Share your smiles, compliments, time, talents, money, and energy with those around you. We must truly be the change that we want to see. And we can do it. We are doing it. Believe that the future is full of mindfulness where hearts mean more than our accounts.
The Love Initiative.
Notes From the Road – Bright Lights Blog
http://troubadourofpeace.blogspot.com/
Book a house concert or music for a yoga class today!!
TOUR DATES
| Date | Time | Venue | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/22/18 | 3:00 PM | Choices | Akron, OH | |
| 3/22/18 | 6:00 PM | Tea Time for Peace | Kent, OH | |
| 3/23/18 | 5:00 PM | Friends of the Metro Parks Benefit w/ the Bright Lights | Akron, OH | |
| 3/27/18 | 7:00 PM | Brother’s Lounge | Cleveland, OH | |
| 3/30/18 | 6:30 PM | 330 Day @ Akron Civic Theatre | Akron, OH | |
| 3/31/18 | 10:30 AM | Celebration of Life for Marilyn Stroud | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | |
| 4/3/18 | 6:30 PM | MLK Kirtan | Akron, OH | Donations |
| 4/4/18 | 6:30 PM | Nonviolent Communication Circle | Akron, OH | Donations |
| 4/6/18 | 7:00 PM | Big Love Night @ Live Music Now w/ Rhodes St Rude Boys | Akron, OH | $5-10 |
| 4/7/18 | 8:30 PM | Mustard Seed Highland Square w/ Bright Lights! | Akron, OH | |
| 4/10/18 | 7:00 PM | Brother Lounge | Cleveland, OH | |
| 4/16/18 | 7:00 PM | Wolf Creek Winery | Norton, OH | |
| 4/21/18 | 6:30 PM | Bright Lights @ the Rialto | Akron, OH | $5 |
| 4/22/18 | 4:00 PM | Yoga Central | Canton, OH | |
| 4/28/18 | 7:00 PM | Wine Mill | Peninsula, OH | |
| 5/2/18 | 6:30 PM | Nonviolent Communication Series | Akron, OH | Donations |
| 5/4/18 | 7:00 PM | Big Love Night @ Live Music Now w/ Gretchen Pleuss | Akron, OH | $5-10 |
| 5/5/18 | 12:00 PM | Cleveland VegFest | Cleveland, OH | |
| 5/5/18 | 6:00 PM | Bent Ladder winery | Doylestown , OH | |
| 5/8/18 | 7:00 PM | Brother’s Lounge | Cleveland, OH |
Crystal Reiki is an Alternative Healing method which combines the Universal Life Force of Reiki Energy with the Healing Power of Quartz Crystals!
Requirements: Reiki Practitioner Level 1+2. If you are not a Level 2 Reiki Practitioner, please specify this, and I will include the Reiki Level 1+2 Attunements in this session.
You will learn how to use Crystals and how to benefit from the Reiki Energy for Healing.
Inspired by the 21-Day Gratitude Challenge (http://gratitudechallenge.com), musicians Nimo Patel and Daniel Nahmod, brought together dozens of people from around the world to create this beautiful, heart-opening melody.
Links to calendar and music:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=446
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‘GRANDMOTHERS ON THE MOVE’ Podcast Episodes
Click HERE!
NO START TIME and NO END TIME – LISTEN to past and current podcasts!
Grandmothers To Grandmothers Campaign
The Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign exists to support the indomitable African grandmothers who are caring for the millions of children who have been orphaned by AIDS. Members of the Grandmothers Campaign share three goals. They work to:
- Raise funds to meet the needs of African grandmothers and the children in their care;
- Listen to African grandmothers, respect their expertise and amplify their voices, in order to promote authentic and substantive responses to the epidemic in Africa;
- Build solidarity among African and Canadian grandmothers in order to motivate and sustain the vital work of turning the tide of AIDS in Africa.
Canadian grandmothers groups are tremendously active in their communities. They put on concerts, organize card tournaments, and sell jewellery. They visit countless schools and community organizations. They bake, cook, sew, knit, paint, write, organize cycle tours, walks, and even ride motorcycles – all to raise funds and awareness for grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa through the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
To learn more about how you can get involved in the Campaign, write to Ilana here.
Articles About The Campaign
What started as a conversation around a kitchen table has grown to become a movement to empower women, especially grandmothers, in Africa.
The Grandmothers Campaign, an initiative of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, is known as Grandmothers 4 Grandmothers in Regina, which was among the very first places in Canada where women took on projects to support families in Africa.
‘We know the power of women’s organizing in Canada and older women have an extraordinary amount of vigour and energy.’– Ilana Landsberg-Lewis
As Ilana Landsberg-Lewis explains, the movement arose in response to the human crisis, observed by her father Stephen Lewis during his time as a special envoy for the United Nations, afflicting the African continent during the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
Millions of children were orphaned by the deaths of their parents. Their grandmothers were left to raise them, with little or no support.
Ilana Landsberg-Lewis is co-founder, with her father Stephen Lewis, of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. One of their main campaigns supports grandmothers in Africa. (Lisa MacIntosh/Stephen Lewis Foundation)
“Grandmothers were just in an agony of loss,” Landsberg-Lewis said. “Death was everywhere. They were left with no income and often isolated by the terrible stigma surrounding HIV-AIDS.”
Landsberg-Lewis recalled how requests seeking aid referred to the grandmothers as “caregivers” and when she asked why, she learned there was a strong bias in play.
“Nobody wants to fund them because they’re older women and nobody sees them as a meaningful investment,” she learned.
“We decided if Canadian grandmothers knew what was happening on the [African] continent then it would surely resonate with them and boy did it ever,” Landsberg-Lewis said.
“I wish I could say that I was prescient but it would be overstating it,” she said, talking about how the success of the organization, which quickly grew from a handful of activists brain-storming at a kitchen table (her own) to over 250 chapters across the country.
Since 2006 they have raised about $25 million.
“It was really extraordinary but I can’t say that I’m surprised,” she said. “Older women in our communities, we know the power of women organizing in Canada and older women have an extraordinary amount of vigour and energy.”
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The Campaign currently boasts more than 240 grandmothers groups across the country. Many of the groups have organized into regional and national networks in order to support each other’s efforts in solidarity with African grandmothers and the children in their care.
Resources from the Grandmothers Campaign go to grassroots organizations that support African grandmothers with food, health care, school fees and school uniforms for their grandchildren, income-generating programmes, counselling, social support, essential shelter, and other necessities. Throughout Africa, grassroots organizations run by and for grandmothers are sharing insights, deepening their expertise, collaborating with other local organizations, and building their capacity to turn the tide of AIDS at community level.
How would you like to help the Charter for Compassion raise awareness of our work, generate significant funding and uplift the world – and laugh a lot while doing it?
You can do ALL of these things by taking and spreading:
Rolling on the Floor Laughing Challenge to Spark Laughter that Uplifts the World!
The Charter for Compassion is beyond thrilled to announce that we are one of the benefiting organizations in the Rolling on the Floor Laughing Challenge to raise awareness and funding for the positive work of over 50 non-profits GLOBALLY!
Our focus is on the FUN in FUNdraising and the power everyday people have to fuel some of the most important work being done in the world.
The #ROFLChallenge dares each of us to create a funny video, share and donate. Every video, every share, and every donation supports over 50 nonprofits and helps to solve complex problems that no individual business, organization or leader can solve alone.
Take the ROFL Challenge – Spark Laughter that Uplifts the World
- Step 1: Take the challenge! Tell a joke, play a (safe) prank, put on a skit — or just plain ANYTHING to get another person laughing.
- Step 2: Film it and post it with the hashtag “#ROFLChallenge”.
- Step 3: Challenge your friends and activate your networks! Challenge them by name in your video and use social media to invite others to make a video or donate (or both!)
Acts of laughter and generosity are potent remedies to divisive times we live in, acting as sparks that ignite the good will and good intentions that we all have within us.
Laughter is a universal connection we all share, able to bring joy to our hearts and form bridges across differences we have with one another.
With #ROFLChallenge – you get to spread laughter while also contributing, supporting and uplifting the world through donating to organizations that dedicate themselves to making the world a much better place.
Please help Spark Laughter that Uplifts the World:
TAKE and SHARE #ROFLChallenge – Text ROFL to 50155 or go to www.rolfchallenge.org
ACTIVATE YOUR NETWORKS:
Challenge your well known, most generous or funny friends to take the ROFL Challenge and/or Donate.
Share our Facebook Video on your Facebook Newsfeed so that others can see it, comment on it, like it and share it. (We want our video to go viral.)
Thanks so very much for joining us in Laughing, Giving and Uplifting the World Together!
P.S. Check out our ROFL Challenge Video Here. Please help us make it more visible by Liking it, posting a Comment, or Sharing it on your own Facebook Newsfeed.
Awakening Humanity at Work
Agriculture. Plant seedling. Hand nurturing young baby plants growing on fertile soil with natural green background
CCARE and Whirling Chief are excited to bring this unique leadership development retreat to California at the Allegretto Vineyard Resort. In this powerful three-day program we will explore the latest in neuroscience, the bio-psycho-physiology of compassion, and dynamic practices that support the development of compassion, wisdom, and well-being at work. A significant body of evidence shows that when people in power adopt a human-centered view of business and promote a culture of respect, trust, compassion, and wisdom, the performance of the organization rises along with individual wellness.Join us to expand your capacity for this kind of leadership.Reach out to us if you are interested in participating.
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The rise of artificial intelligence, robotics, and “smart” technologies powers change faster than ever. For some, this new era has ushered in prosperity and the potential to address some of humanity’s most vexing challenges in creative new ways. For others, however, this era of technological and social change has ushered in isolation, loneliness, and fear.
Humanity Needs a New Form of Leadership
A significant body of research shows that when people in positions of power adopt a human-centered view of business that emphasizes a culture of respect, trust, compassion, and wisdom, the performance of the organization rises along with individual well-being. Rigorous evidence from multiple disciplines demonstrates that organizations can recruit more talented people, retain them longer, draw out higher quality service, and engage in more rapid innovation when performance goes hand-in-hand with human thriving. Where people thrive, business thrives.
Audience
Corporate executives, organizational leaders and those in influencing roles who want to immerse in the new science of compassion and well-being and explore the strategic value of human-centered leadership to create stakeholder and shareholder value.
Program Objectives
In this powerful three-day program, we will use the latest research in neuroscience, the bio-physiology of compassion and well-being, and dynamic findings from organizational behavior and psychology to learn the skills of resilience and creating thriving organizations.
We will explore how a neuroscientific and physiological approach to building an organizational culture of compassion and well-being changes what you think you know about the basics of human and organizational psychology. Along with like-minded fellow travelers on a journey of evolution, we will participate in a discussion about how to develop new qualities within ourselves and within the organizational ecosystems where we live and create action plans that inspire our own compassion and well-being.
Some of the benefits you will experience through a combination of classroom learning, experiential work, discussion, and case study include:
- Gain a better understanding of the scientific basis for an emphasis on compassion and well-being in the workplace and the motivators for compassion in business,
- Increase consciousness and build skill in managing the physiology and psychology of human well-being,
- Recognize thinking habits and biases that work for you and against you as you endeavour to cultivate compassion, wisdom, and well-being,
- Learn about and experiment with some new taxonomy of ‘being’,
- Use scenario planning to envision future states of ‘doing’,
- Develop methodologies to lift self and others into new states of thriving and vitality in your organization
- Develop approaches to reducing and responding to suffering at work that may otherwise be invisible or unaddressed in order to build collaboration and enhance working relationships.
Agenda
The three days of this program will emphasize a blend of classroom-style learning, expert presentations, and discussion with experiences that help you fully internalize and practice the skills and ideas that will change your life and your workplace.
Day 1: What is the new world of work and how shall humanity respond?
Day 2: Awakening humanity in leadership: The crucial element of success in the new world of work
Day 3: A new kind of being, a new kind of business
Program Facilitators
Developed as a collaboration between Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) and Whirling Chief, the program will bring together best-selling author and renowned neurosurgeon Dr. James Doty with leadership expert and business guide Sesil Pir, principle of Whirling Chief.
Other facilitators include Monica Worline, research scientist at CCARE with expertise in compassion science and the field of Positive Organizational Scholarship; Aslı Aker, global leadership and organizational development expert; and Sinan Canan, neuroscientist and co-founder of Açık Beyin Academy.
Venue
Allegretto Vineyard Resort, Paso Robles, California.
Pilot Pricing Info
Discounted rate 6,000 USD / person, plus travel costs.
Facilitators: Dr. James Doty & Sesil Pir
Where: Allegretto Vineyard Resort, Paso Robles, California
When: October 21–24, 2018
Early Childhood Education and Public Charge
November 7 at 3:00 PM ET – 4:00 PM ET (12:00 PM PT – 1:00 PM PT)
On October 10, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was published in the Federal Register, outlining the administration’s intent to dramatically change the meaning and application of “public charge” provisions in immigration law. This proposal could harm the health and well-being of millions of children and families and is of great concern for young children’s development and the early childhood field as outlined in this Q&A. Staff at the Center for Law and Social Policy will provide an overview of the proposed public charge rule, its potential impact on young children, and explain how the early childhood field can support immigrant families and take action during the public comment period.
What Housing and Homelessness Advocates Should Know about the Public Charge Rule
November 8 @ 3:30 PM ET – 5:00 PM ET (12:30 PM PT – 2:00 PM PT)
On October 10, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule that would make it more likely for certain immigrants to be denied admission to the U.S. or denied green cards because they receive or would receive lifeline benefits, including public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and project-based Section 8 housing subsidies. Previously leaked drafts of this drastic policy change have already led many families to drop out of critical food and nutrition programs for their children. This chilling effect is poised to impact hundreds of thousands of hardworking immigrant households that depend on these programs for survival.
PIF Campaign: New Research and Estimating the Impact of Public Charge
November 8 @ 3:00 PM ET – 4:00 PM ET (12:00 PM PT -1:00 PM PT)
Join partners with the Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) Campaign as we discuss new research estimating economic and demographic impacts of the proposed public charge rule. During this webinar, panelists will present the findings of three new resources from Manatt Health, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Fiscal Policy Institute. For more information about the webinar, please contact Jackie Vimo and Renato Rocha.
