenix, Jeffery Weisberg, and music by Cecilia St. King
Rivera Sun is an author, notably of fantasy novels for children with a fresh take on the themes of courage, character, humanness, friendship. In her writing, she began to wonder if we needed the violence that seems to persist in the story-telling in fantasy. Instead of trying to win the war, could we instead try to prove the heroism? We face epic struggles — climate crisis, nuclear weapons, pandemic — and can feel very small. That’s where these stories come in — the framework, metaphors, role models and heroes, and the ways to overcome the struggles without choosing violence. The group conversations centered on the question asking what stories have shaped you, and what did you draw from them? What are the elements and themes that might be showing up in your life over and over again? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Norma Loeb spent years helping her mother, with whom she was very close, as her health failed and misdiagnoses led to confusion and frustration. When the accurate diagnosis came, Norma found a path to support others who were caregivers for Lewy Body Dementia, and those who were afflicted. Along the way, there were many points of decision, and of change, that were presented. This inspiring story led us to discuss what might be coming next, something that feels like it needs to change, and the next steps might not yet be revealed. For Norma, the key to moving forward was compassion for her mother. What might be the key for you? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Paul and Wayne met in 1976, performing in a production of “Babes in Arms” in San Francisco, moved in together a year later, and have been together ever since. As performers, Paul’s career as a dancer and Wayne’s as a singer took them to New York, and then each of them traveled for work, often having to spend time apart while committed to remaining together. They returned to California moving to Los Angeles in the 1980’s, and their career path took them a different direction, and they found ways to work together and be together. Facing some significant, life-threatening health issues, they are now healthy, active, and singing together as a duo, performing for Assisted Living Centers with a really busy performing calendar, after a hiatus during Covid. Check them out at www.delsmithioproductions.com! Their story is a palpable and contagious story of joy, of love, of the importance of saying ‘yes’ to everything, and telling people you know that you love them - because it may be the last chance you have. Check the calendar of Events at www.peace alliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Our own Liz and Jelena led the story-telling today, focusing on creating balance. The concepts of balance and equanimity - and the difference between them - were explored. Jelena shared the idea of being on a see-saw to find balance, and yet at this moment in our current global situation with Russia invading Ukraine, it feels as though we are on the see-saw with the whole world, and there is a big imbalance. In the small rooms, people explored how to find equanimity, and what practices people have to find hope, and experience optimism, even when things are difficult. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
A native of South Carolina, Leslie shared a story of her professional career development, and how her options and choices impacted the decisions about how to spend her life. She had a couple of pivotal points that shaped her growth and her path, wanting to make spaces for people to thrive in the work place, with the values of Agile to put people and interactions over processes and tools, for example. She is now a leader in a smaller business, having been a leader in a very large corporation just prior, and is experiencing the room and space to make the working environment something that people enjoy. The inquiry was about how to bring our best selves to the work places that we inhabit, and how to make them more humanized where we can feel safe. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Anne Marie grew up in Southern California, in a life she describes as ordinary. Her first career was as a performer, singing and dancing in tours of Broadway musicals. She found an interest in how these shows were managed, how things moved from place to place, how much royalty the original designers and creators of the shows were paid when she performed from city to city. At one point, she began an apprenticeship in creative performing management, and then was referred to work as a tour manager for a couple of concerts of Burt Bacharach, the world-renowned, multiple Grammy and Academy award winning composer and performer. That grew into a decades-long position, and her role grew with the years to be multi-faceted with great responsibility. Providing the scaffolding for Burt Bacharach to be able to fulfill his artistic endeavors became Anne Marie’s role. The inquiry is to consider what past experiences provided the learning to move to the next step. We often don’t realize at any given point in time what might evolve in the next chapter of life, and how we are being provided opportunities that make those next chapters possible to realize. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
J Thompson begins 2022 as the Peace Alliance’s new Community Peacebuilding Council Lead, and we were delighted to have her start the year as our guest at the Hope Story Circle. She told a wonderful story about a trip that she took to Africa at age 16, with a group of other young people, and meeting with young people there. The story was about being in time, being present, and allowing spaciousness and peace to guide timeliness, also referring to time as being circular — "this too shall pass," yet it may come again. The invitation in conversation was about finding a time when people felt they were present in time, and how did that feel? How could that practice be intentional, and provide a sense of peace in the moment? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Sandie Behrens figured out the truth that she had been adopted at a very young age. After considering pursuing her real family several times over the years, she decided at the turn of the year she would turn 50, that this milestone warranted taking action - and she did. She found her mother, grandmother, two brothers and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and more. The lessons she learned were about forgiveness, grief, and nature vs. nurture. While Sandie’s story is unique to her experience, we all can ask the question - who am I? What have I experienced in life that brings me joy, and what have I experienced that brings me grief? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Victoria Moore was raised by a single Mom who taught tap dance, and she took that mantle when her Mom was injured at just age 17, continuing with a career as a professional dancer touring with Broadway musicals, and then returning to teaching. A single performance inspired her to make tap dance available to people with disabilities, or elderly people to inspire them and improve their cognitive abilities. She took her Mom’s choreography and created a book that is being published, called Tap Dance for All - Adapting Instruction for Disability and Mobility Impairment. The inquiry focused on purpose, and access — was there something your heart felt drawn to do, and you were able to do it? Or you don’t know what it is, and you find access? