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Below is a journal of leadership activities in Arizona for the past several months:
Nov. 6, 2003: meet with Ray and Lyn Madaghiele, of Transformational Learning Center, who cycled over 3000 miles for peace across the US in 2002. www.cycling4peace.com Former Scottsdale Councilwoman, Cynthia Lukas, also joined us. She is currently running for Mayor of Scottsdale.
Nov. 7, 2003: Terri Mansfield, Shirley Catanzaro, Caitlin Flaherty, Janice Sharples, and Maria Carnevale attended the 1st Arizona State University "Conflict Transformation" workshop. 160 professors and practitioners spent the day in workshops and dialogue sharing various ways of practicing mediation and nonviolent conflict resolution in Arizona. More info can be found at http://conflict.asu.edu and at the end, there is a nice "plug" for our "Paving the Highway to Peace" Dec. 7 event.
Nov. 9, 2003: Dialogue for Peace at Valley UU (Unitarian Universalist) Church in Chandler, AZ. Our host Hugh McCutchen, is now our webmaster for our soon to be released state website. Joining Shirley and Terri were Janice Sharples and Maria Carnevale and several members of the Valley UU congregation, who signed up as DOP activists.
Nov. 13, 2003: Shirley and Terri met with Karen Zabor, who with her husband Dave, are active members and directors of AIPER, Arizona Institute of Peace Education Research. www.AIPER.org
Nov. 14, 2003: Terri & Shirley collaborate with Hugh McCutchen and Kelly Rein, our new webmasters and graphics experts. Teri Radosovich also donates her time and talents graphically to our flyers and brochures.
Nov. 19, 2003: Janice, Maria, Shirley and I met at Rep. Jeff Flake's Mesa, AZ, office with Eric Mason, constituent liaison. Eric was most interested i n the DOP Campaign, and promised to share our updates with Rep. Flake. (R-6th, AZ) This is the 4th meeting we have had with Rep. Flake's assistants in the last 9 months. We look forward to meeting directly with Rep. Flake soon.
That afternoon, we held a business lunch at Terri's home with Shirley Catanzaro, Dave Kaler, and Cathy Trotta: we are the 4 Arizona regional coordinators for the DOP Campaign.
Nov. 20, 2003: Dialogue for Peace at Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church in Paradise Valley, AZ. Terri & Shirley shared the DOP story with Rev. Peggy Roberts and several seniors who meet once a month. We were invited to stay for a delicious lunch.
Nov. 21, 2003: Shirley, Terri and Norma Casey met with Ken Aiello at the AZ State Capitol. Ken is a young man who works in the Governor's Office for Children, Youth, and Families. Ken is a Youth Engaged in Service (YES) Ambassador, and is a shining example for all the youth in Arizona.
Nov. 24, 2003: Terri, Caitlin, Maria, and Janice met with Tom Ambrose, Senior Vice-president of the Phoenix Suns NBA team. Tom is in charge of PR, and told us some of the ways the Suns' organization makes a difference in our community. We look forward to a peaceful partnership with the Suns management. That afternoon, Terri met with Hannah Assadi, teen president of the Arizona chapter of Seeds of Peace. www.seedsofpeace.org This is a global youth organization devoted to bringing young people from war-torn areas together in peace and nonviolence. Hannah spoke at our Dec. 7th event, Paving the Highway to Peace.
Nov. 29, 2003: Terri, Rommy Banaczszyk, Susan Seats and Jenny Dickason met for coffee with Kathleen Oweegon, of Santa Fe, NM. Kathleen and Debra Oliver are the NM DOP directors, and are very involved with the State Legislature and with mediation with the Police Dept.
Nov. 30, 2003: Terri represented the DOP at the Arizona Social Change Fund brunch and meeting. Nonprofit groups are awarded grants for their work in the community. $7500 was given to Arizona Citizens Action for its Prescription Drug Crisis Project. The next meeting is Feb. 29, 2004: we meet on the 5th Sunday of any given month at the beautiful home of Mike and Janet Valder.
Dec. 2, 2003: Terri, Shirley, Caitlin, Rommy, Maria, Janice met with Dr. Jess Alberts, Director of College of Public Programs, Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. Dr. Alberts coordinated the Conflict Transformation workshop we had attended on Nov. 7 (see above). We DOP activists hope to collaborate with Dr. Alberts and ASU in the creation of an Arizona Prep Peace Academy.
Dec. 3, 2003: Terri and Shirley met with Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, MD, to tell him about the DOP Campaign, and about our efforts in Arizona to educate people about this bill in Congress. Dr. Jasser is the American Islamic Forum for Democracy chairman.