PIF Campaign: Public Charge 101
November 14 @ 2:00 PM ET – 3:00 PM ET (11:00 AM PT -12:00 PM PT)
A recurring webinar from CLASP and NILC. The Department of Homeland Security has published a proposed regulation on “public charge.” If finalized, the regulation would dramatically rewrite immigration policy and make green cards only available to the highest bidder. This webinar describes public charge policy today, how it would change, and what you need to know if you work with immigrant families.
For more info: bit.ly/askPIFcampaign
Conversations on Compassion with Dr. Elissa Epel
When
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, November 15, 2018
Location
Cubberley Auditorium, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University
485 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, CA, United States
About The Event
In this conversation, CCARE’s founder and director, Dr. James Doty, will discuss compassion, meditation, and biology of aging with Dr. Elissa Epel. The hour-long dialogue will be followed by questions from the audience and a book signing. The talk will be recorded and posted to CCARE’s YouTube Channel and website several weeks after the event.
About Dr. Elissa Epel
Elissa Epel, Ph.D, is a Professor at UCSF in the Department of Psychiatry. She studies how chronic stress can impact aspects of biological aging (including the telomere/telomerase system), and how behavioral, mindfulness, and meditation interventions may buffer stress effects and promote psychological and physiological thriving. She co-leads the NIH Stress Network and a UC obesity research consortium, linking other UC campuses in the study of stress, sugar, food addiction, and obesity. Dr. Epel is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, steering council member for the Mind and Life Institute, and President Elect of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research. She co-authored “The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer,” a NYT best seller, with Nobel Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn.
Registration
FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION | Please bring a paper or electronic copy of your confirmation email for entrance to the event.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for registered attendees | Registration is required to access seating before the event begins. Remaining seats will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis after the event begins.
Directions & Parking
Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford Graduate School of Education | Directions | Parking
Disability-Related Accommodations and Services
Please email CCARE staff at CCARE_info@stanford.edu by November 10, 2018 with requests for disability-related accommodations.
This year we explore all the various ways we can be and co create love in action. Along with a challenge~ How are you showing up in the world? at the grocery store, with your family, at work, school, out being social How are we showing up in the world? Does it feel in alignment? Since we know we are love, and love is who we are… what does love look like for us personally? Each person here is a divine, miraculous unfolding. We each have our own Unique Energetic Signature… what you bring to the planet, to the streets, only you can bring. Be strong in your heart, be strong in your dreams. Let’s show the world what we can do in the name of love! International Children’s Month 2019 Platform is TAKING IT TO THE STREETS! Love In Action! International Children’s Month web site is based in Oral Traditions. If you are inspired, please cite your source. We stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us. IN the name of love we thank Gandhi, our indigenous relatives/relations, and for this year especially the first wave of love in action creators of the 60’s…We have come full circle. GAME ON and BE THE MEDICINE! #ICMTakingItToTheStreets #ICMGameOn #ICMGlobalWaveofLove #ICMBeTheMedicine
FIRST WE TUNE INTO SELF, THEN TO OUR FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD. AS WE DO THIS WE SPREAD LOVE. DR. EMOTO TAUGHT US THAT WE TRANSFORM THINGS BY THINKING AND FEELING ABOUT THEM… JOIN ICM IN THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 7 DAYS OF REST AND REFLECTION BEGINNING TODAY, AND FOR THE NEXT 7 DAYS. YOU CAN ALSO SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND TOGETHER WE WILL LOVE ALL THAT IS SACRED AND IMPORTANT TO US. SIGN UP ON THE WEB SITE WWW.7DAYS-OF-REST.ORG AS AN INDIVIDUAL, TEAM OR COMMUNITY. #GAMEON
JOIN US!! WE WILL BE READING FABULOUS BOOKS FOR US ALL ON FACEBOOK LIVE SHOWS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH!
LIKE AND SHARE US ON FACEBOOK!
https://www.facebook.com/2019-International-Childrens-Month-Global-Wave-of-Love
Our next Community Conversation will be on
Thursday, July 18
9:00 – 10:30 am PST / 12:00 – 1:30 pm EST
The terrible issue of immigrant children detained at the U.S. border
The United States of America has, since its inception, been a country formed by immigrants. Yet now, at our southern border particularly, thousands of people leaving their home countries are requesting asylum or entrance and are being held in detention centers and processed very slowly. Meanwhile, the immigrating families are being separated and the children held in cells – cages in many cases – without adequate sanitation or bedding, without adequate nutrition and without access to their parents or adult relatives. In spite of legal and popular objection this problem has continued and continued to worsen for over a year under the Trump administration.
Is the description above adequate to define this problem? What are some of the underlying causes of the problem and what can or should be done instead? What actions can we take to effect those changes?
Looking at this issue through your social justice and elder lenses, please read the materials suggested below, focus your attention on this issue in other news you read and conversations you hear, then bring your thoughts on the subject to our conversation July 18th.
In our Community Conversations we draw on the experience and wisdom of our group to better understand the critical issues we are facing and discern what actions we would want to take as elders in our society today. We offer moral support for each other as we grapple with the issues and challenges of our times and discern how to best support the activism that we are each engaged in.
Resources:
Letter from Santa Fe Dreamers:
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We know that you have all been reading and watching the absolutely horrific news unfold about the conditions of detention on the border. We know that many of you feel scared, frustrated, angry, and powerless by the way that our government is treating vulnerable people, especially children. We are writing today with information and direction towards action but also to urge you not to feel powerless. We are always capable of making change through our collective power. Of course this requires courage, stamina, and an intelligent, disciplined, and organized theory of change. It will not be easy. We encourage you to turn away from despair and towards this place of collective power knowing that it will test you. We will be with you the whole way. Below you will find some ideas for inspiration.
Love,
Your friends at Santa Fe Dreamers Project
- Educate yourself: Here at SFDP this is always our number one piece of advice. The more you know, the fiercer you will be as an advocate and a voter. There are plenty of explosive news articles to read but here are a few that we have learned from recently: We suggested this piece in our last newsletter but if you haven’t had a chance to read it we highly suggest Dara Lind’s “The Border is in Crisis. Here’s How it Got This Bad”. The New Yorker ran an incredibly thought provoking piece written by a historian about “The Unimaginable Reality of American Concentration Camp”. Again from the New Yorker, a report from the lawyers who were recently allowed in to inspect a children’s facility in Clint, TX, “Inside a Building in Texas where Government is Holding Immigrant Children”. Another really important thing to learn about (and something that is not highlighted enough in the news) is the Migrant Protection Protocol or MPP program that has currently turned thousands of thousands of migrants around at the US border to wait in Mexico. This is an excruciatingly dangerous policy that is threatening the lives of migrant families day after day.
- Understand that this cruelty is not new and these tactics did not just begin. In fact, the Obama administration reignited the practice of family detention in 2014. One of the reasons this summer feels so out of control is because the sheer numbers of people asking for asylum are so high. The Obama and now Trump administrations’ policies attempted to deter migrants through punishment, suffering, and torture but their success was dependent on the flow of migrants actually stopping. Now that the numbers are so high, these cruel and failed policies have now turned deadly.
- Engage with politicians: Here is the thing: The Trump administration cannot be swayed with moral arguments or blame. They are doing this on purpose. One way of thinking about engaging with politicians is to remember that Congress has the power of the purse and is funding this enforcement regime. One theory is that we can defund ICE and CBP and redirect that money to agencies or NGO’s that are capable of handling a humanitarian crisis of this scope and are not killing people for political motive. This means we have to pressure progressives and democrats and republicans with a conscience to do more than just signal compassion for immigrants. We need these leaders to articulate how they are going to disempower the Trump Administration and make sure it is part of the work they are doing to secure our votes. We can and must demand courageous leadership from our Senators and Representatives and that their actions reflect our deep desire to end the state sponsored violence on the border.
- How to respond to the threat of ICE raids: Trump’s twitter threat for a massive enforcement action last week was credible and achieved its purpose of scaring the shit out of immigrant and refugee communities all over the US. While it has been “delayed”, now is a wise time for communities to get organized. The American Friends Service Committee published this resource about how allies can support their immigrant and refugee neighbors during this time. Here is the ACLU’s guide to knowing your rights during ICE encounters and we suggest exploring it. Santa Fe Dreamers will be holding walk in hours for people to help families with power of attorney and family prep plans every Friday in Santa Fe from 1-5 at our 1213 Mercantile Rd office. If you work with concerned families let them know about this resource.
- Actions happening in NM: There is a lot of talk about national protests to close concentration camps on July 12. One of the organizations that is involved with planning this is called Lights of Liberty. Their Facebook page is a source of info– although we don’t have much info yet about that organization. We are talking with folks in NM about planning more locally focused actions and as soon as we have more details we will announce it. Choose your social media of choice or keep reading our emails to stay in touch.
- Where to donate: Of course here at Santa Fe Dreamers Project we use your donations to protect vulnerable immigrants and refugees in a million different ways every day. Specifically, we need more help on the border. We just rented a much larger office space in El Paso for our expanding team there and are raising funds for a legal assistant so we can have greater impact in the borderlands. You can donate to that effort here. Write border in the note! We are grateful for any help you can give putting this donation link out there into the universe. For those of you wondering where else it might be useful to donate here is our list of several grassroots legal organizations that we know are having impact (we also know we have left many out!)
- And finally an offer of poetry from our director, Allegra, who likes to contemplate what this particular poem is trying to teach us when thinking about the horrors we witness:
Now you know the worst
By Wendell Berry
To my granddaughters who visited the Holocaust Museum on the day of the burial of Yitzhak Rabin
Now you know the worst
we humans have to know
about ourselves, and I am sorry,
for I know that you will be afraid.
To those of our bodies given
without pity to be burned, I know
there is no answer
but loving one another,
even our enemies, and this is hard.
But remember:
when a man of war becomes a man of peace,
he gives a light, divine
though it is also human.
When a man of peace is killed
by a man of war, he gives a light.
You do not have to walk in darkness.
If you will have the courage for love,
you may walk in light. It will be
the light of those who have suffered
for peace. It will be
your light.
Regarding Investor Activism:
Here are some groups focused on Social, Environmental and Governance-conscious investing:
- Proxy Impact
- Sustainable Investment Institute
- As You Sow
- Green America (and also: www.greenamerica.org/finance)
And finally, for your research about political donations, money flow and lobbying influence:
How to join the conversation:
We will be using Zoom video conferencing, which is very easy to access by computer or regular telephone. If you choose to use your tablet or smartphone, be sure to download the Zoom app ahead of time. We will be starting each meeting on time so please connect 15 minutes before the call so that the host can help with any technical difficulties or questions you may have. Once the call starts the host will be not be able to help with connection issues. Once you are connected via Zoom you are welcome mute your microphone and turn off your video until just before the meeting starts, or you may enjoy chatting with others in the meeting while you wait.
Instructions and access to Zoom conferencing
To receive email reminders for Elder Activists for Social Justice (EASJ) meetings, monthly community conversations and workshops, please sign up here:
SIGN UP
Camp Kindness Day — July 23, 2019
On July 23, the camp community will participate in Camp Kindness Day – an event highlighting the practice of intentional kindness that happens every day at American camps. This is an opportunity to raise awareness of the the great work that camps are doing to teach kindness in engaging, simple, repeatable, and high impact ways that live on in the daily lives of campers and staff members when they return home.
Focusing on our youth and young adults, Camp Kindness Day will help showcase the commitment of the camp community to fostering the core values of kindness, compassion, generosity and care, and integrating those values more fully into every aspect of our society. These values are already part of the fabric of the camp experience. We share the mission for our youth to be nurtured, taught, supported, and inspired to grow into our new generation of kind, compassionate, socially-minded, community-oriented citizens.
Camp Kindness Day will allow camps to incorporate into their July 23 programming fun theme-based activities and cooperative games, cool projects, and memorable moments which will celebrate the value and impact of kindness.
How your camp can participate:
- Schedule Camp Kindness Day into your programming on July 23.
- Help spread the word in a unified social media campaign by tagging #CampKindnessDay into your social media and other communications.
- Share your plans so that ACA can support you through localized public relations efforts.
To support your camp’s involvement in Camp Kindness Day, ACA has produced an electronic #CampKindnessDay Backpack, complete with programming ideas and activities, FAQs, social media tips, and other information on how your camp can celebrate Camp Kindness Day.
Be part of the nation-wide evolution! Plan now to add #CampKindnessDay to your camp’s programming on July 23.
AUG 7
Disarm Hate: Gun Violence Prevention Vigil & Dialogue
Public
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Wednesday at 7 PM – 9 PM
2 days from now68–90°F Thunderstorms
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Former BC Courthouse then walk to Salem United Church
Doylestown Borough
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DISARM HATE: A CALL TO ACTION
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL & COMMUNITY DIALOGUE ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
WED, AUGUST 7, 2019, 7pm – Doylestown, PA
In the wake of the mass shootings this past weekend that left 30 dead and many injured, we ache for the victims, their families and the entire community. As we mourn, we also rise up to take a stand against hate and all forms of gun violence. The clear connection between hate and the access to firearms must be addressed by our elected officials
Please join us this Wednesday, August 7, at 7 pm on the steps of the former Courthouse (55 E Court St, Doylestown) for a candlelight vigil followed by a slow procession to Salem United Church for a Community Dialogue. (186 E Court St, Doylestown)
Please bring your own candle.
Co-sponsors include: Orange Wave, Temple Judea, The Peace Center, Rise Up Doylestown, Bucks Students Demand Action, Heeding God’s Call, The Rainbow Room, Salem United Church & CeaseFire PA.
For more information, contact thepeacecenter.org or call 215-750-7220.
The Convergence
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Empowerment Channel
In a world inevitably going global and multicultural, what becomes of religions and spirituality? What becomes of activism towards real global change? In THE CONVERGENCE, global Interspiritual pioneer and scientist Dr. Kurt Johnson joins interfaith leaders Ben Bowler of Australia and Doug King of America in engaging women and men who are inspiring leaders and change agents around our world. Spiritual and cultural leaders, sacred and secular activists, scientists, artists, writers, economists, politicians and even shamans join in this discussion of a world trying to wake up and grow up. What is at stake and what are the technologies and cosmologies creating a world that can work for everyone? If you are concerned for our world’s future and sincere about your commitments to bold and world-serving ideas, you’ll want to tune in to The Convergence on the VoiceAmerica Empowerment Channel.