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Marita’s story began in her childhood growing up in a rural farm in South Africa, during Apartheid. From the separation of people of color, and the image held in her memory of people of color encircling the cemetery when her father was being buried when she was twelve years old, her life of work has been to bring people together with deepening understanding. The story continued to the last couple of years, when Covid has led to isolation. Yet, Marita shared an expression of connection with people in small ways that have a larger and long-lasting impact. What can each of us do to impact those around us, even if it might seem in small ways of support, connection, and joy? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Bunmi Emenanjo shared a story of personal growth, as a child born in the United States, moving back to Nigeria with her parents and older brother at age 2. Returning with her brother to the United States to go to college at age 16, she had to figure things out on her own, from her first job at McDonald’s to getting her first car, finishing undergraduate and then going to Law School. She just wrapped up a six-month assignment at the White House, working in the office of Science and Technology — a true dream come true, from dreams that began with a core group of friends at that first McDonald’s. Her company, Atlas Book Clubs provides books delivered to children that educate about different countries and cultures, believing ’that kids exposed to different cultures develop global awareness and a perspective that can increase their empathy, compassion, acceptance and celebration of cultures unlike their own.’ Her own personal story focused on finding joy, and the joy that she has experienced all along the way of her journey. The inquiry was to ponder joy, and explore how each of us brings joy to our interactions in our lives. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Christine Elliot, a long-time friend and supporter of the Peace Alliance, shared a story about her personal journey of waking up to her whiteness. Growing up in Canada where everyone was white, she was taught to be color-blind, to live by the golden rule and treat others as she would like to be treated. Moving to the United States and meeting her husband, who had been an activist focused on social justice and world events, she began a learning journey. Campaigning for Obama in 2008, they went to five states to go door to door, and met a beautiful black woman who, seeing their Obama t-shirts and buttons, came out of her home to hug Christine, saying ‘if he wins, we won’t have to be separated anymore.’ This was the beginning of a deeper path led by the minister at her church in San Diego first with black congregants, and then with white ones of which Christine was one, of education about the truth about racism in America. The Anti-Racism Institute that was born out of that exploration, and Christine is fully engaged as a member of the Board, sharing this education with others who want to understand, and who want to help make the changes needed. How can we begin to be comfortable being uncomfortable, as we learn and grow together? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
James Darrah lives in New York City, and was living in New York City on 9/11/01, when the planes hit the two towers and changed the world. His story was about that day, and also the days and months that followed. His personal experience involved going into a dark place for many months — as was true for so many. Then, because of the beloved community, opportunities began to present themselves. James began saying yes, and yes, and yes again, and ended up discovering new paths that would not have happened prior to this event. When things are so low, and you feel so badly, and the whole world collapses — quite literally — you aren’t able to plot your own course. Has there been a time when you felt this way, and found a way to trust, to be open, and find your way to yes? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Patricia Tallman has been a professional actor since she was 15, and became a stunt woman in her 30’s. In her 50’s, after doing everything she could think of to make a life for herself and her son, she finally had to admit that she was lost. In the recovery from a breakdown, she learned to listen to her own inner guidance system and now, in addition to her experience as a performer, she leads other people on the adventures of their dreams. She shared a story about a particularly frightening stunt, how she learned to often block off fear in order to do her work, and how she paid for that later in life. In her breakdown also known as breakthrough, she realized that everything she had done before had led her to this place, and she became completely teachable and open, in order to rebuild. What do we all have to let go of in order to become teachable? How can we learn, even from frightening experiences, so that we might rebuild? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Paul Chepikian is a Greek Armenian immigrant, born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and growing up in Cairo, Egypt and Beirut, Lebanon until his family came to the United States when he was eight years old — and he grew up in New Jersey. When he was ten years old, his parents were arguing and he became concerned and afraid. He dialed the Operator on the phone (there was no 911 in 1965), and asked for the Police to come to his house. Two Police Officers came, and they calmed everything down, made things better, and were sure that Paul was okay before they left in the snowy night. That experience of the officers making things better stuck, and Paul wanted to be a police officer. His life took different directions, but he has always had experiences with making things better, partly with the Los Angeles Crisis Response Team as a volunteer, supporting the LAPD and LAFD in traumatic situations to support family, neighbors and friends immediately following an event. The inquiry was about coming to this as peace builders, and wanting every child to feel safe when there is a crisis. For everyone, especially children, when people are frightened, how do we help them feel safe again? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Adrianne Ferree worked for 37 years in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and a portion of the time was working in inmate programs, creating sustainability programs: farm, garden, recycling center, woodshed, welding shop and more. One day in the woodshed she saw a beautifully crafted Adirondack chair, with curved edges, made of redwood, and a little imprint of a rubber ducky at the bottom of one of the legs. She asked the man who made it why he didn’t create these beautiful things when he was outside? Carlos said that he didn’t have a workshop and tools like this when he was on the outside. That was the seed of an idea that has led Adrianne to create a Tools Library in Compton, as a first step towards creating a Makers Hub in this underserved area of Los Angeles. The community is full of makers who need tools and a space to make things - and this is a path to do so. We don’t know what we don’t know - and when we are informed, as Adrianne was by Carlos, suddenly this whole new world opens up to amazing things! Has there been a time when this happened for you? Might you be able to be a part of something, and others might have the other parts, or you to co-create something? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