Dec. 7, 2003: Shirley, Terri, Jenny, Rommy, Susan, Caitlin, Maria, Lianne, Kasandra, Dianne, Norma, Bob, Dave, and so many AZ DOP volunteers, hosted our first "Paving the Highway to Peace" event. 28 men and women from all over Arizona shared their vision of peace through talk, song, games, prayers. It was not a fundraiser; it was a special day to network and educate and connect in Phoenix's beautiful South Mountain Park. When we do #2 this year, it WILL be a fundraiser for the national and state DOP Campaign. (See our Dec. 11, 2003, email summary of this magical event.)
Dec. 16, 2003: Rommy and Terri were invited to be on local Polish radio (1100 AM, KFNX) to talk about the DOP and our mission and objectives. Rommy is a wonderful translator, and we were happy to make this international connection.
Dec. 22, 2003: Terri represented the DOP at the AZ State Capitol when Rep. Dennis Kucinich (author of the HR 1673 DOP bill in Congress) arrived to file his papers to be in the Feb. 3, 2004, Arizona Presidential Preference Election.
Dec. 31, 2003: Terri & Shirley's DOP guest commentary was printed in the weekly valleywide Independent newspapers.
Jan. 10, 2004: Dialogue for Peace at Shadow Rock Congregational Church, Phoenix. Caitlin, Rommy, Terri, Beverly, Dianne were joined by 6 men and women who were refugees from war-torn areas of Africa (Cameroon, Namibia, Sudan, Burundi) and Afghanistan, and now live in the Phoenix area. Jeanne, Rosa, Andrew, Geoffrey, Cecilia and Said shared their courageous stories of leaving their ravaged countries to resettle here. They are so happy that there is a DOP Campaign, and have signed up to be Arizona activists for peace. What an honor to have them join our cause.
Jan. 13, 2004: Shirley and Terri met John English, a shaman and author, who wrote a book called "The Shift: An Awakening". He included the Dept. of Peace in his book, before he knew anything about our DOP Campaign! www.dtpublications.com
Jan. 14, 2004: Terri and Shirley met with Susan Levine, Director of Hospice of the Valley here in Phoenix. HOV is the largest nonprofit hospice in the US. (Terri has been an HOV volunteer for 9 years.) Susan expressed great interest in the DOP campaign, and offered helpful suggestions for networking. www.hov.org
Jan. 15, 2004: Terri and Joyce Buekers met with Vernon Swaback and Tricia Adams, to discuss creative communities that Vernon wants to build around the world, starting here in AZ. Vernon is an architect trained by Frank Lloyd Wright. www.swabackpartners.com Tricia is a banker and technology expert who has gathered her resources to open a charter school, Starshine Academy, in one of the most challenging sections of Phoenix. Her K-12th grade students are all from very troubled homes, and their lives have been turned around with this school. www.starshineacademy.org Tricia also supports and promotes Rosie's House, where disadvantaged and homeless children learn how to play musical instruments: their lives are trasformed through music. www.rosieshouse.org We hope to collaborate with Tricia on a joint AZ DOP / children's initiative for peace.
Jan. 17, 2004: Shirley was notified that she will have her own weekly radio show in Fountain Hills, AZ., KFHX, 1620 AM, and www.kfhx.org on the Web. More to follow soon. Congratulations, Shirley!
Jan. 18, 2004: Terri was invited by the Scottsdale Center for the Arts to bring her Peace Pole to the Sunday A'Fair honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, and explain how it is a global educational tool for peace.
Jan. 19, 2004: Terri & Shirley joined thousands of men, women, and children walking peacefully in the annual Phoenix MLK March for Justice. We carried our DOP banner and networked with wonderful people.
We then were invited to the annual Town of Paradise Valley Martin Luther King Day Celebration co-hosted by the Baha'i Community of Paradise Valley. Entertainment was provided by the Eternal Flame Baha'i Youth Workshop, and by singer Nancy Carpa. Calvin Terrell was the keynote speaker. His business focuses on diversity training, conflict resolution, motivational speaking, and team building empowerment for organizations, educators, and all students. Rabbi Albert Plotkin received the Town of Paradise Valley Diversity Champion Award. We were blessed to sit with Rabbi afterward at lunch, and he regaled us with stories of his 83 years of his life of peace and justice. The Paradise Valley Baha'i Community generously catered the delicious lunch for all of us.
January 22: Shirley and Terri visited Esperanza Academy in Phoenix, a Montessori-like school, K-12, which is like a mini DOP. www.espiritu.org When Heather Devich and JoDene Tryon and others actualized their vision 12 years ago, the future school grounds had been a tire dump; now it is an oasis of learning for 800 children during the day, and for adults at night. The students are learning sustainable living, and there is a passionate energy that envelopes Esperanza, "hope".
January 26: Dialogue for Peace at the Glendale home of Chris Dove. Shirley, Caitlin, Norma, Emy and Terri joined Chris to update our DOP information and to share ideas for future events.