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Episode Description
VoiceAmerica presents this Evergreen Special detailing major 2019 and 2020 global events upcoming from UNITY EARTH partners Standing for Peace Campaign, Road to 2020 Events, and Caravan of Unity across America. The five sections of the Special spotlight, now and for months to come: United Nations mandated global holiday events like the International Day of Yoga and the International Day of Peace, the vision and work of Light on Light Magazine and VoiceAmerica in covering all these events, UNITY EARTH and its partners month to month activities and initiatives 2019-2020, and the roles of partner groups like Transformation365, We, the World, URI, UNIFY, EcoPeace and The Evolutionary Leaders. Featured are global leaders from the UN, UNITY EARTH, Light on Light Magazine, Transformation365, We, and The Evolutionary Leaders. Lets share this Special, ongoing, as a resource and PR instrument pointing toward all of these global events and gathering a global constituency for their success!
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Ambassador K. Nagaraj Naidu
His Excellency Ambassador K. Nagaraj Naidu is a career diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service representing the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York. He holds a Master’s Degree in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School. His extensive background includes being a fluent Chinese speaker and having previously served in China on four separate postings. More recently, he was the National Coordinator for establishing the International Solar Alliance in India. Significantly, Ambassador Naidu is a long-standing yoga practioner. Reaching back to a tender age, he was exposed to his grandfather rising early to teach yoga classes. As part of the 5th Anniversary of World Yoga Day in June, he moderated a high level panel in New York in the UN Secretariat on the theme of climate change and climate action.
Gayatri Naraine
Since 1980 Gayatri Naraine has served as the representative of the Brahma Kumaris at the United Nations in New York. She is a spiritual educator, writer, and speaker. She is currently the vice chair of the International Day of Yoga Committee. Gayatri’s focus is on the Sustainable Development Goals. She helped in the development of a concept paper entitled Enhancing Human Flourishing Within the 2030 Development Agenda: The Spirituality of Global Transformation. This was the result of a 3-year dialogue held with UNFPA. As a design team member for the Call-of-the-Time Dialogues, a global leadership dialogue, she has spent the last 20 years exploring “experiments in silence,” the transformational depth of contemplative silence and its impact on the world. She serves on the Board of the Kosmos Journal. Gayatri was born in Guyana and currently lives in New York City, USA. Contact Gayatri.naraine@us.brahmakumaris.org
Ben Bowler & Deborah Moldow
Ben Bowler, Executive Director of UNITY EARTH and Deborah Moldow, UE Creative Consultant discuss the vision of UNITY EARTH and its Road to 2020 and Caravan of Unity across America. Ben and Deborah are leaders of a team projecting inspiring global events from 2019 – 2020 and beyond. The Road to 2020 to date has touched all five continents with major intercultural and musical events. (https://unity.earth/roadto2020/). In 2019 events in India and The Holy Land will join the list. The New York Convergence and UNITY Earth Liftoff Celebration and concert are first steps toward “the Caravan of Unity across America” which, in 2020, will features events across America culminating in major celebrations in New York City for the International Day of Peace (Sept. 21). Ben and Deborah will help anchor a “Coalition for the Road to 2020” organized regionally to create participations in these inspiring events. The Leadership Conference, February. 1 will begin that process (contact adam@unity.earth).
Rick Ulfik
Rick Ulfik is Founder of We, the World, We.net and The 11 Days of Global Unity which for many years has been directing major events around the major international holidays of the United Nations. Rick is a founder/leader of We.net, FIONS and other New York City transformational organizations. He works with leaders of United Nations Committees and fellow members of the Evolutionary Leaders network co-sponsoring New York and UN international event programs. We, the World and their “Eleven Ways to Change the World” are central to the plans for 2019 and 2020 for The Road to 2020 and the Caravan of Unity across America. Rick is also a leader in Marshall Rosenberg Nonviolent Communication initiatives as well as an award-winning composer and musician. Rick co-produces Visual Voices on the Dish Network available in 15 million homes. Producing short films as well, Rick organizes and promotes scores of events and other better world activities, large and small, every year. See www.We.net.
Denise Scotto and Adam Collett
Denise Scotto, Esq., and Adam Collett join us, respectively, as Chairperson of the International Day of Yoga Committee at the United Nations, and as Creative Director for UNITY EARTH. Denise is Guest Editor of Light on Light Magazine’s annual issues on the International Day of Yoga and hosts the IDY discussion on this broadcast. Adam, a strategist, designer, media and event producer dedicated to making a positive impact in the world by combining innovative solutions with a deep knowledge of cultural diversity, joins Ben Bowler and Rick Ulfik in the discussions of these global activities on this broadcast. Denise is an attorney at law and policy advisor who has held leadership roles in professional bar organizations and has organized numerous events at UN fora. Adam, with 20 years of experience in design and technology, event production, not-for-profit management, cultural projects, youth programs and more, implements cutting-edge solutions for NGOs and social enterprises.
Karuna and Kurt Johnson
Karuna is founder of www.lightonkundalini.com and a leader in the international Yoga and spiritual practice communities. She is also Host Editor of Light on Light Magazine and a host of The Convergence Series on VoiceAmerica. Dr. Kurt Johnson is the Series Host for The Convergence on VoiceAmerica and Contributions Editor for Light on Light Magazine. Light on Light has produced two annual special issues on The International Day of Yoga with the IDY Committee at the United Nations also featured in this broadcast and will publish a special issue in August 2019 reflecting this VoiceAmerica Special,see https://www.facebook.com/ lightonlightmagazine Karuna and Kurt are co-developing Light on Light with Managing Editor Shannon Winters (below) and also preparing a lifestyle book, manual and lifestyle Teacher Training program with Karuna for 2019. Light on Light magazine and Kurt’s Interspiritual Network are both partners of UNITY EARTH. See www.unity.earth.
Rev. Diane Berke and Jeff Genung
Part of Tranformation365, Rev. Diane Berke is the founder of The One Spirit Learning Alliance and One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City. Jeff Genung is co-founder and President of Contemplative Life.org and, with Rev. Berke, a leader in the interspiritual movement. One Spirit and Contemplative Life have both co-sponsored various events with UNITY EARTH and Contemplative Life is a UNITY EARTH Partner. An author and international speaker, Diane is a recipient of the Houston Smith Interfaith Educator Award and numerous other recognitions. Contemplative Life and Transformation365 create a digital hub that connects people and communities with transformative practices. Contemplative Life.org’s prodigious website hosts hundreds of spiritual teachers and practice traditions, as do the famed interfaith education programs at One Spirit Interfaith.org. Recently Jeff has also partnered with Prosocial.world along with Dr. Kurt Johnson of the Interspiritual Network and UNITY EARTH.
Kate Sheehan Roach and Sr. Mary Friedland
Sr. Mary Friedland and Kate Sheehan Roach join us from Transformation365. Mary Friedland is Coordinator of the Brahma Kumaris activities in Chicago and the Midwest. A Raja Yogi of more than 30 years, she teaches courses in meditation and everyday spirituality. She enjoys applying spiritual principles to life’s knotty problems and sharing what she has learned with others. Kate Sheehan Roach served as founding editor of Contemplative Journal, and as managing editor of the Spirituality Channel at Patheos.com. She is now Director of Content for ContemplativeLife.org and as a founding member of the Transformation365.org core team. Kate works alongside some of today’s great spiritual and religious teachers as editor/agent, podcast host, moderator, and program director. She is a certified Centering Prayer facilitator and serves on the North America Leadership Council for the United Religions Initiative. She lives on the edge of Philadelphia. Contact: katesheehanroach@gmail.com.
Shannon Winters and Yanni Maniates
Shannon Winters in the Managing Editor of Light on Light Magazine and Yanni Maniates is Global Projects Director for UNITY EARTH. Light on Light is dedicated to spiritual practice and inspired lifestyle and Yanni has been working with Contemplative Life.org and other leaders in the UNITY EARTH Network creating spiritual practice programs to accompany UNITY EARTH’s events. The program developed by Yanni, Jeff Genung of Contemplative Life and Rev. Diane Berke of America’s largest interfaith seminary, One Spirit in New York City is called “Transformation 365” and its programs can be found at http://www.tranfomation365.org. Shannon has also been Managing Editor of UNITY EARTH’s Convergence Magazine which, along with Light on Light, publishes special issues on the amazing activities across the networks featured in this broadcast. Shannon has also just completed a spiritual autobiography, The Gospel of Wisdom, documenting her journey from religious fundamentalism to interspirituality.
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Compassion Camp
August 15-18, 2019
at Earthaven Ecovillage | near Asheville, North Carolina
Compassion Camp is a four day event for adults and children where we create a community of people who learn, play and celebrate together, empowered to then send each other back into the world to spread these seeds of justice and love. Our time together is designed to foster community among the growing number of people in Western North Carolina and beyond who are passionate about living and promoting compassionate consciousness. Located at Earthaven Ecovillage, it is an opportunity to have fun, enjoy ourselves, learn together, and connect deeply in a beautiful natural setting.
Compassion Camp is inspired by the life and work of Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, the creator of Nonviolent Communication (NVC). We believe that the theory and practice of NVC is a life-changing tool for cultivating compassion in our hearts, communities, and the world. In addition to NVC, other topics may include: social justice, ecology, circling, restorative circles, healthy relationships, feminism, families and children, eco-sexuality, community, economics, and authentic movement.
Compassion Camp combines experiential and traditional approaches to learning, including professionally led classes, small-group conversations, hands-on practices, movement, self-reflection, and interactive activities, to provide an intimate, well-rounded, and powerful experience. Through both pre-planned presentations and Open Space sessions, Compassion Camp seeks to concentrate the creativity and inspiration of participants into an ongoing, life-serving energy for the community and create networks among affinity groups such as educators and social activists. Compassion Camp also features relational activities centered around singing, dancing, storytelling, and silence, which cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien has identified as the four most common ways that humans create wellness, community, and connection.
Compassion Camp participants will likely experience:
- Increased connection to self, others, and nature
- A deeper commitment to being of service
- A broader understanding of the ways you can live compassion
- More skill in creating supportive community in your life
- More practical tools and resources to inspire yourself and others
Schedule
Compassion Camp hosts a broad selection of topics to explore through the combination of pre-planned presentations and group-selected open space offerings. Connection and movement activities, meals, and rituals also contribute to a rich and nourishing experience.
More about schedule and Open Space technology
About the Co-Directors
For over thirty years, Steve Torma has gently guided our culture toward cooperation and regeneration. He is the former President of Earthaven Ecovillage, where he continues to live his passion for community and sustainability. Trained in Nonviolent Communication, and other healing modalities, Steve co-founded The REAL Center in 2007. Through his compassionate presence and guidance, Steve has helped countless people to find healing, direction, and meaning in their lives.
Terrie Lewine focuses her work on deep self-awareness, communication and relationship work. She currently resides in Philadelphia, PA where she owns and manages her private teaching/coaching practice and the Back to Life Wellness Center. She offers classes, workshops and trainings for individuals and couples, and supports organizations by developing and supporting best practices regarding collaboration, team building and effective conflict resolution.
Steve and Terrie have been deeply enriched by using NVC in their own lives, relationships, communities and with the people they serve. Having felt the power of NVC to transform lives they are excited to create a gathering where people can come together to learn from each other, celebrate, and network.
While deeply inspired by NVC, their vision of a compassionate world includes many other aspects of creating the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible. With that in mind, they’ve brought together a group of leaders in WNC to share their wisdom at Compassion Camp.
More Facilitators and Class Descriptions
Location, Travel, and Accommodations
Location
This program takes place at Earthaven Ecovillage. This permaculture-based community offers a unique living classroom where participants will engage with the natural world, eco-infrastructure, and the intimate experience of rural community living.
Accommodations
Camping is included. Private indoor lodging at Earthaven is available for an additional cost.
Shared indoor lodging
Cost per person: 1 night $20, 2 nights $40, 3 nights $60, 4 nights $75
Private indoor lodging
Cost for 1 person: 1 night $50, 2 nights $85, 3 nights $105, 4 nights $120
Cost for 2 people (shared bed): 1 night $75, 2 nights $130, 3 nights $160, 4 nights $175
Off-site options
Various options in Bat Cave, Black Mountain, and Asheville.
Travel
Earthaven is nestled in the heart of the rural Southern Appalachian Mountains, 30 miles outside of Asheville, NC on curvy mountain roads and within two hours of three airports.
Food
Delicious, omnivorous meals are prepared by talented culinary artists from the Earthaven community. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. Snacks and beverages (tea, coffee) are provided. Participants are invited to help with meal clean-up. Many hands make light work.
As much food as possible is sourced from Earthaven and its surrounding farms and gardens, with some ingredients sourced from local grocery stores. Our meals are created with seasonal, local, fresh, wildcrafted, humanely-raised, and organic ingredients.
Children and Families
We welcome families with children to attend and will do our best to support you and your children. The village setting of Earthaven offers a safe and fun place for people of all ages and stages to explore. Much of the content involves focused, sit-down presentations, so attending with a young child will likely mean being less able to participate fully in the program.
Children ages 0-3 ($0 includes food and camping)
Young children are welcome to attend with parent/guardian at no cost. We do not offer a program or childcare for this age group. If you decide to bring your young child(ren) to sessions, please understand that you and your child may need to step outside if your child is crying or playing loudly so that others may participate fully.
Children ages 4-12 ($100 includes food and camping)
Children are welcome to attend with parent/guardian. For this age group we offer a youth program that runs during open space sessions and will include games, crafts, and nature connection activities. Parents are responsible for their children during all other times.
Teens ages 13-17 ($100 includes food and camping)
Teens are welcome to attend with parent/guardian. We do not offer a program for this age group. Teenagers may attend sessions, but parents should be aware that there may be adult content, and parents are responsible for them and what they attend.
Compassion camp was an emotionally nourishing environment where I was able to sink into my relationship with my partner and our children. ~ Angel Trail, 2018 Participant
Cost
Registration includes instruction, all materials, food, and three nights of camping. Private indoor lodging at Earthaven is available for an additional cost (see above).
Adults
Registration Sliding Scale: $220-400
Payment available in $60 increments
Youth
Infant and Toddlers ages 0-3: Free
Children ages 4-12: $100 (youth program available)
Teens ages 13-17: $100 (no program available)
Work Trade: We offer a few partial work trade opportunities to individuals who are available and qualified for the following service areas, and who would otherwise not be able to afford to attend. Our partial work trade positions cost $50-90 depending on the position, require about 11 hours of service, and include food, camping, admittance to camp, and materials.