An inspiring weekend, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the legislation to create a cabinet-level Department of Peacebuilding in our federal government. Our special guest speakers were Matthew Albracht, Judy Kimmel and Nancy Merritt sharing stories about how the concept and campaign began, and experiences throughout the years. We also had many long-time supporters of the Department of Peacebuilding attending, who shared some thoughts after the break-out. This has been a journey of hope, determination, persistence centered in the core belief that peace is possible. The inquiry for the group was to share about deeply held ideals that were hoped for, when an “aha!" moment happens and the overwhelming feeling of really wanting to make something happen occurs. Hope, intention, and a vision. July 11th presents a special event with Dennis Kucinich and Marianne Williamson, celebrating the anniversary of this special legislation, originally authored by former Congressman Kucinich 20 years ago. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
As a minister, things were very difficult for our guest, Maggie Oman Shannon during the pandemic. Wanting to connect with her parishioners, and remain connected with all aspects of her life became challenging. She took the time to complete a book — her ninth book — that had been in the making for 23 years, and had been rejected by her publisher three different times. The book is about hope, called Have Hope: 365 Encouraging Poems, Prayers, and Meditations for Daily Inspiration. The inquiry explored the question: is there an idea inside of you right now, that has been percolating, that might have all of the right things in place now to bring it forward? The timing, the people, the circumstances, the community - everything is ready and in alignment? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Ashley Hurst has faced many obstacles and challenges in her life. While beginning as a star athlete at Baylor, health challenges soon took over, and gradually became the full focus of her life and her attention. When she turned to entrepreneurship and study to become a dietician, she was drawn to become a consultant for others who shared the Ulcerative Colitis experience, offering support and first-hand knowledge. When were there times in your life when you had to trust your gut, and even a painful experience offered opportunities to help others? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Featuring River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding Police-Youth-Dialogues Be inspired. Meet peacebuilders leading the call for peace and justice! Join author Jeffrey Weisberg, Executive Director of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding and Will Halvosa, Disproportionate Minority Contact Coordinator (DMC) for the Gainsville Florida Police Department. Together, they will share the work of Police Youth Dialogue: A Restorative Path Toward Justice, with the purpose of healing historical harms between black and brown youth, and law enforcement.
As Executive Director of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, Jeffrey Weisberg designed, developed and implemented a wide range of programs and services in his local community of Gainesville Florida and throughout the world. A small portion of his work with youth includes police/youth dialogues, social/emotional learning, restorative justice, and coming of age programs. For the past 25 years, Jeffrey has served as a Florida Certified Mediator. He is using Restorative Practices to support the Department of Juvenile Justice, schools, and prisons, to bolster alternatives to the punitive model. Jeffrey Weisberg is a founding member of the Peace Alliance and co-author of The Little Book of Police Youth Dialogue: A Restorative Path Toward Justice. [See book below.]
Will Halvosa retired as Captain from the Gainesville Police Department, after 30 years of service. Currently, he is the Disproportionate Minority Contact Coordinator (DMC) of that agency. Will graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Criminal Justice. He is certified in RED: Racial and Ethnic Disparity through Georgetown University. Will instructs statewide on DMC, RED, Implicit Bias, and Procedural Justice. Even though he is semi-retired, Will remains involved in community advocacy. Will Halvosa is currently a Board member of Partnership for Strong Families, Child Advocacy Center, MOTIV8U, and YouthBuild.
Linda was diagnosed with leukemia on her 50th birthday. She shared a detailed story of her path of dealing with and healing from cancer, working with Dr. Steve Foreman at City of Hope, and working through it all with her husband and two teenage kids. Along the way, she was given only a few years to live, met with other survivors, and had a deeply powerful healing experience with a gifted healer. Each step of the way, she made choices - and walked through new doors. More than two decades later, she counts herself blessed to remain cancer free. What do each of us do when we’re faced with doors to walk through? How do we face the unknown? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Designed to Inspire, Educate and Motivate to Mobilize for Peace REMEBERING BISHOP GEORGE DALLAS MCKINNEY
WITH SON PASTOR GLEN A. MCKINNEY
GUEST SPEAKER: HELGI MAKI
Meet people leading the call for peace and justice and be inspired and motivated!
TRAUMA-INFORMED CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Helgi Maki is a groundbreaking advocate for trauma-informed practices. Helgi will be with us to share trauma-informed approaches to conflict resolutions and lawyering as a means to improve access to justice, and to reduce harm. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law with an M.A. from Carleton University, and joined the Ontario Bar in 2003 and the New York Bar in 2005. Helgi is the co-editor of a forthcoming book on trauma-informed lawyering to be published by the Law Practice Management Division of the American Bar Association. Helgi is also a mindfulness instructor, a movement teacher, and an executive coach.
REMEMBRANCE OF BISHOP GEORGE DALLAS MCKINNEY
Bishop George Dallas McKinney lived a full life of 88 years. Bishop McKinney founded St. Stephen’s Cathedral Church of God in Christ in 1962 along with his late wife, Jean C. McKinney, M.Ed. Bishop McKinney marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., advised U.S. Presidents, and was a core leader in his church for over 70 years. He had a life-long commitment to peaceful living and peacebuilding. He was often called upon during times of turmoil and distress to be a voice for reason and peace. He was a long-time supporter of the Department of Peacebuilding and San Diego Kids/ Young Adults for Peace. Among his many awards, the Shelter Island Rotary Club presented him with The Peace Maker Award in recognition of his many years of work in the area of racial unity. Pastor Glenn A. McKinney is the fifth and youngest son of Bishop George Dallas McKinney and Jean C.McKinney M.Ed. Pastor McKinney, joins us to memorialize the life and work of a man who has given so much to the world. In the family tradition of community service, Pastor McKinney serves as a pastor at St. Stephen's Church, an anchor in San Diego's inner city for almost 60 years. Pastor Glenn McKinney was born at the height of the civil rights era. He carries on the legacy of three generations of dedication to community service. His grandparents, who could literally touch slavery, are the foundation of this legacy.