January 27: Shirley, Terri, Joyce, Heather, Rommy, and several other women met at Trish Adam's StarShine Academy in Phoenix, www.StarShineacademy.org Tom Sullivan, Advocate for the SBA (Small Business Administration) in Washington, was in town and wanted to meet with Phoenix female leaders and small business owners. www.sba.gov/advo Mike Hull, the SW regional SBA Advocate, also attended. We articulated the fact that the implementation of the DOP will have a huge economic impact on large and small businesses as violent crime rates go down in society.
Jan. 31: Terri & Shirley drove 2 hours from the mild Phoenix desert to the snowy Flagstaff mountains to meet with DOP regional coordinator Cathy Trotta and the 5 Peace Walkers: Jonathan Meier, Tom and Tak Shmitz, Clara Wilson, Amy Kaplan at the Federated Community Church. The Peace Walkers shared their amazing journey across the US: from Maine starting last Oct. 17, to ultimately finishing their walk in San Francisco on Feb. 29, 2004. http://oneplanet.us/walk/ We talked about the DOP and how people can help; Terri brought her Peace Pole and explained the significance of PPs on the planet, and Shirey talked about her buttons "We are all one family; all one people of the Earth"; Cathy talked about Peace and the environment.
Feb. 2 & 3: Terri & Shirley drove to Sedona where we met up with the PeaceWalkers again and many wonderful Arizonans; we gave 2 more Dialogues for Peace: one at Devi Yoga and one at Verde Valley School. http://www.vvsaz.org/ We had a wonderful dinner at the home of Karen Miller and Eric Dixon. Jeremy, Julie, Marty, Lianne, Cathy, Charles, Rita, George and Glen also participated in various events. We learned about Pash Galbavy's fabulous project: Face Up to Peace.
The Peace Walkers spent Feb. 2 walking to various polling places in Sedona, as that was Arizona's Presidential Preference Democrat primary. Support was strong for Dennis Kucinich for President, also known as the "peace candidate", and the Congressman who introduced his DOP / HR1673 legislation in the House on April 8, 2003.
Feb. 4-5: 3 of the Peace Walkers, Clara and Tom and Tak, drove back to Phoenix with Terri and Shirley, and spent 2 nights at Terri and husband Mike's home. Tom's mouth felt much better after Dr. Mike pulled a "hot" tooth! Tracy Kurtinitis of the Scottsdale Tribune came over to the house and wrote a great story about Tom, Tak, and Clara which appeared in the Feb. 29 paper. Then they were on their way by Greyhound bus to Palm Springs, CA, where they resumed their walking to San Francisco.
Feb. 5: attend Vernon Swaback's "Creative Community" talk to several guests at his Scottsdale office. http://www.swabackpartners.com/IE/spIndex.htm Vern studied for years with Frank Lloyd Wright, at both Taliesens...in Wisconsin and Scottsdale. His vision is to build Creative Communities all over the world, incorporating beauty, arts, music, nature, peace, StarShine Academies, hospice, birthing centers, homes, caring and sharing.
Feb. 7: Shirley and Terri were guests on Mike Schoen's Saturday afternoon radio show, "Weird Week in Review", on 1100 AM, KFNX talk radio in Phoenix. http://www.nabcinc.com We carried on a lively discussion about the DOP, and several callers had amazingly diverse comments and questions. This was great practice for us, and we appreciate Mike's invitation to be guests on his show.
Feb. 8: Shirley and Terri had a conference call with Matthew and Lynn from DOP national. www.thepeacealliance.org/ We called several GRA / DOP friends in AZ, NM, and CA to bring people up to date on the GRA / DOP, and ask them about fundraising and contributions.
Feb. 10: Terri called the Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kansas, and spoke with a nice archivist also named "Dwight", who was kind enough to do a bit of research on a book mentioning a secretary of peace..(which Terri read about in an email from Dr. Robert Mueller several months prior). Sure enough, the book is titled "Eisenhower: Turning the World Toward Peace", written by Harold Stassen and Marshall Houts. Stassen was a close advisor to Pres. Eisenhower who personally selected him to be his cabinet level "advisor for disarmament and peace", nicknamed by the Press as the Secretary for Peace. (Chapter 19, pp.275-291) What a wise President to set the tone for the current DOP HR 1673 legislation now in Congress.