Scholarships: We offer limited partial scholarships of $100 to individuals who otherwise would not be able to afford it. We prioritize scholarships for people of color and single parents with financial needs. We understand that people of color experience more financial and institutional barriers to participation, and we want to counteract that by offering scholarships.
Work trades and scholarships do NOT cover transportation or indoor lodging.
Please contact us at info@schoolofintegratedliving.org to receive a work trade or scholarship application.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~ Dalai Lama
Socially Conscious Leadership from the Inside Out
Our guest this week has come to believe that “No matter how wonderful a program is, if it is done as a bestowing – a certain group of people making decisions for another group – that is never going to bridge the divide in our city.” Does your work fit within this paradigm of “bestowing,” and how do you plant seeds for a deeper mindset or consciousness shift to address underlying structural issues? Share Your Reflection »
Dallas-based therapist, activist, writer, community leader and speaker Michelle Kinder examines and teaches conscious leadership “from the inside out.” She offers practical, achievable steps for parents, teachers and others to support children’s social-emotional health, and for business and other leaders to drive transformation in their lives and organizations. While exploring the lack of mental health resources in southern Dallas, Kinder got to know the work of the Momentous Institute, a 99-year-old Dallas-based nonprofit organization that has been building and repairing social-emotional health through education and mental health programs. Momentous Institute serves vulnerable children through therapy services, curriculum and teacher training focused on See full.
Five Questions for Michelle
What Makes You Come Alive?
Thank you for asking. Learning makes me come alive. Learning combined with contribution has long been a winning formula for me feeling most alive. Over the years I developed the habit of checking in with myself every six months or so with the questions “Am I learning? Am I contributing?” There have been interesting seasons on how the two balance each other. There are times that striving to contribute crowded out the kind of white space by brain needs for deep learning and I have had to course correct. And there have been other times that I was learning a lot, but didn’t feel like I was being a good steward in terms of making a difference for other people or for causes I care about. I should also say that because I am currently in a season of more white space and more time for discernment, increasingly, simple pleasures are what make me come alive. Listening to birds, watching our dogs, yoga, running, sunshine, good coffee and the sound of my girls laughing together. Things like that.
Pivotal turning point in your life?
When I was in High School I left my family in Guatemala and came to the states to attend boarding school. It was a transformational experience. The wonderful faculty there saw qualities in me that they nurtured into leadership and I really learned who I was and what I was capable of during those four years. Interestingly, in my previous school, there were teachers who experienced the exact same qualities as problematic, annoying or something to control. Having that experience has made me very interested in how adults show up in the lives of children in a way that respects the enormous privilege and responsibility. I always say there are no neutral interactions when it comes to our relationships with children – all interactions are either positive, negative or missed opportunities.
An Act of Kindness You’ll Never Forget?
When I was in college, my 24-year-old sister died suddenly and it was an enormous challenge to go back to school while navigating the grief process. Several weeks into it, when people had stopped checking in, I found a card tucked into one of my books. It was from a classmate I knew somewhat, but not super well. It said something like, “I know time has passed but your hurt hasn’t.” I still tear up thinking about that act of kindness. It meant so much and it has shaped my desire to show up for others in similar ways.
One Thing On Your Bucket List?
Have the kind of flexibility to visit different places for a month at a time and work remotely while folding into the local scene.
One-line Message for the World?
Regardless of the situation, if you ever aren’t sure how to be most helpful, regulate your own nervous system.
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Awakin Circles: A hub for local meditation circles that started in the Silicon Valley and have now spread to 80+ cities around the globe. The circle start with an hour of silence, followed by a circle of sharing and dinner in silence. A newsletter with a passage selected from various wisdom traditions and an audio reading is sent out to 87,000 subscribers each week. See also Awakin Calls that hosts weekly conversations with wide-ranging thought leaders.
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ServiceSpace is an organization run entirely by volunteers. We leverage technology to encourage everyday people around the world to do small acts of service. Our aim is to ignite the fundamental generosity in ourselves and others, creating both inner and outer transformation.
ServiceSpace was conceived by volunteers, was built by volunteers, and is run by volunteers — all for the benefit of volunteers. Our projects range from a daily positive news service, to an acts-of-kindness portal, to a gift-economy restaurant. Regardless of the endeavor, we act in concert to create service opportunities for each other and to support each other’s service journeys.
In September of 2011, we formally changed our name from CharityFocus to ServiceSpace. Founded in 1999, ServiceSpace was originally started to help non-profits with technical services. Over the past dozen years, the organization has become an umbrella for many generosity-driven projects. Thus we have expanded our services from focusing just on helping charities, to encouraging everyday people to contribute in meaningful ways to the world around them. As the name suggests, our new expanded ServiceSpace platform allows people to stay connected with others interested in service, participate in service opportunities through any of our dozen projects, organize their own local service event using our tools, and stay connected to inspirational content. Above all, we believe in the inherent generosity of others and aim to ignite that spirit of service. Through our small, collective acts, we hope to transform ourselves and the world.
We hold these three principles steadfast within our organization:
Stay fully volunteer-run.
ServiceSpace was founded by volunteers and is run by volunteers. There is no paid staff, no office, and no central facilities. All ServiceSpace programs are conceived, designed, implemented, and administered by people who selflessly give their time so that others can benefit from those services.
Based on twelve years of our experience with a volunteer-run infrastructure, we’ve developed a streamlined process that structures projects in a distributed and decentralized manner. This allows more volunteers to give small chunks of time and still deliver high quality services to the end-receiver.
Being volunteer-run also allows us to organically self-organize. Instead of hierarchies and prefabricated business plans, our volunteer infrastructure is dynamic, low-cost and open to radical change. Everything is based on relationships and presence, and that creates a powerful context to BE the change.
We continue to be amazed at what inspired and dedicated individuals can do. Margaret Mead eloquently said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does.” We could not agree more.
Serve with whatever we have.
We have chosen a slightly different path than most organizations, and choose not to focus on fundraising, grants, or other sources of revenue – for example, none of our websites contain any advertisement. All services are distributed are gifted without any fees. Thus, we serve with whatever support and resources that come in organically when people are truly moved to give.
ServiceSpace projects are built within a gift-economy system, an economic system in which goods and services are given freely, rather than traded. In a traditional market economy, one’s wealth is increased by saving. In a gift economy, giving leads to increase: an increase in connections and relationship strength.
Our services are given freely, without asking for anything in return. Instead of scarcity and fear for an uncertain future, our second principle roots us in abundance and trust. We have realized that over time, if you serve with pure intentions, people’s cups of gratitude overflow. They don’t give to fulfill a need, they give as an expression of their own solidarity and joy. These genuine gifts, no matter how small or large, are what sustains us.
Focus on the small.
Our attempt is to do “small acts with great love”. As our tagline says, “Change Yourself, Change the World.” If we started out by having a goal to change the world, we might have been a little disappointed in our abilities; when we start with ourselves, we notice that the ripples around us continue to get bigger and bigger and as more people try to do small acts, we have every potential to change the world.
Just as every tiny bit of a hologram contains information of the whole, we feel that paying attention to the process, to the present moment, gives us plenty of information to become instruments of a larger, systemic change.
This is how ServiceSpace makes things happen. But essentially the engine that drives the organization is inspiration, pure and simple. We learn from each other, spur each other, help each other, and frequently amaze each other. Sure, we are stirred by the words and lives of great men and women like Gandhi and Martin Luther King and Mother Theresa; but the examples set by our ServiceSpace colleagues–everyday heroes–are the real sustaining forces behind our projects.
THINK KINDNESS, WE CHARITY, COUNT ME IN CHAMPION KINDNESS WORLD WIDE
There’s a growing crisis among young people today. One-in-five students report being bullied, cyberbullying is on the rise, and teen suicide is at a record high. As these problems continue to worsen, many adults may be left scratching their heads. How do we stop this crisis and help our youth?
There are a lot of possible answers, but there’s one that I’d like to pose today that I think is too often overlooked: kindness.
Yes, the simple act of kindness – not just witnessing it, but participating in it – has the ability to change people’s lives for the better. To make our world safer and happier for our children, we need to be teaching them how to be kind at home, at school, and in their communities.
This may seem overly simple, but science backs it up. According to research from places like Harvard and UC Berkeley, among others, acts of kindness release chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and oxytocin, which reduce depression and anger and boost overall happiness.
Being kind isn’t something we should just mention to our kids in passing – it should be an integral part of their daily activities.
As the founder of Think Kindness, I am blessed to have an incredible job. I go into schools all across the country and help kids tap into their inner kindness potential. In my ten years here, I’ve seen some amazing results. For instance, after my very first speech, a student who struggled with suicidal thoughts wrote me to tell me how getting involved in helping others radically changed his life for the better.
Luckily, Think Kindness isn’t the only organization that makes kindness its mission.
There’s a group called Count Me In, founded and led by youth, which helps to connect young people with volunteer opportunities in their communities and around the world. To date, the organization has inspired over 100 million volunteer hours. In addition, Count Me In has an annual leadership summit which serves as a bootcamp training kids how to be volunteers and do good in the world. I am also blessed to sit on the advisory board for such a powerful and meaningful organization.
Similarly, there’s an organization in Canada called the WE Charity which does incredible work to connect kids to acts of kindness. For instance, WE offers volunteer trips to impoverished communities around the world, giving young people a powerful chance to make a real difference for people in need.
They also host what they call We Days, which draw hundreds of thousands of children into stadiums across the world to hear nspirational messages about doing good around the world.
Organizations like these and others are essential to turning the tide of anger, depression, and sadness among our youth today.
But they need backup, because according to one study, youth volunteering has gone down over the last fifteen years. All of us – parents, teachers, community leaders – need to promote kindness to young people.
We can do it in two ways: first and foremost, by showing kindness ourselves; second, by connecting our kids to groups which can give them the tools they need to be conduits of kindness everywhere they go.
Let’s get to it – it just might change the world.
With Kindness,
Brian Williams
President & Founder, Think Kindness
#BeKindTogether
When: Friday, September 6, 2019 from 5:30PM – 8:30PM
Where: Novick Urban Farms, 3660 S. Lawrence Street (just past intersection of Pattison Ave and S. Lawrence)
What: Join in for a night of food, drinks, games and more! There will be Southeast Asian food, games & prizes, a farm tour and performances. Hosted by SEAMAAC and its partners (Philabundance, Vetri Community Partnership, and Novick Urban Farm), you can purchase tickets by visiting this site.
| EAMAAC, Inc |
| 2154670690 |
| events@seamaac.org |
| seamaac.org |
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We are grateful to those in our communities who help us drive hunger from our
communities today and end hunger forever, including the individuals, partners,
small businesses and others who are hosting
benefits on behalf of Philabundance.
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PCK is a 14-week culinary vocational training program which has been transforming the lives women and men with low-to-no income since 2000. Students in the 500-hour program will; earn their ServSafe certificate; intern in the culinary industry; prepare meals for those in need; and receive retention services by PCK staff for two years after graduation to ensure that students maximize their training and maintain positive work ethics post-graduation.
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Moving Food Forward: Product Innovation
Our goal is to create nutritious food from surplus farm products in a way that extends shelf life & adds value for our communities in need (upcycling). We partner with manufacturers to create retail items which fund the same high quality items for donation. The Abundantly Good brand allows us to provide better food for clients AND engage socially conscious consumers in our mission in an exciting new way.
HOW WE CAN BEGIN TO HEAL OUR BROKEN WORLD |
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For more than 26 years, I’ve been helping individuals and communities creatively navigate difficult transitions — such as loss of a loved one, livelihood, illness, or bursting forth of a life unlived, the collective trauma of community disaster — through story-making. I’m now finishing a book — a combination memoir and workbook — about my healing story approach. Not since 9/11, have I felt such urgency to put my work in service to healing our national culture. For the next year and half, I’m going to be offering more community reconciliation programs to counter-attack the hate and violence-filled narratives that the Administration and its minions are flooding media with. I’m targeting my programs now to change-makers: healers, writers, storytellers, teachers, activists. Here’s the mistake many are making: Focusing on Trump’s media grabs day after day. This only gives energy to his evil and distracts from the fact that millions of citizens support him as a cult – meaning a disregard for facts in favor of allegiance to a leader that makes false promises, but is interested only in expanding his own power and wealth. But how can we pull followers out of this cult? Not by judging, preaching, haranguing. Rather by listening, engaging, finding non-political common ground, by sharing our stories – not our victim tales, but a deeper story that is always flowing like a river beneath the surface of our lives – where we are one people, one race, one blood. On Sept. 10, at 8 pm eastern, I’m going to be offering a free introduction to a 3-step healing story process for people who would like to use story in their community, therapeutic, or classroom programs, but may not know how. That’s Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 8 pm eastern time. To register and receive the link, write to me at juIietbrucephd@gmail.com. |
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Enjoy the rest of your summer, |
In cooperation with the WE-Energime-Global Cooperation Turtle Island International Civil Society Organization and in support of peaceful interfaith dialogue, especially in light of Laudato Si, the recent message from Pope Francis on “Care for Mother Earth”, Drawdown Markham will be assisting Global Cooperation Day (GCD, New Zealand) to Celebrate the 800 year Anniversary (in 2019) of the meeting between Saint Francis of Assisi and Sultan Al Kamil in the year 1219 by planting a *Commemorative Tree of Peace* on a property in the East end of Markham (Locust Hill) on Sunday, September 15th.
This event is being done in support of the DD Markham CCAH Collaborative Exchange Project (CEP) and the “Spark for Humanity” project by We Are Mother Earth! (WAME) and GTI Enterprises (cooperative corporation), and for the eventual establishment of our “Go Local” Campaign for community resilience and adaptation, supported by our local Drawdown Markham Interfaith Neighborhood and Business Collaborative (which is part of the EncounterCanada collaborative, which is intended “to localize the Sustainable Development Goals to build ‘Climate Smart’ safe and sustainable communities and cities, pursuant to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction”).