Today, Paula Schwartz shared a wonderful story about going through an evolution of thoughts and feelings before and during the year of Covid and the events following George Floyd’s murder. She invited input from three ‘visitors’ - spirits of her past: the first was her 7-year old self, the second was her great-aunt Serena, her grandmother’s sister, who had been killed in the holocaust, and the third was her father, with whom she had always felt very close. All three gave her support to be kind to herself, in order to be impactful to the cause of justice in the world. Is there something that you have heard or long to hear in this moment from one of your ancestors or your younger self? The shares following the break-out rooms were deeply connected to this inquiry. Happy Mother’s Day, everyone! Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Our guest today was our own Matthew Albracht Board member of the Peace Alliance. Matthew shared a story about how he changed his eating habits, and all of the different ways it positively impacted his life. He has recently published a book called Nourish Your Self Whole sharing all that he has learned on this journey. The break-out rooms invited people to explore the question: when have you been in place where you felt so deeply a need to shift, to make a different choice? The choice for nurturing your own self? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
It is with the deepest gratitude that we announce the passing of the role of National Field Coordinator from Mr. Dan Kahn to Ms. Kathy Kidd. Dan will continue to work with the Peace Alliance on the Truth, Healing and Reconcilation project. Join us for a conversation on transition and evolution as we thank Dan and welcome Kathy.
Both Dan and Kathy have been a part of the Peace Alliance almost since its inception, holding various roles of importance throughout their tenures. Both began as local district coordinators, then as State Coordinators. Both joined the Peace Alliance staff full-time (at different times) and when we had a D.C. office, both worked in the D.C. office at different times.
Kathy Kidd has been involved with the Peace Alliance since 2003 and stepped away for several years. She is returning to a position whose torch was passed to Dan, and is passing back to Kathy. In welcoming Kathy back to the daily workings of the organization, we say thank you and celebrate Dan Kahn for his long-term dedication to the Peace Alliance.
For your convenience, you may want to skip ahead 20 minutes when the breakout rooms start.
Our guest today was Fran Smartt Addicott, a former music educator in Memphis, TN. She told a personal story about her father who — among a list of titles - was a civil rights activist who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King in Memphis in the late 1960’s. The lessons she learned from her father have imprinted Fran deeply, and she has carried them forward throughout her life. The questions posed to the group were about how to enter difficult conversations? How do you stand out and stand up? How do you practice that? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Lisa Worth Huber was our special guest today, sharing a wonderful story about capturing stories during the time of Covid. Interwoven in sharing about her students writing for the Covid Memoir project, she shared about her grandmother who had lost both parents at the age of four to a tuberculosis epidemic, and didn’t have the knowledge of her parents’ stories as she grew up. Lisa had a box that belonged to her grandmother that held a special bracelet and locket, and a butterfly tracing back to Ellis Island in 1917. All of these threads came together with an inquiry for people to consider — What if? What if acts of kindness made headlines daily? What if you could speak at your graduation? What if you created a business that employed homeless people? What is your ‘what if?’ Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Patty Everett has a long history in the performing arts, and is now working with a theatre workshop in Los Angeles as a choreographer, director and vocal coach, also teaching voice privately via zoom. Her greatest love is her 20-year old son who is severely disabled. Her story is about advocating for her son in a hospital setting when he needed surgery, and taking action following to ensure that other parents facing the same situation would not be met with the same response. We talked about how being a warrior and being a peacemaker are not antithetical. We invited people to think about how to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves, and to share a story when it was necessary to tap into the warrior spirit. Was it possible to find humanity in the system, and make the connection that enabled the change? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Teachers' work has taken on new dimensions this past year, from elevated health risks to expanded technology skills to coping with students' and colleagues' pandemic stresses.
Join us this Tuesday and connect with a panel of leading-edge educators, facing these challenges with a new generation of powerful peacebuilding tools and strategies.
Linda Ryden is the creator of the Peace of Mind curriculum series - combining social-emotional learning, conflict resolution, and social justice education for elementary and middle school students.
Kelli Love is a global leader in the Mindfulness in Education field - a trainer, mentor, and filmmaker promoting yoga and mindfulness in schools.
And, E.J. Anderson is the Executive Director of On Track Greenville (SC), at the United Way of Greenville - bringing his distinguished experience as an educator embracing mindfulness into efforts at addressing poverty and ensuring student success.
Click Here to read their more Complete Bios!
Our presenter for this panel is our Council Lead for Peacebuilding in Schools - Jelena Popovic - a highly accomplished educator and trainer in her own right!
Bill Strickland has enjoyed many careers, from botany to performing as a dancer/singer/actor, to becoming a lawyer working in the banking and philanthropic sectors. He shared two stories with a common thread about how something that was once an irritant became a gem, a pearl. The inquiry was to reflect on what irritants we may have, and what gem do they bring to us? How does empathy shift our perceptions? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Lois Anne is an artist and poet, and later in life is pursuing her Masters of Fine Arts, to be completed in July despite several hurdles. She is also a two-time cancer survivor. Her story has many threads, including Buddhism and laughter — at one moment, brought together in joy! The inquiry was all about how we bring together our relationship to change and learning. What matters most shows up - and how do we react? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
After September 11th, 2001, our human family will never be quite the same. We have been adjusting to this new world ever since.
Join us and connect with Nancy Meyer, whose younger brother lost his wife on one of those planes on that fateful day. Nancy has transmuted some of the damage done to her family, and created waves for new ways of being with each other. She has raised her voice and borne witness from New York to Hiroshima to the Guantanamo Bay facility in Cuba where suspects implicated in the 9/11 attacks are still awaiting some form of justice.