Feb. 12: Shirley, Joyce, Kathy, Trish and Terri attended the White House Faith Based & Community Initiative workshop in the Phoenix Civic Center. www.fbci.gov 1500 people from all over the US attended this 1 day free event. Governor Janet Napolitano and Mayor Phil Gordon welcomed all 1500 of us from across the US. Jim Towey is the Director of the White House Office of FBCI, and surprised many in the audience by stating that he is a pro-choice Democrat, who worked with Mother Teresa for 12 years in India. Jim stated that "this gathering unites Democrats and Republicans, it is not about politics". Although the AZDOP is not a faith based initiative, it IS a community based initiative, which is why we were there. Part of the conference was about ways to obtain grants for nonprofits in the community. We each attended a different workshop, and consolidated our experience afterwards over lunch. We met with wonderful national government employees and local activists. It was a perfect opportunity to network about the DOP and hand out our cards.
Feb. 14: Shirley began yet another career as the host of her Saturday Internet radio show: "Imagine" on www.kfhx.org Each week Shirley and her guest/guests "Imagine" something like ...peace / DOP with Terri, ...everything with Mike, ...conflict resolution with Dianne, ...grace with Samarah, ...happiness with Glenn, ...perception with Tracy and Andy, etc. Please tune in on Saturdays, 2-3pm Mountain time, and Imagine your own...possibilities.
Feb. 17: Terri & Shirley met with Sherry Lund, CEO of Character Education, USA. We intend to work together with town councils throughout the Valley to demonstrate how easy it is to cultivate peaceful character education in the workplace and in schools.
Feb. 20-21: Susan Seats represented the DOP at LocalToGlobalJustice workshop at Arizona State University in Tempe. She learned new information on how to be effective lobbyists. www.localtoglobaljustice.org
Feb. 25: 10 of us DOP advocates met in Congressman John Shadegg's (R-AZ 3rd) Phoenix office with staff Bruce Raden and Birgitte Santaella for 2 hours. Joyce, Rommy, Susan, Trish, Susan, Geoffrey, Mike, Eric, Jeremy, and Terri presented our DOP format passionately and pragmatically. Bruce and Birgitte are gracious and excellent listeners, with thoughtful questions. The follow-up letter from Congressman Shadegg thanked us for our visit, although he believes that the State Department covers the peace issues. We will continue to request a personal meeting with the Congressman to dialogue with him about the future role of the cabinet level Department of Peace.
Feb. 27: Shirley and Terri drove 2 hours north to cold and snowy Prescott. We were invited to talk about the DOP to Prescott College students and faculty by Professor Ellen Abell. Joining us were Barb, Cathy and George. We sat in circle, and shared what peace means to each of us. How wonderful to see the big Peace Pole outside the window. The discussion was animated, and we look forward to returning to the campus soon. It was a treat for us desert dwellers to drive through a blizzard on our way back to Phoenix.
Feb. 28: Core AZDOP group meeting with Shirley, Susan, Janice and Terri in Scottsdale. We talked about past events, future plans, and enjoyed being present in each others' company.
Feb. 29: Rommy and Terri represented the DOP at the Arizona Social Change Fund brunch, hosted by Janet and Mike Valder. This gathering is held on the 5th Sunday of the month, and a grant is awarded to various nonprofit organizations. This day the $10,000 grant went to the AZ Death Penalty Forum, which focuses on ending the death penalty here in AZ.
Every Sunday in February, Caitlin and Beverly represented the DOP at Rev. Michelle Medrano's Church of Religious Science in Scottsdale. The church participates in the Season for NonViolence, a national 64 day educational, media and grass roots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. http://www.gandhiinstitute.org/snvgenrep02.html
The 64 days are between January 30 and April 4, the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.
March 3: Rommy and Terri meet with Shari Varah, who talked with us about creative ways that the AZDOP / DOP can be supported by the business that she and her husband own. (American Business Card)
March 6: Our monthly Dialogue for Peace at Shadow Rock UCC was attended by 12 of us: Caitlin, Beverly, Geoffrey, Michelle, Judy, Eric, Dianne, Janice, Dee, Christy, Shirley and Terri. More and more people throughout this Valley hear about the DOP, and come to not only hear our stories, but to share theirs. This movement is growing so beautifully. http://www.shadowrockucc.org/
March 10: we stopped by Sen. John McCain's office to share hugs with the staff (which we do often) and volunteered to take Sen. McCain's petitions to our Republican and Independent friends to sign. In Arizona, our Senators must have 5000 signatures to put their name on the ballot every 6 years. We have told all our Congressmen and Senators' staffs that we will support them in areas about which we are mutually passionate. (We will address this further below when we tell you about John English's novel, "The Shift: an Awakening").
March 12: Susan, Rommy, Shirley, Annie, Glenn, Riad, Janis, Terri met at Trish Adams' StarShine Academy in Phoenix to discuss a gala fundraiser we are planning which will benefit 10 new StarShine Academy charter schools in the Phoenix area. Our AZDOP group is partnering with Trish and StarShine to demonstrate how peace and education will impact economies in every country on Earth.