Ashland Global Peace Conference
Sat, Sep 21, 2019 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM PDT
David Wick at info@ashlandcpc.org, 541-552-1061
The World Peace Flame in Ashland is firing the imaginations of Peace Leaders from Middle School students, Ashland City Leaders to Oregon Legislators. Ashland is catching the attention of the global community. Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations, and Founder of the Global Movement of the Culture of Peace, is coming to Ashland to learn first-hand how Ashland Culture of Peace Commission partners with the city, local non-profits and others to transform the city with the vision of a Culture of Peace. The Ashland Global Peace Conference will give local residents the opportunity to learn more about why Ashland is deserving of the global community’s attention by highlighting how our state and local leaders are inspired to work hard to create a culture of peace for their constituents. The views of creating a culture of Peace from the global, national, state, city, community, interpersonal and personal levels will be explored.
Come to the conference and be inspired by city and state leaders’ personal commitment to cultivating a culture of peace in Oregon and be empowered with your own commitment to peace.
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Early Bird Pricing ends 8/31
while we are together, and beyond.
Peace is not an idea, it is a practice.
Thank you.
A WORLD THAT WORKS FOR ALL
A community-wide movement dedicated to transforming our attitudes, behaviors and institutions into ones that foster harmonious relationships with each other and the natural world.
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Brings heart and compassion to conversations, decision-making, and systems.
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Recognizes the inherent value of each person, the diversity within community.
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Invites everyone’s participation, relying on the natural gifts of each community member.
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Encourages mutual respect so that all residents and visitors feel safe, heard, and empowered.
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Establishes trust through holding all persons responsible for their actions.
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Employs compassionate listening to air feelings, viewpoints, and concerns.
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Discovers solutions through collaborative exploration.
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Emphasizes the universal values of kindness, generosity, love and beauty, caring and curiosity.
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Seeks larger truths and broader perspectives to better comprehend local and world affairs.
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Values and nurtures all of life, honoring the environment and promoting humanity’s balanced place in the web of existence.
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Builds upon the foundation of existing groups contributing to the wellness of the world.
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Creates an emerging, evolving, living model for thriving together as fellow humans.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, until recently the Senior Special Advisor to the UN General Assembly President, has devoted many years as an inspirational champion for sustainable peace and development and ardently advancing the cause of the global movement for the culture of peace that has energized civil society all over the world.
As a career diplomat, Permanent Representative to United Nations, President of the UN Security Council, President of UNICEF Board, UN Under-Secretary-General, and recipient of the U Thant Peace Award, UNESCO Gandhi Gold Medal for Culture of Peace, Spirit of the UN Award and University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor’s Medal for Global Leadership for Peace, Ambassador Chowdhury has a wealth of experience in the critical issues of our time – peace, sustainable development, and human rights.
Ambassador Chowdhury’s legacy and leadership in advancing the best interest of the global community are boldly imprinted in his pioneering initiatives at the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 for adoption of the landmark Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace and in 1998 for the proclamation of the “International Decade for Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World (2001-2010)”.
He served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York from 1996 to 2001 and as the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations, responsible for the most vulnerable countries of the world from 2002 to 2007.
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“I was impressed by their work in developing Ashland as a City of Peace, thereby evolving and inspiring at the same time a practical and workable model that other cities and civil society entities can learn from. I along with GMCoP encourage and support this brilliant endeavor by ACPC. My co-activists at the United Nations who interacted with ACPC leaders have particularly welcomed it.”
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury,
Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations,
Founder of the Global Movement for The Culture of Peace (GMCoP)
Ashland Global Peace Conference
“You Are The Flame”
Practical Applications of the Culture of Peace
September 21st, 2019 • Ashland Hills Hotel,
Ashland, Oregon
Whereas: On March 17, 2015, the Ashland Mayor and City Council proclaimed support for a Culture of Peace Community.
Whereas: On May 16, 2017, Ashland joined the International Cities of Peace and “…the City Council and Mayor, on behalf of the citizens of Ashland, do proclaim that the City of Ashland, Oregon, is a City of Peace in perpetuity and encourage city and community leaders to work with concerned citizens to develop policies and procedures that promote a culture of peace in our region.”
Whereas: The 20th anniversary of the adoption of the landmark UN “Culture of Peace” Resolution is being observed by the UN on 13 September 2019, at this year’s Eighth annual High-Level Forum on The Culture of Peace at the UN headquarters. On 13 September 1999, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, by consensus and without reservation, its resolution A/RES/53/243 on the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.
Whereas: This historic norm-setting document is considered as one of the most significant legacies of the United Nations that would endure generations and manifests very significantly that the culture of peace is a process of individual, collective and institutional transformation. ‘Transformation’ is of the most essential relevance in its implementation.
Whereas: Bearing in mind the broader dimension and potential impact of the Culture of Peace, OPGA (President of the United Nations General Assembly) chose this year’s theme to be “The Culture of Peace: Empowering and Transforming Humanity.” Their concept notes states that: “In the light of the importance of the Culture of Peace and its potential for responding to the global challenges facing mankind, the 20th Observance should be central to the pivotal discussions and commitments expected at the General Assembly in September.”
Whereas: To manifest their own commitment to the culture of peace, various activities have been initiated by civil society organizations in different parts of the world. A unique mind-body spirit Culture of Peace event is planned separately as a contribution by Pathways to Peace to the 20th anniversary observance on Saturday, 14 September – titled On, By and For Youth in New York. The Ashland Culture of Peace Commission is co-planning this incredible day-long event that honors, positions, and empowers youth as peacebuilders. Students from Ashland OR will participate.
Whereas: The Ashland Culture of Peace Commission installed the World Peace Flame in Ashland, Oregon and on September 21, 2018 established the World Peace Flame Monument through an international acclaimed lighting ceremony. Students from the Ashland Middle School have embraced the opportunity to be the World Peace Flame, Flame Keepers.
Whereas: Ashland and Southern Oregon are becoming more known nationally and internationally as a hub embracing a Culture of Peace and developing a model which can benefit other communities. This activity will further raise this profile, brand our region, and attract visitors to experience, learn, and enjoy.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission initiates:
Ashland Global Peace Conference
“You Are The Flame”
Practical Applications of the Culture of Peace
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Ashland is catching the attention of the global community.
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations, and Founder of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace, is coming to Ashland to learn first-hand how ACPC partners with the city, local nonprofits and others to help transform the city after the March 11, 2019 presentation at the United Nations. The Ashland Global Peace Conference will also allow residents to learn more about why Ashland is deserving of the global community’s attention by highlighting how our state and local leaders are working hard to create a culture of peace for their constituents.
How did this happen?
On March 11, 2019 Irene Kai and David Wick were invited to the United Nations to make a presentation about the progress we have made developing a Culture of Peace in Ashland. We also presented the stunning story about bringing the World Peace Flame from Wales to Ashland which now stands as an iconic monument of peace locally and internationally. We then were invited to a private meeting with Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, the Founder of the Global Movement for The Culture of Peace and Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations. Ambassador Chowdhury was so deeply inspired by what he heard of these activities that he requested to come to Ashland to experience these leading peacebuilding activities himself. We therefore have planned the Ashland Global Peace Conference around his coming to Ashland where he will be our keynote speaker.
Taking active steps to co-create a Culture of Peace is vital within the United States as well as internationally. You are invited to attend and participate in the Ashland Global Peace Conference, September 21, 2019 in Ashland, Oregon. Ashland is the Home of the World Peace Flame and the conference theme is “You Are The Flame”, Practical Applications of the Culture of Peace. This is an exceptional experience of a city co-creating a Culture of Peace.
The program planned for this special conference highlights the global, national, state, city/community, personal/interpersonal levels of personal commitment and peacebuilding action each person represents.
This conference is one of a kind and will be promoted in southern Oregon, Oregon, nationally, and internationally. The conference will be live streamed internationally.
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“I would like to encourage you to seriously consider the invitation from the city of Ashland’s Culture of Peace Commission to attend their unique Global Peace Conference in Ashland, Oregon, on September 21. 2019.
The Peace Commission has brought the World Peace Flame from Wales to Ashland where it serves as inspiration to stand for peace in the world and do all we can at the local level to promote world peace. I visited the flame this April and was honored to meet members of the Peace Commission and learn about their valuable efforts.”
US Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon
“I extend my whole-hearted encouragement to ACPC in its efforts in creating this local-to-global and global-to-local pathway for advancing the culture of peace.”
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury
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The full day program includes lunch.
Program
Welcome – John Stromberg, Mayor, City of Ashland
Introduction of the World Peace Flame in Ashland – Irene Kai, Ashland Culture of Peace Commission
Keynote Speaker – Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations. Founder of the Global Movement of the Culture of Peace
Dr. David Yang – Vice President, Center for applied Conflict Transformation. United States Institute of Peace
Flame Keeper of the World Peace Flame in Ashland – Finley Taylor, Flame Keeper from the Ashland Middle School
——-Break——-
Oregon State Panel –
Jeff Golden – Oregon State Senator
Pam Marsh – Oregon State Representative
Ashland City Panel –
Rich Rosenthal – Ashland City Councilor
Tighe O’Meara – Ashland Chief of Police
Sandra Slattery – Executive Director, Ashland Chamber of Commerce
Kelly Raymond – Superintendent, Ashland School District
——-Lunch——-
Creating infrastructures for Peace in all nations – Dr. Saul Arbess, Director, Canadian Peace Initiative and Co-Founder and Director, Global Alliance For Ministries and Infrastructure For Peace
Rogue Valley Community Panel –
Sheila Clough – CEO, Asante Ashland Community Hospital
Steven Saslow – CEO and Publisher, Rosebud Media
Linda Schott – President, Southern Oregon University
Dee Anne Everson – Executive Director, United Way of Jackson County
David Zaslow – Rabbi, Interfaith Community
——-Break——-
Be The Flame – Thriving Leadership Academy – Will Wilkinson and Chris Harding – A summary of the key points of the conference, followed by an invitation to participants to apply what they’ve learned, and specific action steps to integrate it all.
Light the World Peace Flame Candle and
Read the invocation inspired by the World Peace Flame
——-Concludes and network——-
Accommodations:
Ashland Hills Hotels and Suites at 2525 Ashland Street, Ashland, OR 97520
(Event name: Ashland Global Peace Conference)
Standard King rooms $149
Queen-Queen rooms $159
Premium King rooms $159
Standard King Suites $169
Double-Double Suites $169
To enjoy discounted guest room rates please contact our conference host hotel – Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites at 541-482-8310 and ask for the Ashland Global Peace Conference group rates.
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Find your adventure…
Surrounded by not only the culturally rich Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland also features a variety of natural wonders, including Crater Lake National Park.
——-Theater and Music——-
Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF)
15 South Pioneer St, Ashland, OR 97520
(800) 219-8161
Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm.
Performance times vary.
Group Sales (866) 545-6337 Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm.
Oregon Cabaret Theatre
241 Hargadine St, Ashland, OR, 97520
(541) 488-2902
Monday – Wednesday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday – Saturday, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm, Closed Sunday
Between productions 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Britt Music and Art Festival
PO Box 1124, Medford, OR 97501
(800) 882-7488
——-Family——-
ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum
1500 E Main St, Ashland, OR 97520
(541) 482-6767
Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Emigrant Lake Water Slide
5505 Highway 66, Ashland , OR 97520
(541) 774-8183
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, closed 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
——-Outdoor Adventures——-
Rafting
Mountain Biking
Cycling
Hiking
Fly Fishing
Golf
Crater Lake
Want to help make this Global Peace Conference possible? Want to provide people the opportunity to be inspired by this personal/local/global event? Want to illuminate the local community as well as communities and people around the world?
Sponsor today!
If you are interested in sponsoring any aspect of the Ashland Global Peace Conference, please contact David Wick at info@ashlandcpc.org, 541-552-1061
TransOhio and Clintonville Counseling and Wellness present the 2nd Annual Trans Career and Wellness Day at Columbus Public Health! Local employers and community and wellness partners will be onsite to offer employment, health, and other opportunities to the transgender and gender non-confirming community.
10AM – 3PM: Job Fair with dozens of local affirming and inclusive employers and resources from Community organizations
11AM – 4PM: Wellness Workshops
10AM – 4PM: Medical testing by Columbus Public Health
Please check back to hear about the employers and community partners attending this year, details about the wellness workshops, and info about raffle prizes! Please share!
TransOhio, Inc.
P.O. Box 14481
Columbus, Ohio 43214
Email: TransOhio@transohio.org
Facebook: TransOhio Fan page
Our Mission
TransOhio serves the Ohio transgender and ally communities by providing services, education, support, and advocacy, which promotes and improves the health, safety and life experience of the Ohio transgender individual and community.
Our Vision
- to serve as a bridge to other LGBTQ+ and ally communities
- to provide a focus for matters of concern to the Ohio transgender community and their allies by providing open, affirming, visible and tangible support
- to promote opportunities and networking that increase awareness of the Transgender and gender-nonconforming community’s needs and concerns such, as discrimination and violence
- to increase lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual, and ally understanding and cultural awareness of the Ohio Transgender community
- to help ensure that Ohio educational programs and services are inclusive and supportive of Ohio Transgender issues, perspectives, and concerns
- to provide social activities that are inclusive of all LGBTQ+ and ally communities, access to safe-spaces, people, forums for confidential discussion, support, and local and national resource information
- to foster Ohio Transgender community pride
A $30 donation per guest is highly appreciated.
The time is now more than ever to be the change and stand up for peace and nonviolence. Our communities deserve to live their daily lives peacefully and together we can strive to make that happen. As partners of #Gandi150 and believers in the power of peace, we invite you to be part of the movement on October 2. More information here.
How to get involved on October 2:
1. Nonviolence Champion – Nominate a faculty member from your educational institution, as the champion for the event.
2. Nonviolence in Action – On October 2, host a screening of the documentary film, “From India with Love”, followed by an interactive discussion to promote peace.
3. Nonviolence in Classrooms – Lead an experiential learning module on nonviolence in the classroom and promote peace.
Join us on October 2 and share your activity with us at The Peace Alliance. Find our Facebook page here and/or tag us on Twitter at @PeaceAlliance. Use #Gandhi150 and #RethinkPeace to join the worldwide social media conversation on peace!
Thank you!
In peace and partnership!
Jelena Popovic, Teaching Peace in Schools Council Lead
and The Peace Alliance Board of Directors and Leadership Council
About The Peace Alliance
Mission:
The Peace Alliance empowers civic action toward a culture of peace.
Who We Are:
We are an alliance of organizers and advocates taking the work of peacebuilding from the margins of society into the center of national discourse and policy priorities.