Learn how we may join Nancy, and the September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, in weaving our sorrows into the world we wish for!!
Rob Graydon, filmmaker, joined us today to tell a powerful story about a piece of a painting that he discovered when visiting with Arun Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. This discovery has led to a journey of his lifetime, to create a film about putting these pieces together, with the artist Franz Trenk. More is yet to come on this journey. The inquiry for everyone present was this: what piece of the picture do you carry? The strategic and tactical peacebuilding that is being done every day around the world isn’t clearly seen by many. How will each of us work to re-brand peace into something that people will understand, and that will excite people? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
The chasms we experience, from family disconnections to workplace conflicts to political divides, may seem un-bridgable. While each of us must choose for ourselves which bridges need building, we offer the possibility of grounded inspiration, and tools for your journey.
Join us tonight and connect with Jo Berry - the founder of "Building Bridges for Peace." 16 years after Jo's father was killed by an IRA bomb, she met with the man responsible - Pat Magee. Their hundreds of conversations since then are at the core of an international movement for healing and understanding.
Judy Kimmel, Board Chair of the Peace Alliance, joined her husband of 50 years to share her part of the story that Joel had shared in previous Hope Story Circles. Having been married only 7 months, Joel had a very serious skiing accident. In a dream, Judy experienced a vision that provided deep confirmation that he would recover. She didn’t know what form it would take, or how - but she knew that he would survive and be okay. The lessons they both took from the long experience of healing related to surrendering, holding vision and intention, and out of this came the perception of the distinction between doing and being. We are all familiar with 'to-do' lists on the doing side. On the being side, they shared the tool of writing 'have happened' statements. ‘Have happened’ statements state the vision, and the purpose it serves — and then they are released, and we allow them to become. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Dee Shanti, the new Managing Director of the Peace Alliance joined us to share her very personal journey of understanding racism. As a descendant of prominent Confederate leaders, her understanding grew more specific and current with the 2015 massacre at Mother Emanuel Church in her town of Charleston, SC. She shared her reckoning of the truth of what black people in this country have lived in, every day, and how she has taken on the awakening for racial inequity as a white person. There isn’t an end, no certificate of completion - it’s a journey. She shared a poem written after the murder of George Floyd earlier this year. The inquiry was for people to remember moment that caused a shift in understanding about race in the United States, and what that meant. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Mike Robbins joined us once again, telling the story of how he was directed to write his most recent book, We’re All In This Together. He had published his fourth book in 2018, and was simply not interested in writing another book. His family wanted him to take a break, and he had no intention of embarking on writing another book at that time. His download was relentless, and he finally gave in — even having to fight for the title with his publisher. He dug in and wrote the book in 2019, and it was released in the spring of 2020 just as the pandemic — and all that it brought — was taking hold. The title became all the more important at this tender and fragile time. The inquiry is about understanding the wisdom that is flowing through you, and determining whether those messages are yours or are coming from external forces. How do we each hear the wisdom, and how do we distinguish what is important to act upon? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
James Baraz came to visit the Hope Story Circle once again, this time celebrating Jelena’s birthday! He told a story of receiving a big piece of cheesecake while on a three-month retreat, and how he took so much pleasure in sharing the cheesecake with others. The inquiry is about giving and receiving, and feeling the love and kindness going in both directions. Once you get the hang of it, James says, you become a meta-recycling machine, being an agent of the flow of giving and receiving. James is beginning a 5-month Awakening Joy course in January - you’re invited to attend. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Join the party as we celebrate our Peace Partners whose generosity is vital to the cultivation of a more peaceful society. Learn about the work of the Peace Alliance, and become a part of this community of peacebuilders. Many of us have been touched by financial hardship, political uncertainty, racial discrimination, and health challenges beyond anything we imagined. While this is deeply unsettling, it has also been an affirmation of the important work the Peace Alliance is doing in collaboration with you. Our initiatives provide vision and energy for what lies ahead, and reimagines what steps we take to truly build a more peaceful nation!
Susie Cantor shared a very personal story of a series of medical challenges that she had to overcome over decades, with extraordinary positivity and the ability to always look forward. The inquiry focused on what lucky breaks we all may have experienced. What perceived tragedies turned out to have been very positive? The outcome was a collective feeling of gratitude - the perfect mood to take us into the Thanksgiving Holiday season. Please forgive the opening meditation being so quiet - we had some technical issues. There will not be a Hope Story Circle November 28, as we will take the holiday weekend off, and return December 5th! Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Is it time for some deep and broad perspective? Some inspiration? Some comfort - with a strong dash of motiovation? Dot Maver is our prescription.
Join us this Tuesday and visit with Dot - who is our founding Executive Director, and co-founder of the Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures of Peace, the Global Silent Minute, the National Peace Academy, and the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding. In 2004, Dot served as National Campaign Manager for Kucinich for President.
Dot's "keynote" is "inspiring cooperation on behalf of the common good," and she consistently delivers on that theme.