March 14: We mention the all day Spiritual Cinema workshop in Scottsdale and the movie "INDIGO" because ending violence in the media is such an important part of the DOP legislation. Several of us AZDOP activists attended, including Rommy, Dave, Diane C., Diane and Jim L., Chris, BJ, Margaret, Megan, etc. Stephen Simon, Neale Donald Walsch and James Twyman produced, wrote, directed and acted in the movie "Indigo" filmed last year near Ashland, Oregon. It is about families, forgiveness, choices we make, and the incredible children on Earth at this time. www.indigothemovie.com Spiritual Cinema is a concept whose time has come...to discuss the spirituality of movies, and to demand that more of these movies be made. www.movingmessagesmedia.com Thanks to Liz Dawn and her mom Ariel, for sponsoring this workshop. www.MishkaProductions.com The local Arizona chapter of Spiritual Cinema will have our first meeting on April 2, 2004, at the Tempe Quaker meeting hall. http://www.tempequakers.com/ under the guidance of Randall Libero.
March 16: Shirley, Trish, Rommy and Terri attended the International Women's Day luncheon at the Phoenix Civic Center with 1000 other guests. The guest speaker was Laura Liswood, co-founder of the White House Project, www.thewhitehouseproject.org http://www.womenworldleaders.org/members/laura_liswood.htm
Laura has interviewed all 16 living female current and past leaders of various countries. The question is why are there not more female leaders on the planet? When we introduced ourselves to Laura afterward, she was thrilled to know that we are working on the DOP Campaign. Since Terri always has her camera handy, we have a wonderful photo of us with Laura.
March 17: Samarah, Shirley and Terri joined Joyce for another informative talk at architect Vernon Swaback's office. It is so reassuring to hear civic leaders tie the DOP into their endeavors. Vernon salutes StarShine Academy and local birthing centers and hospice and the DOP as being the some of the bridges, the noble and wise pillars for his global Creative Communities of beauty, nature, living, learning and sharing.
March 18: Shirley and Terri attended the Scottsdale Republic newspaper forum with Sen. John McCain. Sen. McCain was asked many questions, including some from the audience. He answered Shirley's question about supporting a DOP in a way that made us think he wanted to say so much more, but that would happen at a later date. When Sen. McCain answered his critics about his Immigration bill, he asked them to work with him if they disagree with certain aspects of the bill, which is exactly what we ask our elected officials to do with us in regards to the DOP legislation...work with us. Sen. McCain defended his friendship with Sens. Kerry, Lieberman and Edwards, and said that both parties have got to stop the attack mode that has become so common. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/northeastvalleyopinions/articles/0322 sr-pop22.html
We feel intuitively that Sen. McCain may be key to introducing the DOP bill in the Senate.
March 24: Terri and Shirley had a spirited dialogue with our friend, former Councilwoman Cynthia Lukas, who ran for Scottsdale mayor a few weeks ago, and will not be in the May run-off. Cynthia discussed the lessons she learned and both the positive and negative aspects of the campaign. Cynthia is a model of the new spiritual politician; she focuses on inclusivity, and reaching out to everyone. She walks her talk. We see her at the national level politically in the near future.
http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special14/articles/0119sr-vote19lukasZ8-C P.html
March 25: Shirley and Terri meet with Annie Loyd, whose Magnet Consulting, Inc. company focuses on funding, ideas, strategy and policy.
March 26: National DOP volunteer coordinator Lynn McMullin called Shirley, Terri and Marcy Weale www.wealeworks.com to begin planning our Arizona DOP teach-in and fundraiser, set for June 5, in Mesa, AZ, at Marcy's beautiful facility. We will keep you posted as plans unfold. We are so grateful for Lynn's and Marcy's offer to be part of this amazing opportunity for Arizona DOP supporters. Save June 5: 9am to 5pm!
Also...
March 26: Terri & Shirley met for the second time with author John English, in his north Phoenix home. John has written an electrifying novel based on a vision he experienced a few years ago. "The Shift: An Awakening", www.dtpublications.com The story begins in the midst of the 2000 US presidential election, and ends during the November 2004 election. The protagonist, Scott Stahl, is a frustrated patriotic grass roots activist, and creates the Centrust Party. Its mission statement calls for: complete campaign finance reform, a progressive flat tax, funding research for alternative energy sources, higher pay for teachers, preserving social security, legalizing industrial hemp to replace paper, promoting forgiveness and choosing not to attack political opponents, and closing the loopholes that prevent true environmental protection. The character of Sen. John McCain plays a major role in the novel, much of which takes place in Arizona. The Centrust presidential and vice presidential candidates are surprising choices. This novel is peacefully empowering, spiritually pragmatic and full of hopeful promise. It shows what a small group of passionate citizens (like all of us DOP volunteers!) can do to help heal America. We urge you to read this novel, and spread the word.