We champion a comprehensive, collaborative approach to peace and peacebuilding.
$475 – $595 sliding scale
Cost includes all meals and shared lodging at our beautiful private retreat center. All proceeds benefit the work of ONE. Deposit of $150 holds your place (nonrefundable). The remaining balance of the sliding scale you choose is due by August 25th.
You’re invited to enjoy a very special weekend of renewal and transformation on powerful Mount Shasta in Northern California. Long considered one of the seven sacred mountains of the world, Mount Shasta holds a vibrant transformative energy that seekers the world over travel to experience. Graceful and deeply profound, Mount Shasta is an immense energy center filled with opportunities to connect deeply with the Heart of the Living Earth. How long has it been since you listened?
Your guided journey begins at 4pm on Thursday October 3rd with a welcoming circle and delicious dinner, and ends on Sunday October 6th at 12pm with our closing circle. Throughout your experience you will enjoy opportunities to connect and communicate with Pachamama and the more than human beings that she nourishes. You will:
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·Travel to the Mountain for exploration and prayers
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Learn simple yet profound techniques to help you more easily hear the language of non verbal beings, including Heart Coherence, extra sensory perception, Grazing, and Earthing
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Experience communication with the Water People, Rock People, Animal People, Plant People, Tree People and the Mountain Herself
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Be transformed through earth based ceremony
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Feast in joyful communion in our Sacred Kitchen
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Make an alchemical sacred anointing oil that you’ll take home
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Enjoy lively discussions, laughter and heart-centered community connection
This will be a time of deeply connecting to oneself, the mountain, nature and the cosmic forces supporting our spiritual evolution. We live in a sacred world that is not just more complex than we think – it’s more complex than we can think. We’ll move out of the “thinking ball” on top of our bodies and settle deep into our hearts to learn a new language. We go to the mountain to listen. We go for new direction. We go to play. You’ll return home with a renewed sense of connection, gratitude, and deep appreciation for the unique and interconnected place you hold in life’s tapestry.
Lodging
Lodging opportunities at our retreat center include shared bedrooms in the main house, shared space in the smaller yurt (yurt spaces include a bed and curtains to separate your space from the rest of the yurt if desired), and “glamping” tent sites with two beds per tent. You might initially feel awkward about sharing sleeping rooms, but part of the weekend’s experience is to remember the gifts of community that come with sharing space in a world that supports increasing isolation. If you have a preference for a particular space, please indicate your preference when you register and we’ll do our very best to accommodate you. See slide show below for photos.
Things to Bring
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An item from your kitchen that has personal significance to you. These will be placed on our Sacred Kitchen alter, and you’ll take them home again at the end of the journey.
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A homemade gift for our giveaway. This could be a piece of art, a jar of jam, a poem – anything you’ve personally made with your hands and your heart.
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Folding camp chair and blanket for your outdoor comfort. The evenings can be chilly on the mountain in early October.
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Sunscreen
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Water Bottles. I recommend bringing extras to fill with fresh living spring water from the Sacramento River Headwaters so you can take some of this amazing water home with you.
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Paper or journal, with an extra pen.
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Drums, rattles, guitars, and other musical instruments – if you wish
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A walking stick (optional)
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A day pack
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Snacks or special foods you might need.
Meet Your Facilitators
Julie Caldwell, MA
Over two decades ago Julie opened the doors of Humboldt Herbals ~ a full service herbal apothecary located in the heart of the Redwoods on the pristine northern California coast. She and her staff of experienced herbalists now serve hundreds of community members each month who rely on Humboldt Herbals as a primary source of health care.
Originally from Alabama, Julie grew up with a plant talking granny, a pharmacist father, an artist mother, and loads of fiddle-playing, guitar picking relatives. Her first serious relationship with a plant began over 45 years ago at age 5, when she became great friends with a wild black cherry tree her granny called Crazy Doug. Julie’s “formal” education includes a BS in research psychology and biology, a MA in contemporary American poetry, and many, many herb classes including extensive studies with Pam Montgomery. The works of Pam, Stephen Harrod Buhner and Rosemary Gladstar have greatly influenced her herbal approach. She serves on the Visioning Council for the Organization of Nature Evolutionaries, and continues to enjoy a long history of spiritual exploration with wise ones from various traditions around the world.
Julie offers personal sessions, classes and herb walks in the Humboldt County area, and facilitates ongoing retreats in sacred Mount Shasta. To learn more about Julie’s classes, services, and herb shop, you can sign up for the Humboldt Herbals monthly newsletter at www.humboldtherbals.com.
Elyshia Holliday
In the spring of 2000 Elyshia left her thriving naturopathic practice in the Central Valley of California and moved to the mountains of New Mexico, where she co-founded a non-profit organization dedicated to healing the relationship between human beings and Mother Earth. She studied with many teachers and elders in the course of supporting this mission, who were called upon to guide and share their innate perspective of living as part of a whole earth system. Their wisdom and knowledge has had a profound influence on the way Elyshia views life, healing, and our basic guardianship of earth.
Growing up in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon created a unique opportunity to be close to the mountains, waters, trees and the wild in her everyday life. The quietness of the land allowed Elyshia to learn to listen to nature, to the wind blowing through the tall pines and currents of the river flowing across skin. It was good preparation!
Although it seems the most important things she learned came from elders, the cosmos and the Earth herself, Elyshia’s formal education includes a BS in Biology with concentrations in molecular biology and biochemistry as well as Master Herbalist, Master Iridologist and Naturopathy certificates from the School of Natural Medicine in Boulder, Colorado where she studied with Farida Sharan.
Julie and Elyshia at the Global Earth Repair Conference
Much of the work Elyshia has done and continues to do is centered around community group facilitation, sacred nourishment, and helping people expand their relationship with Mother Earth. Since 2016 she has initiated and been engaged with a multi year regeneration project focused on healing the human-land-water relationship, especially in relation to erosion, desertification and the balance of the masculine and feminine. Elyshia continues to contribute in New Mexico and is the Executive Director of O.N.E..
Deposit and Registration
Deposit of $150 holds your place (nonrefundable). We will email registration form after we receive your deposit. The remaining balance of the sliding scale you choose is due by August 25th. Please email info@natureevolutionaries with any questions.
Photos of Retreat Center and the Mount Shasta Area
- Hayes Mansion, San Jose California
- 200 Edenvale Ave
- San Jose, CA
- 95136
| At Science and Nonduality (SAND), preeminent scientists, philosophers, mystics and artists gather to explore and advance the new paradigm emerging in spirituality that is both grounded in cutting-edge science and consistent with the ancient wisdom of nonduality—the deep understanding of the interconnectedness of life.
To open the conference, Cynthia is excited to offer a teaching on Sacred Activism for the Great Turning; the Earth Treasure Vase Global Healing Meditation. Like acupuncture needles in the living body of the Earth, little holy vessels known as Earth Treasure Vases have been offered to Gaia to form a healing mandala of nodes and meridians imagined as a web of light to serve us as we awaken together into our own unique role in the great work of our time—to heal the web of life, restore balance and harmony, envision our world anew, and embody that vision with every fiber of our life force for the benefit of all. Charles Eisenstein’s excellent essay, Every Act a Ceremony, refers to the ETV practice. Charles will also be a speaker at SAND. October 23–27, 2019
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| ADDITIONAL LINKS |
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| Venue |
| Sponsors |
| Vendors |
| Conscious Technology Exhibitor |
| Media & Press |
| Volunteer |
| Apply for a Scholarship |
| Youth Program |
| Continuing Education |
| FAQ |
| Gallery 1 Gallery 2 |
For scientists, bonds and connections are essential to the working of the universe; for mystics, love is the ultimate principle. From the depths of physics to the delights of being human, relationships make life possible.
The mechanistic view of reality which sees the world as separate objects, separate individuals, communities and nations, has led to fragmentation in every aspect of life. We are now realizing that, from quarks to people, from gut bacteria to galaxies, it’s all about interconnectedness, cooperation, and symbiosis.
This year, SAND will be bringing together some of the brightest minds in science, along with spiritual teachers from various traditions and artists, in a quest to expand and deepen our understanding and experience of our relational nature through the two lenses of science and spirituality. We will explore and integrate our human knowledge and experience around the theme of relationships. We will inquire into the many scales of relationship we are part of, from microbes and bacteria to mushrooms and trees, to people and families, to galaxies and black holes.
At the end of the day, no matter how complex the field of study becomes, the innate intelligence and reflective nature of the universe shines through. Love is what breathes life into the equations; Love is the field in which the quarks and human beings relate.
We will meet you there.
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As of Aug 8, Hayes Mansion is sold out for the event dates.
See a list of alternative accommodations
Download the free SAND app
We’re excited to announce that Science & Nonduality Conference 2019 has a free, official app which you can Download and be able to:
– View the event agenda and plan your schedule
– Find someone to share a ride or a room
– Plan some social activities such as a morning run, city tour, or meet-ups with your fellow attendees.
– Receive updates such as last minute room change from the organizers
– Get presentation documents and slides
– Share photos and essential takeaway
Already used the Whova app in the past? Double-check that it is installed on your phone, and log in using your existing account email and password.
We look forward to seeing you soon at Science & Nonduality Conference 2019 !
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About this Event
????Festival of the Child is a completely FREE event and takes place ONLINE, from Nov 14th-20th, featuring experts and change-makers working tirelessly for the good of children everywhere.
????Supporting a paradigm shift in learning, we are reimagining education.
????Join us and add your voice to the collective.
????Learn directly from visionaries, storytellers, teachers, activists, doctors, psychologists and more to get the latest insights in how to grow today’s child for tomorrow and restore wellbeing now.
????So many of our children suffer from mental health issues that directly result from ways in which they are being educated and a system that is failing to look at their developmental needs.
????Learn tried and tested strategies that support YOUR child to grow up healthy, happy and full of hope for the future.
????Now more than ever we have an incredible opportunity to shift the learning paradigm into one that supports ALL of our children to truly thrive.
????It is time to be bold in our vision and brave in our footsteps as we re-imagine what learning looks like in the 21st century.
????We know that you want your children to grow up with a connection to themselves a strong sense of self and personal identity, empathy and care for others and full of creative solutions to transform humanity as this crucial time in our collective evolution.
????Come join the education revolution. Be heard. Have your say. Be a part of this important conversation.
????Completely free to sign-up. ????
But only available to registered participants.
Get your FREE eventbrite ticket then head on over to our website www.festivalofthechild.com to REGISTER.
It’s the only way to access the videos – as all links will be sent out by email.
Can’t wait to see you all on the other side!
ShaRon Rea
The Whole Family Coaching
480-420-9551
ShaRon@TheWholeFamilyCoaching.
www.thewholefamilycoaching.com
Join us in setting our intentions for healing in China and around the world. We will be meditating together for 7 days, through February 21 with Master Mingtong Gu.
February 15th – Saturday 11am Mountain Time
February 16th – Sunday 9am Mountain Time
February 17th – Monday 9am Mountain Time
February 18th – Tuesday 9am Mountain Time
February 19th – Wednesday 9am Mountain Time
February 20th – Thursday 9am Mountain Time
February 21st – Friday 9am Mountain Time
Want to continue meditating with Master Mingtong Gu?
Sign up for weekly meditations here.
Convert to your timezone here.
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Master Mingtong Gu
Master Mingtong Gu
Named Qigong Master of the Year by the 13th World Congress on Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mingtong Gu possesses a profound ability to harness energy in order to accelerate personal and global healing, making him a sought-after healer, practitioner, and teacher.
As a child growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution, Master Gu endured hunger, poverty, and a long separation from his birth family. Despite these incredible hardships, he became the first from his village to attend college, earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics followed by two master’s degrees, including an MFA from Ohio State University. As a graduate student in art, Master Gu discovered the treasures of his own culture through the spiritual iconography of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Western mystic traditions while practicing yoga, Tantric Buddhism, and qigong.
In 1997, Master Gu returned to China for qiqong training under Dr. Pang Ming, a qigong grandmaster trained in Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, and the founder of the world’s largest qigong hospital. During his training, Master Gu observed thousands of cases of chronic and “incurable” diseases being healed at this “medicine-less” hospital, which has now treated over 200,000 patients with over 185 different illnesses, with a 95 percent effective improvement rate.
Witnessing these profound healing experiences inspired Master Gu’s dedication to the teaching and practice of qigong healing, which he now teaches to thousands of people in the United States, China, and Europe through his workshops, books, and education programs. He created the Pure Qi Online series—a collection of courses which translate the ancient teachings of Wisdom Healing Qigong™ for contemporary times—and is the founder of the Chi Center and the Center for Wisdom Healing Qigong, a beautiful 79-acre resort located 20 minutes south of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Through practice, Master Gu has recovered from his own chronic conditions of asthma, scoliosis, back pain, and kidney weakness. His teaching emphasizes activating the power of inner self-healing, facilitating the release of chronic illness while improving health and well-being. Master Gu lives and teaches with his wife Linling, also a gifted healer, and their two children.
Linling Xie
Linling studied Zhineng Qigong at the medicine-less Qigong hospital in China under the guidance of Dr. Pang Ming. She is a gifted Wisdom Healing Qigong Teacher and Healer, offering private sessions while Healing Intensive Retreats are in session at the Center in Santa Fe.
40 Camino Vista Clara
Galisteo, NM 87540
Free LIVE Webinar
How to Shine Your Light to Co-create the World We Know is Possible
Wednesday, March 4 at 2:00 pm EST
- Courage: Courage to believe in your dreams . . . for yourself and for the Earth . . . even when appearances seemingly prove otherwise.
- Tools: Empowering practical tools that work. Tools that you help you stay calm, grounded, and centered, even when it can feel like the world around us is falling apart.
- Community: Connection to a community of like-minded visionaries who share your hopes, dreams, and visions. The kind of people who believe that together we can co-create a new world. In our lifetime.
- Why courage is an essential quality of all visionaries today and how to cultivate it on a daily basis to foster your dreams.
- 3 easy tools to help keep you grounded and centered so you can integrate this courage to help build your innate strength and resilience. One tool in particular focuses on building your heart’s resilience.
- Why connection to a community that shares your values is vital for visionaries.
2020
New York City at Sony Hall
Get ready to celebrate!
Join us in New York on March 9, 2020 as No Bully celebrates our partners and friends at our annual Broadway Against Bullying event. This annual one-night-only cabaret show, featuring stars from some of Broadway’s biggest musicals, benefiting No Bully’s mission to eradicate bullying and cyber-bullying worldwide.