MargaretAnne Overstreet wove together three different stories, all related to the idea of homelessness and hospitality. The topic of homelessness was explored as literal, and also metaphorical. When have each of us been in a position of feeling adrift, and have been the recipient of much needed hospitality? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Sally Lou Loveman brought a story of family history and how signs have acted as guideposts throughout her life. From her late father leaving her a sign in recovering a large, terra cotta urn after decades, to a crystal magically splitting beneath the tree at the park where she often visits to speak with her father’s spirit, her discovery is that she is together, at peace, strong, and that she won’t break. And, that her father is with her, always. The inquiry brought forth the question of what signs are we seeing, and how do we notice them? What do they bring to us? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Patricia Sill brought nature into the Circle today, with stories of the winged ones and how we heal ourselves through nature, the Gene Keys and finding wisdom in the East gate. She also shared information about Parashakti and the medicine bundles and jewelry that inspire connection to elements of healing. Specifically, two baby ravens came to her at her ranch in Santa Fe, and several others also visited, causing her to experience her own healing from feelings of abandonment. The inquiry brought forth the question of what ancestral wounding have each of us been dealing with? Or that of our families? What can we learn from things that are different from human form? What can we learn and what can we unlearn? If we pay attention - how can that form our transformation? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Our special guest, Bonnie Sadigh, shared a moving story about her first introductions to racial bias as a 13-year old moving to the United States, not speaking the language. Another layer of the story happened years later when her sons wanted to bring a friend home, and the friend insisted that the boys first tell her that he was black - because he thought that might mean that she wouldn’t want him to come home with her boys; she welcomed the friend, and he is still close to her sons, 20 years later. The inquiry was about clearly seeing each one of us, and being clearly seen. How can we respect one another? What steps can we take to get out of our comfort zones, and expand our awareness with respect and care? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Our own Terry Mason shared her personal history of creating community in her home, first at her family home growing up, and then with her husband, Paul Chepikian, when her Dad moved in with them. Reimagining the holidays was necessary then, and it is necessary now. What will we do differently to be together for the upcoming holiday season, as we will be unable to be together physically due to measures for safety against Covid 19? How can we reimagine traditions at this tender time? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
What are YOUR favorite ways to help Get Out The Vote? Do you have a story from your experience of Getting Out The Vote, that you find inspiring? Empowering? Please come and share!! By sharing resources and stories about WHAT WORKS for us, we aim to ramp up our collective contribution to the robust health of this democracy.
This evening, all of us are the "Special Guests," as we come together toward the shared governance that is our American Dream. Of course our international friends are always welcome and honored guests as well - and this journey toward an ever healthier system is one we share worldwide.
We will provide the context, set the stage, and offer some resources - but our deeper power is in what all of us bring to the table.
Our own Liz Gannon Graydon shared a beautiful story of the evolution of her marriage to Rob, and their joint efforts to build peace in various ways and projects over the years. Just this last week, Rob was the recipient of a kidney transplant, and on the road to recovery - a miracle. Their journey together includes the creation of What Better Looks Like, short films Rob created to help children in difficult situations, and a film in progress about a beautiful painting that, when the pieces are all brought together, is envisioned to create world peace. From their journey, she posed the question: What piece are you holding that you know is a key to the larger picture of creating peace? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
What are the stories that need to be released in order to make space for lightness? This is the question posed by Neena Barreto, our guest at the Hope Story Circle. Are stories holding us back, do they become a crutch or a burden? Having lived a life in a diverse area of California, teaching in public schools for 20 years, she moved to a smaller town in Oregon. There, she found herself moving through and then releasing stories, to become unburdened and find lightness. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Our own Patty La Taille was our special guest, telling the story of her unexpectedly extended time in Portugal during the pandemic. Originally planned for January to April, she and her partner had limited language capabilities yet feeling cared for by the locals and government in Portugal. She had ongoing concern for her family and friends in the United States, and was unable to leave until August. What do we do when our choices are taken away? How do we care for one another, express empathy for each other when we are vulnerable? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Mike Robbins led the conversation today, the day following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, encouraging all of us to realize that we — individually and collectively -- have what this moment requires, and to think back on a time when we didn’t know how we would move forward, and we did. Liz closed with the thought that, like in baseball and tennis, in order to keep playing we need to hit the ball one more time. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
You are invited to the third call in a three-part series on "Truth and Reconciliation," as we continue our foundation-building work, and prepare to launch the next phase of this timely and much-needed initiative.
This Tuesday, Jelena and I were joined by our new partner in this work, JoHanna "J" Thompson. J has been an invaluable contributor to the work of creating Restorative Practice Guidelines for the State of Florida. She holds a masters degree in Public Administration from New York University's Wagner School of Public Service, and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Columbia University.
A masterful communicator and holder of space, J's career has been "dedicated to creating collaborative spaces across an intersection of networks, fostering relationships, and maintaining a vision to increase the capacity of influencers, community organizers, programs and campaigns,working toward equitable social and transformational justice."
So you can see how J is a great partner for us in this work!!
The wounds of America's past and present - from indigenous cultural and literal genocide, through slavery and Jim Crow, to the present day - cry out for a learning and healing process. We begin with ourselves, while building steps toward active processes to spread this healing worldwide. We intend this Tuesday's conversation to be another forward step along that journey.