March 27: Terri met with friend and community activist Pat Hoover and Mary Thomson, the Governor's Director of Women's Affairs in Arizona. Mary's work in regards to dealing with domestic violence has special significance for our DOP efforts. Also... March 27: Terri brought her Peace Pole for a "trial run" to the newly planted Peace Garden at StarShine Academy. Community volunteers, students and friends helped Trish Adams and Heather Devich create an organic garden that all the students will nurture and maintain. A permanent Peace Pole will be "planted" there on Sept. 21, the International Day for Peace, during festivities that are now being planned.
March 28: Shirley and Terri facilitated a Dialogue for Peace at the West Valley Unitarian Universalist church in Glendale, AZ. Joining us were Darnell, Christie, Dee, Lucy, Barry, and Bob...who were all happy to learn more about the DOP and AZDOP Campaigns. www.wvuu.org
March 29, 2004: We talked with Paula Christine in New York, the "Peace Pal" coordinator for the NGO World Peace Prayer Society, www.worldpeace.org (the parent group of the Peace Poles). Peace Pals is a program designed to help young people ages 5-15 to become peacemakers dedicated to living in the spirit of the words "May peace prevail on Earth."
March 30, 2004: We met with Roselyn O'Connell, past president of National Women's Political Caucus, www.nwpc.org co-founded by Gloria Steinham in 1971. Roselyn is running for Congress in District 5 in Arizona. www.roselyn2004.com Roselyn supports strong education, a strong economy, government efficiency, clean energy technology, and a balanced budget, and is very interested in the DOP concept.
April 4, 2004: The Miller / Dixon family and DOP advocates invited us to join them for a gala dinner and fundraiser at the Sedona Hilton Hotel to celebrate Gardens for Humanity founder Adele Seronde. www.gardensforhumanity.org Adele and her supportershave built or helped to fund 25 gardens in 5 states for people in need at schools, healing facilities, urban neighborhoods and Native American reservations. Many volunteers create community through gardens and art. Also honored this night was Lily Yeh www.villagearts.org . Lily is an artist who helped create an Eden in one of Philadelphia's most challenging areas. She exemplifies a beautiful love for children and all of humanity.
April 6, 2004: great monthly DOP / GRA conference call with Marianne Williamson and Lynn McMullin and Matthew Albracht. www.renaissancealliance.org and www.thepeacealliance.org/ We all celebrate our new 501(c)4 NAPA: North American Peace Alliance.
April 11, 2004: Terri was invited to be on ABC-15 news at 8 am for a 6 minute chat with reporter Lisa Fletcher about the DOP Campaign, sandwiched between Sam Donaldson and George Stephanopolous...a nice Easter touch of peace. http://www.abc15.com/15links/index.asp?d=4/30/2004
April 13, 2004: We drove from Phoenix to Tucson to join with Dave Kaler (S. Arizona DOP regional coordinator) , Del Jones, and other DOP advocates attending Mel Duncan's talk of and fundraiser for the Nonviolent Peaceforce. www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org ) Mel's group is empowering and supporting villagers in Sri Lanka, the same way our future Peace Academy graduates will be working globally for nonviolence after they graduate. What turned Mel's heart around many years ago when he started this work, was the words of a Sufi teacher, "Your job is to enter the heart of your enemy." Mel's own son is serving in our military in Iraq right now.
April 14, 2004: We had a very positive 90 minute talk with legislative liaison Todd Jorns in Senator John McCain's Phoenix office. http://mccain.senate.gov/ Brownies were a big hit! We continue to request a personal meeting with Sen. McCain to urge him to introduce the DOP legislation in the Senate.
April 15, 2004: Trish Adams invited us to participate in StarShine Academy's 1st "100th Monkey" board meeting. www.StarShineacademy.org ) This is a new paradigm involving 100 community leaders serving on just one board which will impact many organizations such as: AZDOP Campaign, StarShine Academy, Creative Communities, United Nations Childrens' Association ( www.unchildrenassn.org ), etc.
Then we spoke at Rommy Banaszczyk's International Ladies' Group monthly meeting about the DOP and its impact nationally and globally. The members of this group truly are a global community now living in Scottsdale. They represent England, Brazil, Hong Kong, Poland, Greece, Taiwan, etc.
April 16, 2004: Cathy Trotta (N. Arizona DOP regional coordinator) invited us to attend the annual DNA Dinner (Democrats of Northern Arizona) in Flagstaff and met wonderful people, including AZ Attorney General Terry Goddard, well known politician Diane Prescott, and 94 year old Frances McCallister who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her peace activism.
April 17, 2004: Dianne Moore helped us to host our monthly Dialogue for Peace at Shadow Rock United Church of Christ in Phoenix. Members from Unity of Phoenix www.unityphoenix.org told us of their Peacemakers Outreach projects and hope to include the Department of Peace in their activism.