Calling all New York area Friends who LOVE Broadway. March 9th: Broadway Against Bullying, a one-night-only cabaret featuring stars from some of Broadway’s biggest musicals. Lexi Lawson (Hamilton), Telly Leung (Aladdin) and Kevin Duda (Book of Mormon). A wonderful organization, committed to a kinder world, No Bully has teamed up with Broadway Stars,(Year 2) for an evening supporting bullying prevention school programs and positive action initiatives. Entertainment and Doing Good! Get your tickets for March 9: www.nobully.org/broadway2020 and join the movement to end bullying! #broadwayagainstbullying #nobully #bullying #kindevolution, #nobullyingperiod
IGNITING COMPASSION
Words that come to mind when describing our team include: compassionate, kind, inclusive, strong, and has a generosity of spirit.
Each one of us has our own personal story around bullying and we hold this work near and dear to our hearts. We are constantly trying to live out our mission on a day to day basis, both igniting compassion around the office and also the world!
No Bully takes a holistic approach to partnering with schools and districts by involving the administration, staff, parents, and students in the process.
FIND OUT MORE
No Bully is the most comprehensive professional development program proven to combat bullying and enhance school culture.
There are so many ways to become a part of No Bully’s mission to dramatically reduce bullying. Consider yourself invited to tell us how you’d like to connect.
Phone:
(415) 767-0070
Mailing Address:
No Bully
1012 Torney Ave
San Francisco, CA 94129
Take Action on National Refugee Shabbat
National Refugee Shabbat 5780, which will take place on March 20-21, 2020, is a moment for congregations, organizations, and individuals around the country to dedicate a Shabbat experience to refugees and asylum seekers.
Register: Learn more about how your community or group can participate at hias.org/nrs – it’s not too late!
There are also many ways individuals can take action for refugees and asylum seekers in the week leading up to National Refugee Shabbat, as well as on the actual Shabbat itself (in accordance with individual Shabbat practice). Feel free to share the list below widely with family and friends.
12 WAYS TO TAKE ACTION THIS NATIONAL REFUGEE SHABBAT
1. Advocate – Call your Member of Congress to ask them to stand for the rights, safety and dignity of refugees and asylum seekers.
2. Get Involved in the Election – Research the candidates running in local elections in your area, and let them know that the rights of refugees and asylum seekers are among your top priority issues this year.
3. Update Your Facebook Photo Frame – Show your support for refugees by updating your Facebook profile picture with the HIAS #JewsforRefugees frame. Click here for directions.
4. Join the “Jews for Refugees” Facebook Group – Joining this group is a great way to connect with thousands of other committed individuals across the country, access up-to-the-minute information about the Jewish response to the refugee crisis, and share the actions that you are taking. Click here to join.
5. Donate Your Miles to Asylum Seekers – HIAS has partnered with Miles4Migrants (M4M), a nonprofit charity dedicated to using donated frequent flyer miles and money for the relocation of refugees and those seeking asylum – including families recently separated at the U.S.-Mexico border. HIAS and Miles4Migrants (M4M) will work to identify refugees and asylum seekers who need assistance purchasing airfare to reunite with their families. Donate your frequent flyer miles here the week of National Refugee Shabbat.
6. Buy Refugee-Produced Goods – Support refugees and asylum seekers around the world and in your local community by buying refugee-produced goods and/or researching refugee-owned restaurants in your community and having a meal there. Check out this website to purchase goods made by a collective of African asylum-seeking women living in Tel Aviv, Israel.
7. Give Life to Refugees and Asylum Seekers – In the week leading up to National Refugee Shabbat, set up a Facebook fundraiser to benefit HIAS’ work.
8. Scholarships for Displaced Students – Research whether your local universities and colleges offer scholarships to refugees and asylum seekers. If not, reach out and ask them to consider starting such a program. Check out Columbia University’s program for an example.
9. Have A Difficult Conversation – Using the HIAS Conversational Guide for How to Talk About Refugees with Family and Friends, commit to having at least one conversation with someone in your life who has expressed concern about welcoming refugees to the United States or even someone who has made disparaging remarks about refugees or asylum seekers.
10. Light Shabbat Candles with Intention – As you welcome Shabbat on March 20, use this reading before lighting Shabbat candles to set an intention to stand with refugees and asylum seekers around the globe.
11. Host A Gathering In Your Home – Invite a small group of friends over to your home for Shabbat dinner or lunch or a havdallah (the ceremony for closing Shabbat) wine and cheese gathering. At the gathering, consider using the HIAS National Refugee Shabbat 5780-2020 Programming Content Resource. Use the text study on page 6 of this guide as a jumping off point for conversation, take a look at and discuss the refugee art on page 13 of this guide, or screen the movie suggested on page 14 and 15 of this guide.
12. Start A Book Club – Start a book club – for adults or young people – to read books by and about refugees and asylum seekers. Use this list as a jumping off point for suggestions or search google for even more ideas.
Community Resilience & COVID-19: A Community Discussion
Join us!
, Thursday, April 2, 2020
4:00pm – 5:30pm PST
5:00pm – 6:30pm MST
6:00pm – 7:30pm CST
7:00pm – 8:30pm EST
Learn about inspiring and impactful ways that
Transition Initiatives are responding to the pandemic
in their local communities,
Share your own ideas and experience with community responses
to COVID-19, and
explore how to deepen the resilience of your own community
during these challenging times.
In this virtual gathering, we’ll learn about:
Please register for free here through Zoom to receive a link to join. Limited to the first 100 people who sign up. If you sign up and then realize you cannot attend, please cancel your registration promptly using the link in your confirmation email it o make space available for someone else who is able to participate. Following these brief presentations, we will break into small group discussions to learn the nuts and bolts of these models, as well as how to implement them in our own communities. Organizer:
Marissa Mommaerts |
Earth Day Live will feature a three-day livestream where millions of people can join activists, celebrities, musicians, and more in an epic moment of community and hope for the future.
STRIKE, DIVEST, AND VOTE
FOR OUR FUTURE!
From April 22 – the 50th anniversary of Earth Day – to April 24…
The fights against the coronavirus and the climate crisis go hand-in-hand, and as we work to flatten the curve of this pandemic, we must strive toward the longer term goal of building a society rooted in sustainability and justice.
FIND A LOCAL LIVESTREAM
https://www.earthdaylive2020.org/
The Earth Day Live stream will be viewable on this website and will be the full user experience. In addition, it will be simulcast across major streaming platforms such as Facebook Live, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Twitch to engage with broader audiences. Partner organizations and an extensive network of major websites will be embedding the live stream as well.
PARTICIPANTS
Featuring Al Gore • Amanda Palmer • Amber Valletta • Angela Rye • Angelique Kidjo • Bill McKibben • Chef Alexandra Shrader • Chef Dominique Crenn • Daniel Fernandez • David Wallace Wells • DJ Spooky • Dr Michael Greger • Dr. Sweta Chakraborty • Ed Begley Jr. • Emily Wells • Ilyasah Shabazz • Jack Johnson • Jameela Jamil • Jason Mraz • Joaquin Phoenix • John Kerry • Kathryn Budig • Lil Dicky • Lisa Edelstein • Local Natives • Louie Schwartzberg • Luke Baines • Madame Gandhi • Margaret Klein Salamon • Mark Ruffalo • Mary Heglar • Matt McGorry • Megan Boone • Michael Franti • Moby • Monica Dogra • Mustafa Santiago Ali • Nahko the Bear • Ndaba Mandela • Patricia Arquette • Patrisse Cullors • Questlove • Rep. Lauren Underwood • Rep. Ted Lieu • Reverend Dr. William Barber II • Robby Romero • Rosanna Arquette • Secretary John Kerry • Sharon Carpenter • Shepard Fairey • Soul Clap • Stacey Abrams • Talib Kweli • The Both -w- Aimee Mann and Ted Leo • Tim Heidecker • Tony Revolori
And many more to be announced soon!
STRIKE – Earth Day and Youth Climate Strikes – April 22
On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we will demonstrate our collective power and unity through community building and storytelling. This first day will focus on amplifying the voice of indigenous leaders and youth climate activists who are leading the movement to halt the climate crisis
DIVEST – Divestment and Climate Financing – April 23
Led by Stop the Money Pipeline Coalition, during this day of action we are calling for a global reset. We want to reprogram the economy so that it works for people and the planet, not polluters and politicians.
VOTE – Voter Registration and Political Engagement – April 24
We need leaders who will address this existential threat. It’s critical for all of us to show up at the polls this year and vote for our future. So the final day will focus on the importance of voting through a nationwide youth voter registration day.
The US Climate Strike Coalition and Stop The Money Pipeline Coalition, who together are made up of over 500 organizations, have come together to organize Earth Day Live.
The US Climate Strike Coalition is a coalition of over 400 organizations that formed ahead of the September 20, 2019 climate strikes. Led by the leading youth-led climate organizations in the US, the coalition works intergenerationally and collaboratively to coordinate the Climate Strikes in the US.
Stop the Money Pipeline is a coalition of over 100 climate, environmental and Indigneous rights groups that is demanding that the financial sector stops funding the fossil fuel industry and deforestation, and starts respecting Indigenous sovereignty and human rights.
Global Online Release
INNER CLIMATE CHANGE documentary
Friday 24th April 2020
Watch the trailer
About INNER CLIMATE CHANGE
How do we navigate the intensity of emotions and reactions stirred up by climate change, or COVID-19 for that matter? How do we come to a place of peace, compassion, forgiveness and life-affirming action?
Both leading edge science and ancient wisdom traditions point us inwards for the answer.
In this documentary you will go with us on a journey to see how our inner climate relates to the topic of climate change. And how changing from within will create the change we need.
The INNER CLIMATE CHANGE documentary focuses on the very personal experiences, insights and responses to the climate crisis, of people who participated in the Climate Change and Consciousness conference (CCC19) held in 2019 at the Findhorn Ecovillage in the northeast of Scotland. Conference participants included 350 youngers and elders of multiple ethnicities and diverse genders from 45 countries.
Watch Parties and Sharing Circles via Zoom
We invite you to join us to watch the film together (60 minutes) followed by a post film sharing with break out groups to explore your inner response evoked by the film. Experience yourself in – and offer your listening to – a community of like-minded people all around the world.
Submit your email address to receive a reminder when the film is released and the Zoom link through which you can access the Watch Party and Sharing Circle of your choice.
You can also contact us by post:
Visitors Centre
Findhorn Foundation
The Park
Findhorn
Forres, IV36 3TZ
Scotland, UK
For general enquiries tel: +44 (0)1309 690311
Email: enquiries@findhorn.org
There are three opportunities to join a viewing party and 100 places available on each. You need to sign up to receive the Zoom link. You will be able to enter the Zoom room later if you have seen the film already before and don’t want to watch it twice.
-
- 24th April 2020 6pm-8.30pm BST
Hosted by Robin Alfred and Kosha Joubert, hosts of the CCC19 conference
7pm CET / 1pm EDT / 10am PDT / 3am AET (25th)
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- 25th April 2020 10am-12.30am BST
Hosted by Sue Miles, long term community member of the Findhorn Foundation.
11am CET / 5am EDT / 2am PDT / 7pm AET
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- 25th April 2020 7pm-9.30pm BST
Hosted by the film director Lorenz Gramann and Lucy Thomas: Findhorn community member and facilitator
8pm CET / 2pm EDT / 11am PDT / 4am AET (26th)
About the filmmaker
The man behind the INNER CLIMATE CHANGE documentary is the independent filmmaker Lorenz Gramann. This is Lorenz’s third feature-length documentary. His last one A New Story for Humanity has been seen over 200.000 times.
Lorenz’s background includes a variety of healing and psychotherapy modalities. He brings the sensitivity garnered in these fields to his film making. Since 2014 he has offered his skills in the northeast of Scotland and currently lives in the Findhorn Foundation Community.
Global Love Day
The Vision
We honor each May 1st as a symbolic day of unconditional love and call upon all people and all nations to gather together in the wisdom of peace and love.
Global Love Day is the universal recognition of our innate oneness through love. It is our vision to unite one and all in a celebration of love and compassion. Join people around the world in celebrating and expanding LOVE.
We are one humanity on this planet.
All life is interconnected and interdependent.
All share in the Universal bond of love.
Love begins with self acceptance and forgiveness.
With respect and compassion we embrace diversity.
Together we make a difference through love.
When we come from this limitless love we naturally and easily embrace ourselves and our fellow humanity. Opening our heart, we allow unconditional love to be our guide and compassion to be our gift to life.
We invite you to celebrate with us by consciously focusing on love and what it means to you throughout this day. We hope that by practicing love in all areas of your life, you will find it easy to love unconditionally all year long. Our main themes explain it best…”Love Begins With Me” and ‘Celebrating Our Humanity.”
Be a part of it. Spread the word. Share your love.
Think: Global Love Day;
Feel: Love Begins With Me;
Remember: May 1st
We Celebrate our Humanity
As we continue to connect with people and organizations around the world, we are amazed at how much is being done in efforts to positively assist humanity. There are so many wonderful people and associations that are actively working on behalf of a community, nation and even in global proportions.
As we often remind ourselves, what is presented by mainstream information sources is frequently a narrow and negative perspective of what is happening upon this planet right now. To the contrary, we see and know that good and right is occurring everywhere. Look for love and you will see it all around you.
This simple reminder changes the very nature of our experience. We are what we place our attention upon. When we allow love to be our focus of life, we expand this in our everyday activities. It is as simple as changing each perspective and allowing the negative and limiting views to be released and replaced by a higher, more loving understanding.
We appreciate and are grateful for the courage each of you express. In a world that has historically revered the negative and fear-based aspects, it takes strength to be and share love. It is time for love to become our common vision.
Please join us. Be a part of this global day by choosing love, compassion, peace, and unity. Share this information with your friends, relatives and coworkers. Love locally and spread it globally.
Participate
Our first Global Love Day was presented on May 1, 2004. A variety of celebrations and events were held by individuals and groups around the world that initial year and the day was recognized with over a dozen proclamations from prominent Governors, Mayors and Councils. Since then we have continuously expanded each year to include many more communities and nations and now have over 580 proclamations honoring the day with thousands participating individually and at events. We are into our second decade of sharing love and celebrating our humanity – will you join us?