Joel Kimmel joined us once again, inviting everyone to consider the idea of allowing: what would you like to allow to become visible that would allow you to make a contribution to those around you? Also, to ask visioning questions, such as, no matter who wins - how are we going to bring this country back together? So that everyone can feel taken care of? What does that look like? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Matthew Albracht, Board member of the Peace Alliance, was our guest. Matthew shared about his personal journey towards peace, from beginnings in Texas as a boy in a small community near Amarillo, to working with Marianne Williamson on combining spirituality with politics. The most recent layer in his journey is related to diet and nutrition, and he’s written a book on the topic. He was interested to discover how diet impacted his mood in only a few weeks, and beyond the climate change aspects impacted by industrial agriculture, how people can positively shift their consciousness with food. We invited the group in break-out sessions to explore what layers they might deepen, or embrace, to expand their own journey towards peace. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Overview of DoP Legislation and Scheduling a Meeting. Join us for Training Call #2 on September 16. Register here. [link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/2c8bf2e4f5c5c7568c34be5db4a05ad8]
Joel Kimmel was our guest. Joel shared a powerful story of a near-death accident that occurred when he was a young man, and how that experience shifted the trajectory of his life. Spending seven days on the other side, he witnessed magic in how spirits spoke and the way the revealed new ideas. They informed him: don’t tell everyone what to do, ask them what they see themselves doing. In recovery, he realized that all we have that allows us to live a meaningful life is our words. He invited everyone in the inquiry to create a have happened list instead of a to-do list, and then allow it to unfold. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Linda Curtis, Author, Mindfulness Teacher, Speaker and Mentor for Honorable Closure, joined us to talk about endings and beginnings, and about two big life experiences that led her to the deeper understanding of the intersection of endings and beginnings, and how important it is to acknowledge endings, and give them space to close. From a collective level, what is coming to an end at this time? And what is beginning? What qualities can we bring to allow these endings and beginnings to go well, with compassion and empathy? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
This Tuesday, we go deeper into our own sense of our historical roots, our current landscape, and our power to shape the future. We were joined and guided on this path by the wonderful Jelena Popovic - Peace Alliance Council Lead and champion of peace education. The wounds of America's past and present - from indigenous cultural and literal genocide, through slavery and Jim Crow, to the present day - cry out for a learning and healing process. We hope this Tuesday's conversation may be another forward step along that journey.
Marcy Cole, drmarcycole.com, holistic psychotherapist, teacher of social and emotional learning / mindfulness, and founder of First Tuesday USA https://www.facebook.com/firsttuesdayusa/, shared powerfully about her own personal reckoning. She is coming to a realization of wanting to be more deliberate and intentional to expand to more diversity in her life, with honest curiosity in wanting to learn more about others experiences. What kind of spaces can we create where everyone feels that they belong and they are seen? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Kathy Kidd, formerly on staff with the Peace Alliance and a long-time friend, joined us to share her heartfelt and deep story of her personal history of how racism and anti-racism has shaped her journey. Her questions: What was I born into that determined who I would become? What events in my life contributed to who I am? What are the many layers to who I am? What has held me back in life? What does being held back cost me personally? Cost us collectively? What is my purpose and how has my purpose unfolded? Where do I find my hope in today’s world? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Catherine DeMonte, catherinedemonte.com, psychotherapist and author of Beep! Beep! Get Out of My Way, Seven Tools for Living Your Unstoppable Life was our guest. The book was an outcome of her Abundance Circles, where people work together over eight sessions to unblock and achieve their desires. Her story was about living a story from her birth feeling as an unwelcome guest, and the path she took to release it. What stories can we birth at this time? What can we embrace, or let go of? How can we welcome the stories that are bubbling up? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Jill McManigal, founder and CEO of Kids for Peace - kidsforpeaceglobal.org -- is our special guest! She shared about the beginnings, vision, broad reach and success of Kids for Peace, sharing the Peace Pledge that was defined by the kids. She also shared about experiencing a difficult conversation with one of the parents just recently, and how by finding common ground, being open-hearted and curious, they were both able to learn and grow. In the break-outs, we explored: how are we all approaching challenging conversations? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Our special guest is Kendra Mon, who talked of leaving legacies and living legacies. Her parents shaped and molded her passion to advocate for a Department of Peacebuilding, and this day is the 19th anniversary of the bill being introduced to Congress. Her moms, Phyllis Lyn and Del Martin were activists for the Lesbian community, authoring the book, Lesbian Woman. The documentary about them and their work, No Secret Anymore: The Times of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, is available free on Amazon Prime and for rent on Vimeo. Kendra read from the book, in part, “…The Great Society can only be great as they know, appreciate, love, understand and express their diversity and individuality. No longer is toleration acceptable. The Lesbians, along with all oppressed people, want freedom — and we want it now!” Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Jelena Popovic began by reading a poem written by Dan Kahn, the Peace Alliance’s National Field Director, and our guest this week. “This revolution has compassion…” Dan shared his emerging stories, and Liz Gannon Graydon encouraged everyone to think about plot twists in the break-out sessions. What are the plot twists in our lives, being brought on by all of the unexpected events and uncertain times we are living in? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Liz Gannon Graydon opened with a reading, and then Jelena Popovic shared her own story, and invited everyone to consider a question she is asked often, when people are curious about her accent: are you a US citizen? What does this question mean? In the break-outs, people were invited to the inquiry of whether they have one foot in the boat — one foot in the past and one in the present. What’s keeping us from being in the present, and being here? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
How can Peacebuilding Promote Racial Justice? And how can YOU help it Happen? Find out on The Peace Alliance Monthly Call!
Tuesday, March 9th, 2020
Heart Phoenix was one of the Peace Alliance's original founders, in 2004. She and Jeffrey Weisberg served on our board for years, and went on to found the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding (RPCP). RPCP is now a groundbreaking international pioneer in training and facilitation of restorative justice, social-emotional learning, police-youth dialogues, and other skills and modalities so fundamental to transform our culture towards peace!!