April 18, 2004: Caitlin Flaherty, Cynthia Lukas, and Pennie McGee (from Oregon!) joined us as we were invited to speak about the DOP at AIPER's celebration, "United for Peace". (Arizona Institute for Peace Education and Research) www.aiper.org
We were part of a panel of Arizona peace activists who explained our missions and strategies, with proposals for expansive and cooperative action. Other participants were: Arizona Alliance for Peaceful Justice (AAPJ), Arizona Ecumenical Council Peace Coalition, Arizona Social Change Fund, Citizens for Global Solutions, Coalition for Peace and Justice, Local to Global Justice, United Nations Association, Women in Black.
April 21, 2004: We attended Ralph Nader's talk at Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, AZ. Ralph spoke for about 45 minutes, then answered questions. We asked him if he would support a cabinet level Department of Peace and he answered "absolutely, we should have had it in place a long time ago." Then he elaborated more on the Iraq, Afghanistan and Israeli crises. We also networked on behalf of the DOP with several citizens who attended.
April 24, 2004: At 7 am, we walked in downtown Phoenix for the second annual Walk to End Domestic Violence sponsored by the Arizona Republic newspaper. We carried our DOP banner. The proceeds will benefit domestic violence shelters in Maricopa County. http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special31/articles/0411dvwalk11.html
That afternoon, Terri Mansfield waited in line for 3 hours (!) with hundreds of people at Borders Bookstore in Phoenix to meet Senator John McCain. He had just spent 3 hours in Tucson that morning signing his new book "Why Courage Matters", and then returned to Phoenix to do the same. After a photo op and hand shake, Terri could sense how tired he was, and so she simply said "bless you, Sen. McCain for what you do." Then she asked him for an appointment for our AZDOP group to talk with him about the DOP, and he urged her to contact his state director, Paul Hickman, whom we know well. Then Mark Leibovich, a Washington Post reporter who wrote a story on Sen. McCain, asked Terri several questions, including one about the DOP / McCain connection. Her answers were not included in the final story (!) To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19085-2004May11.html?refe rrer=emailarticle
One of our favorite quotes in "Courage" is from 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, still under house arrent in Burma for many years, who said in her essay "Freedom from Fear", " It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it."
Meanwhile, this same day Pash Galbavy invited Caitlin to represent the DOP at the Earth Sustainability Day in Sedona, sponsored by the Aquarian Concepts Community, an emerging EcoVillage in 17 acre organic Avalon Gardens and Eco-farm along Oak Creek.
April 26, 2004: We attended the Arizona chapter of Seeds of Peace meeting www.seedsofpeace.org to talk to several high school students about the DOP and what peace means to them. These young men and women are passionate and motivated to change the world. Their National Honor Society group wrote letters to their AZ Congressional Representative, J.D. Hayworth, asking him to sponsor the HR 1673 legislation. Our host, Hannah Assadi, will begin classes at Columbia University in August.
April 29, 2004: Shirley, Rommy, Terri and Trish met at StarShine Academy to begin planning our 11 Days of Peace celebration for the community, Sept. 11-21, in Phoenix. As the 3 hosts: AZDOP Campaign www.azdopcampaign.org , StarShine Academy www.StarShineAcademy.org , and United Nations Childrens' Association www.unchildrenassn.org our intention is to weave a blanket of peace & empowerment & economic opportunity & unity into the consciousness of our fellow citizens.
May 4, 2004: Annie Loyd invited us to attend a special screening in Tempe, Arizona, of the Golden Globe winning film "Osama". www.osamamovie.com Under Taliban rule, Afghani women were forbidden in public unless escorted by a male relative. Alone with her mother, a young girl disguises herself as a boy, hiding her true identity and living a terrifying lie to save their lives. After this heart-wrenching movie, we engaged in a sobering and provacative discussion with 2 visiting guests from the United Nations: Abubakar Dungus (Information Officer for UN Population Fund), and Sarah Craven (U.S. Committee's Director for Policy and Advocacy). Our host was John Martinson, co-owner of China Mist Tea Company and a member of Arizona Friends of the United Nations Population Fund. www.unfpa.org Again, this was a perfect venue to network with many activists about the DOP Campaign.
May 8, 2004: Hazel Chandler and LiAnne Selzer joined Rommy, Caitlin, Cynthia and us at Shirley's home to continue finalizing plans for our AZDOP June 5 Day of Citizen Activism. We also walked her medicine wheel in unity with the North American Medicine Wheel ceremony of peace and healing, which was centered in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming. http://www.vortexmaps.com/htmla/event.php
May 14, 2004: We met another extraordinary Arizona educator, Ken Bursey, who founded the Arizona International Academy in Scottsdale. 480-948-3419 Students attend 1st through 9th grade classes 4 days a week, and volunteer on the fifth day in the community on various outreach programs. They are learning how to make the world a safer and more peaceful environment for children all over the world. Students are given the opportunity to travel abroad every year as an extension of their education. They just returned from Cambodia, Thailand and (Burma) Myanmar. Next spring, they will travel to Ireland. Parents are actively involved in the learning process. The AIA learning environment encourages the freedom of individual thought yet requires students to take responsibility for their own actions.