We have a special section dedicated to Global Love Day here on our site filled with ideas of how you can get involved and host your own local event on May 1st. Follow the dropdown tab above and find some suggestions of how you can participate and also find examples of what other creative events have been held before. You can find our Global Love Day social site pages too.
Our annual Art, Essay and Poetry Invitational is held in conjunction with Global Love Day each year and encourages anyone young at heart to submit their art, essay or poetry based on the tenents and vision and theme of the day. See our Guidelines for more information on this special related program.
The Global Love Day Flyers have been translated in over 37 languages so far and all are available to download and print right from your desktop.
The Initial Vision
(An open letter from Founder Harold Becker in 2004)
The Love Foundation is delighted to announce the first annual GLOBAL LOVE DAY on May 1, 2004 with this year’s theme of Love Begins With Me. Join people from around the world as we acknowledge, celebrate and share the love we have within. This is a special day of recalling that love is the link that binds us all. It is also the awesome power that heals and transforms everything it contacts.
Each of us is a potent force of love when we allow this energy to express itself. There is nothing we have to ultimately do, rather we need only allow ourselves to feel and be love. It is that simple. Global Love Day is merely our way of saying let’s remember love is ours to be and to share every moment of our lives.
We understand this day is a symbol of what we can do every day of the year. Our intent is to join together in a conscious recognition that love is always present. For so many, love is often hidden under layers of hurt, trauma, drama, pain and suffering. Emotional memories, unspoken doubt, fear, resentment and a multitude of old beliefs often keep us from realizing these thoughts and feelings have no real power over us. We give them power by living in the past and being afraid of the future. We ignore the love that is present every moment while embracing limitation. It is time to change that. It is time to release ourselves from our own self created bondage.
You and I have the opportunity to make a difference. Together we can embrace our unlimited self, the part of us that knows love and expresses it naturally and simply. It is when we accept ourselves just for who we are that we transform the moment into peace, security, joy and love. This process begins with releasing our limiting beliefs, past mistakes, lack of self worth, pride and ego through the conscious act of forgiveness. It is up to us as individuals to undertake this journey. We begin the transformation when we turn within and accept our self. We change the world when we change our perspective.
As we come to know who we are and why we act and react the way we do, we start to see ourselves in the faces of humanity. The reflection of hurt is our hurt, their pain is our pain, another’s anger is our anger. It is also seen in the face of nature. Her destruction is our destruction. These seemingly random expressions are our past thoughts seeking manifestation. It is our constant reminder that love is the answer. We build a new reality in this current moment when we let go. When we choose love over fear, kindness over hate, integration over separation, and peace over war, we bring a new reflection to humanity… our loving selves.
So, please accept our invitation to love. Join us hand-in-hand as we share our love on this planet once again.
Love, light, and peace,
Harold W. Becker
Founder/President
Founder’s Address 2019
Welcome Dear Friends to Global Love Day 2019,
We join our hearts this day in celebration of life itself. Coming together around the globe, we unify our highest intention and collective potential, igniting the creative spark that lights our shared journey forward on this precious planet we call home. Realizing our magnificence as loving beings, each of us holds the key to our brightest futures. Compassion, kindness, joy and peace are our natural expressions when we recognize that love begins with me.
As one humanity on this planet, we have a common heritage and universal destiny. With each unfolding moment, we are comprehending the grandness of our personal and combined opportunities to evoke our heart-felt wisdom. It is a simple knowing that all life is interconnected and interdependent and our gift to the world is appreciating one another with grace and dignity.
We all share in the Universal bond of love and, from this essential understanding, we build fresh, new realities that infuse the very best of who we are. In this way, we consciously manifest for the greatest benefit of all. We begin with self-acceptance and forgiveness as the cornerstone to a foundation built solidly on love. This ensures we inspire, nurture, cultivate and express our dreams of a better world for our children and the earth herself.
There are infinite possibilities before us to explore as we walk in harmony with everyone and everything around us. It is with respect and compassion that we embrace diversity. We learn and grow through our countless interactions and expand far beyond the sum of our parts when we allow ourselves to evolve beyond our present perspectives. The majesty of life reveals itself within and about us when we open our hearts. Together we truly do make a difference through love.
With happiness, delight and love, I welcome you to our sixteenth Global Love Day celebration.
Love, light and peace,
Harold W. Becker
Founder and President
The Love Foundation
A welcome letter from the host…
Greetings friends…
We’ve all got to follow best practices for staying safe and taking care of each other during the pandemic. This online gathering is about best practices for your inner life.
How can you rest in your own presence and non-reactivity? How can you open in compassion and let your heart’s intelligence guide your actions? How can you stay open to your experience – not grabbing onto your emotion but not bypassing it either? How can your struggles deepen your practice and bring forward new capacities?
This Being & Doing gathering will give you a chance to hear from some extraordinary, open-hearted, generous mentors. The teachers will all be live – guiding practices, taking questions and joining with you in a supportive field of collective presence. Use this opportunity to help you stay open and free inside of yourself, to nourish your resilience, and to connect with a powerful community of like-minded souls.
Jeff Charno, Being & Doing Host
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You can use this Awakening in the Midst video collection right away.
From Loch Kelly, Craig Hamilton, Diana Winston, Caverly Morgan
These aren’t ordinary guided meditations. These four short programs lead you directly into natural awakened awareness – a state of flow and effortless presence. Clarifying this in yourself is life changing and it’s easier than you think.
PRACTICING IN THE MIDST is a free two-day LIVE online gathering bringing together ten extraordinary and generous teachers with a community of thousands of people. Challenging times can be a powerful catalyst for personal and collective evolution. Come join us in practice.
****************************************************************************************************
Awakening
You will learn to rest in your already awakened nature. A subtle shift opens you to freedom from the endless agitation of your mind. Touch into your deep heart and let it energize your actions.
Transformation
Inquiry, mindfulness, and radical acceptance can each open doorways into unseen dimensions of your soul. Release what isn’t serving you and let your true nature lead the day.
Connection
Feeling like separate beings is a mistaken perception. Our interdependence and connection, usually buried in the background, has become more palpable than ever. We’re in these lives
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Teaching Schedule for the Live Gathering
Talks, Practices and Q&A
MONDAY – May 11th, 2020:
MAY 11 @ 12:00 PM (ATWATER, UNITED STATES)
Effortless Mindfulness Teacher, Psychotherapist, and Author
“The important thing is to find the Self that has the capacity to bear what seemed to be unbearable, the self that can be present with all of our parts unconditionally.”
____________________________________________________________________
MAY 11 @ 1:30 PM (ATWATER, UNITED STATES)
Meditation Teacher, Nonprofit Leader, and Visionary
“If you meditate to be a better person, you’ll always be busy trying to be a better person. If you meditate because you are in love with resting in your own luminous infinite being, you’ll always be in love.”
_____________________________________________________________________
MAY 11 @ 3:00 PM (ATWATER, UNITED STATES)
Contemporary Meditation Teacher, Bestselling Author
“Fall in love with where you are. Turn towards this – a sacred moment, unrepeatable. Trust the ebb and flow of things. Say yes to uncertainty and the unresolvedness of your life.”
______________________________________________________________________
MAY 11 @ 4:30 PM (ATWATER, UNITED STATES)
Founder of the Diamond Approach To Self-Realization
“We are not separate. Our sense of separateness is superficial and exists only in the physical dimension. Every other human being is just as precious as we are, and worthy of as much respect and love and consideration.”
______________________________________________________________________
MAY 11 @ 6:00 PM (ATWATER, UNITED STATES)
Spiritual Teacher, Founder of Integral Enlightenment
“True meditation is about being fully present with everything that is – including discomfort and challenges. It is not an escape from life.”
______________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY – May 12th, 2020:
MAY 12 @ 12:00 PM (ATWATER, UNITED STATES)
Founder of Gateway, Spiritual Facilitator
“Do you know how to be quiet and let go, when life challenges you and brings you to the edge?”
______________________________________________________________________
MAY 12 @ 1:30 PM (ATWATER, UNITED STATES)
Wellbeing Research Professor, Director of Transformative Technology Lab
“The world’s largest scientific research project into fundamental well-being, sometimes called enlightenment, reveals the methods which actually work.”
______________________________________________________________________
MAY 12 @ 3:00 PM (ATWATER, UNITED STATES)
Author, activist, authorized Lama (Buddhist Teacher) and founder of Bhumisparsha Sangha
“Let your love be the container for anger and despair. Love will not dissolve them, but will offer enough space to not get lost in them.”
______________________________________________________________________
MAY 12 @ 4:30 PM (ATWATER, UNITED STATES)
Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA, Author
“Saying yes means surrendering to your experience, whatever it is. It means feeling your body when you’re in the midst of a strong reaction or emotion… and noticing that thoughts and feelings come and go.”
______________________________________________________________________
MAY 12 @ 6:00 PM (ATWATER, UNITED STATES)
Founder of Evolutionary Collective, Bestselling Author
“Right now, it feels more important than ever to come together and actively find our oneness, our goodness and our capacity to live a higher order of love as a social reality.”
______________________________________________________________________
Practicing in the Midst
Being & Doing is committed to creating opportunities for people to come together to practice, to celebrate community, and to recognize unending mystery and beauty (even when the sky appears to be falling).
Recordings of the live sessions will be replayed for 24-hours on Wednesday, May 13th, in every timezone.
You can also purchase the recordings for a small cost.
Being & Doing Sponsors
https://www.njjl.world/message-sharon
From Indigenous New England
 https://indigenous.boston |
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Oscar winner Wes Studi launched a new PSA raising awareness about the seriousness of COVID-19 in Indian Country. (courtesy photo)
ADDISON, Texas — From small-town Oklahoma native to internationally acclaimed actor and musician, Wes Studi forever changed a stereotype with his unforgettable performances in Dances with Wolves, The Last of the Mohicans, Heat and Avatar.
Now, he’s working on another mission.
Yesterday, the Cherokee citizen and legendary film star released a public service announcement (PSA) to raise awareness of the serious effects of COVID-19 in Indian Country and request widespread support for Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA) to ensure Native Americans are not left behind during the pandemic.
What sparked the PSA is a series of vital health issues happening in the wake of COVID-19, even with many stay-at-home orders in place. The risk of contracting the virus is higher among Native Americans due to overcrowded housing and high rates of diabetes, kidney disease and asthma. And despite more than 7,100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the Navajo Nation and other tribal communities, federal aid has been slow to arrive.
In his new PSA, the Oscar winner reminds the public of the need for immediate attention and charitable donations to PWNA, which has secured tribal clearances and follows CDC and tribal guidelines to continue delivering critical items, such as food, water, sanitizer and personal protective equipment (PPE).
For more information on the PSA, and to learn how to donate, visit NativePartnership.org/
“Every day, remote reservation communities face shortages of food, water and healthcare, and COVID-19 has magnified that reality,” said Joshua Arce, PWNA president and CEO. “Donations are critical now as we bring relief to under-resourced communities.”
Studi notes PWNA is a nonprofit he trusts. In 2019, they collaborated in a five-part Realities Video Series with Wes Studi that aimed to give an accurate portrayal of reservation life and dispels long-held myths that continue to impact Native communities.
The post Legendary Actor Wes Studi Urges the Public to Assist Indian Country Amid Pandemic appeared first on Native News Online.
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MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Learn how you can apply these teachings and help everyone you know to embrace a happier, healthier life even during times like these.
Learn how you can apply these teachings and help everyone you know to embrace a happier, healthier life even during times like these. Episode 3: Where Healing Comes From
May 23 – 9pm Eastern (USA)
Episode 4: Healing the Past, Healing the Future
May 24 – 9pm Eastern (USA)
Episode 5: Self-Love, Loving Others
May 25 – 9pm Eastern (USA)
Episode 6: The Body’s Wisdom
May 26 – 9pm Eastern (USA)
Episode 7: Love is Medicine
May 27 – 9pm Eastern (USA)
Join the Facebook Group
Stay up to date with all things Love is Medicine
Thursday, May 28, 2020 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM PDT
An Anishinaabe Prophecies, this time is known as the 7th Fire. The prophecy says that to move to the 8th Fire, we face a choice between two paths. One path is well-worn, scorched, and leads to our destruct.ion. The other path is new, green, and leads to Mino-Bimaadiziwin (the good life)
Join us as internationally-renowned activist and author Winona LaDuke – an Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe) member of the White Earth Nation – discusses how the pandemic provides us with an opportunity to walk a new path, taking care of each other, and our Mother Earth.
Crisis can bring out the best or the worst in communities. Winona will discuss what it’s going to take to herald in a restorative, regenerative, and just society, one where we appreciate each other, localize our economy, get cleaner, and healthier.
Let us put our minds and hearts together to make a good future for our children!
Winona LaDuke is one of the world’s most tireless and charismatic leaders on issues related to climate change, Indigenous rights, human rights, green and rural economies, food justice, alternative sources of energy, and the priceless value of clean water over a career spanning nearly 40 years of activism. She is Program Director of Honor the Earth, the founder of the White Earth Land Recovery Project, and Winona’s Hemp and Heritage Farm. A graduate of Harvard and Antioch Universities, she is the author of five books, including Recovering the Sacred, All our Relations and a novel, Last Standing Woman.
TICKETS ARE SLIDING SCALE $5 – $25 to benefit speakers and artists impacted by the cancellation of events due to the pandemic. All who register will receive a link to watch live or later at their own convenience.
Closed caption version will be available 3-4 days after the live event.
Eighth Fire Project:
We are lighting the fire.
Kind economy of the green path to Hemp.
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| Join the Next Pulse – SUMMER SOLSTICE Sunday, June 21st at 12pm PT, 3pm ET, 7pm GMT Timezone ConverterThis month’s theme: Celebrating Our Coherence Featured Organization: Earthdance Global Featured Musician: Miranda Macpherson
Followed by the Earthdance ConcertReserve My Space
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The 8th Annual Children’s Global Wave Of Love
June 21 at 1:11 pm in your heart and time zone.
We collectively come together to cultivate and
send forth our mission
“Children Across the Planet in Love, Care, and Respect.”
Since everyday is children’s day, we create a year-long, free, activity platform for children, families, communities, schools, organizations and YOU to empower
heart space and help transform the world!
Our Mission Statement: Our mission is to provide complete and total support to all children with an entire month of activities that enhance all aspects of a child’s life.