Wendy Greene, former Managing Director of the Peace Alliance, joined as our guest. She shared a very personal story of her own family history and her evolution in understanding the impacts on her life, and of her experiences in Ghana when studying to become a Certified Peace Practitioner with Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith at the Agape Spiritual Center in Los Angeles — and tied them both to what is happening in our country today, and how she is feeling called to respond. The invitation in the small group discussions was to explore what parts of your own personal biography that feel really alive right now, and that seem to give you an entree into the story we’re living in this moment. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Dave Trachtenberg was our guest, and he led the group on a journey, inviting people to recall a time that was especially difficult, and what they did to come through it. The resilience we have all experienced is needed at this time. The support each one of us can give to one another is needed at this time. The small group break-outs resulted in connections that were especially deep. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Our special guest today was Eileen Edwards, once a college roommate of our own Liz Gannon Graydon and now a minister in Canada. She took time to ground everyone deeply, and suggested that the world will be a better place if we eat together, pray together and hold one another’s children. Again, we had participants from all over the world — Haifa, Kamaroon, Canada — and the U.S. including Minneapolis where the events of this week have been especially difficult. The connections that people feel in the small groups are consistently rich and deep. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Sylvia Boorstein and Emily Wikman returned to the Hope Story Circle, and shared about moving into the future with confidence, while knowing that the future is coming to us. As we venture out into the world, everyone is in a different place — careful? Too careful? Not careful enough? What are the boundaries? To be respectful of others and realize that there is no single right way, that each of us has our own path on this particular journey. Showing kindness elicits kindness in others. Several shared how much they are enjoying the small break-outs where groups of three are able to connect, meet new people, and share their experiences. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Exploration of the different ways we are all brought forth — mind, body, spirit, and — as Tom brought in — heart. All of the heritage we bring from our families and our experiences come together in how we respond to our currently evolving reality. Liz Gannon Graydon and Jelena Popovic hosted, and Liz shared about taking her Bryant Park Tea Party for the 'Beloved Communitea' on the road, delivering cookies and brownies all up and down Long Island, NY. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
How Does Justice Integrate With Healing and Resilience? Explore with us Tonight, on The Peace Alliance Monthly Call!
Join the Conversation Tuesday, May 12th, 2020
Our special guests are Julie Hess, JC Cavitt, and Ritika Aggarwal of UnCommon Law. UnCommon Law's mission is to provide access to justice and healing for those impacted by incarceration. Their work is Trauma-Informed and Transformative! Julie is UL's Director of Clinical Support, Ritika is a legal advocate, community organizer, and therapeutic counselor, and JC is a formerly incarcerated person who now provides counseling, mentorship, and restorative justice services to incarcerated and transitioning individuals. We are thrilled to have all three of them joining us this Tuesday!!
Liz Gannon Graydon and Jelena Popovic led us off inviting conversation about what wisdom we are activating. As a butterfly emerges from a cocoon to a chrysalis and then a butterfly, what can we activate in this moment? Liz shared that she learned that the goo that exists in the chrysalis is made up of imaginal discs, and although it’s only goo to the human eye, the imaginal discs carry all of the information to become a butterfly. What is the information that we all carry, and what are we becoming? What is being activated? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Join us as Dot Maver and Heart Phoenix lead us in exploring the question: What is your new story? Dot and Heart are long-time friends of the Peace Alliance. Dot is now chiefly involved in the Global Silent Minute, and Heart in the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding. They each shared a song, and one of our guests also closed with a sing-along song. They encouraged us to merge with all beings at this time, and recognized the all systems breakdown is existing simultaneously with an all systems breakthrough. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org — join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
Today, Marc Lesser joined as our guest, sharing a mindful meditation to begin, and then inviting everyone to consider the three leadership lessons from Churchill during World War II as England was being brutally attacked. Marc pulled these from an interview with Erik Larson, author of The Spendid and the Vile. The three lessons are 1. Don’t sugarcoat. 2. Practice cautious optimism. 3. Find purpose and meaning in everything. Once again, participants from an international community came to share ideas and thoughts about these lessons, how they relate to our circumstances today, and how to move in these uncertain times. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!
As we begin our next four weekly Circles, we explored the Taoist story of the Farmer and his neighbor, and the theme of "Who knows what is good and what is bad?” Liz Gannon Graydon and Jelena Popovic, from the Peace Alliance, led the group in exploring the story in break-out groups. One participant responded, “be still and see what the experience can teach you to take forward with greater humility and compassion for others.” We were honored to have people from all around the country, as well as Mumbai, Berlin, British Columbia and a Palestinian from Haifa join us and share! Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org — join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your stories!
How can Nonviolence Stretch from our Hearts Around the World?
Tuesday, April 14th, 2020
6 pm PDT, 9 pm EDT
Kit Miller, our special guest, is the Director of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Drawing on the work and lives of Gandhi and Dr. King, as well as the practice of Nonviolent Communication, Kit's personal practice, and worldwide teaching and facilitation, show the power of peacebuilding, from the individual to the global/political. Kit has taught and worked side-by-side with hundreds of groups around the world on restorative justice, sustainability, and anti-racism, and has addressed the UN multiple times. We are thrilled to have her as our guest this Tuesday!!
We were delighted to have James Baraz join us, and invite us to be the calm person in the boat! We have a choice — we can be afraid, or we can choose a more empowering path. James is a founding teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and co-author of “Awakening Joy: Ten Steps to Happiness,” also leading a popular online course by that name (www.awakeningjoy.info). Please join us during James’ opening meditation and continuing to share stories. We are continuing these weekly Hope Story Circles every Saturday for the next four weeks. Please check the calendar of events at peacealliance.org - join us the next time we meet, and share your emerging stories at this important time in our lives.
Once again, we were fortunate to have Sylvia Boorstein and Emily Wikman join us for our weekly Hope Story Circle, hosted by Jelena Popovic and Liz Gannon Graydon from the Peace Alliance. Come and hear how thoughts about a local Chinese restaurant shifted Sylvia’s outlook! Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle, and share your stories.