May 17, 2004: We met with State Senator Slade Mead, R-20, whose district includes southeast Maricopa County. http://www.slademead.com/ Slade hopes to stop by our June 5 AZDOP Day of Citizen Activism to share what peace means to him. Sen. Mead was instrumental in our final Arizona Legislature vote of unity between Democrats and Republicans to approve the state budget, which will finally allow all day kindergarten for Arizona children, and which will more strongly support Child Protective Services.
May 18, 2004: Arizona is the only state to have 3 female Governors. On May 18, we were fortunate to attend "A Conversation with Three Women Governors" sponsored by WIPP: Women Impacting Public Policy, www.wipp.org , a national nonpartisan group of 600,000 businesswomen. This unique and empowering event took place at the beautiful and historic Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix. WIPP sponsored the Q & A event, to honor the incredible and groundbreaking achievements of Arizona's 3 female Governors: Janet Napolitano (current), Jane Hull (immediate past) and Rose Mofford. Not only did we meet each Governor, we had photo ops with them, and briefly told each one about the Department of Peace Campaign. Our local PBS-8 station filmed the event, which was shown in Arizona May 27, 7 pm (Pacific time) and will be several more times.
May 19, 2004: We met with Linda Vance, Volunteer Director for Hospice of the Valley, the largest nonprofit hospice in the U.S. www.hov.org Linda wanted to know more about the DOP. Terri has been affiliated with HOV for 9 years.
May 22, 2004: Karen Zabor, Austin Jones and AIPER (Arizona Institue for Peace Education and Research) www.aiper.org hosted a breakfast meeting for various peace group representatives throughout Maricopa County, including the AZDOP Campaign. We met to begin to create an empowering network of all peace and social justice organizations called United for Peace. See below for our next meeting.
May 25, 2004: We met with Leon Quan, www.quanpresentations.com a dynamic and talented speaker with a strong message for students, teachers, and parents. His ability to connect with audiences is unparalleled. In 1989 Leon's brother was involved in a gang-related murder in Phoenix. Leon saw a way to turn this overwhelming situation his family endured into a message of character building, prevention, and good decision making. Leon says "the greatest stories ever told are created by once in a lifetime experiences."
May 30, 2004: We attended the Fifth Sunday / Invitation to Possibility brunch and meeting, hosted by Janet and Mike Valder at their beautiful Phoenix home. The recipient today of the $10,000 grant is the Clean Elections Institute and the campaign finance reform movement in Arizona. www.azclean.org Since 1995, the Arizona Social Change Fund / Arizona Community Foundation has given $216,000 in grants to community nonprofit social change organizations. To attend the next Fifth Sunday event at the Valders' home on Aug. 29, please call the Valders at 602-957-3088.
June 5, 2004: Arizona DOP Campaign hosted our first Day of Citizen Activism, from 9-5, in Mesa, AZ. It was a powerful event. Lynn McMullin flew in from Washington state, and with her fabulous storytelling gift, she taught us empowering techniques to be sincere advocates for the DOP Campaign. Marcy Weale provided the beautiful facility, Weale Works, where 45 of us gathered. Daniel Nahmod and Mariah-Melin & John Whoolilurie came from California to entertain us with their passionate music and songs. We are forming ever stronger Congressional District activism in Arizona. It is a pleasure to see so many people who are filled with hope about co-creating a Department of Peace as well as the new political paradigm. After the event, several of us drove to nearby Tempe to see (again!) "What the Bleep Do We Know?"
June 9, 2004: We were invited to talk with 20 high school students at StarShine Academy charter school in Phoenix. Together with teacher Tori Okuda, we engaged the teens in ways that they can make a difference at the school, with their families, and in the community. Each one of them wrote a letter to their Congressman Ed Pastor, asking him to become a sponsor of HR 1673. Three of the students want to volunteer with the AZDOP Campaign.
June 12, 2004: We were invited by Sandra Rembrandt, to attend the Republican Womens' Action Alliance lunch at Moon Valley Country Club. The panel topic was "The Ethics of War: Crisis in Iraq", moderated by Mantoshe Singh Devji, and the panelists included Dr. Gladys McGarey (Co-founder of Holistic Medical Association), Sheriff Joe Arpaio (Maricopa County), Gray Staples (Amnesty International), Janin O'Connell, an Iraqi-American born and raised in Iraq; Lt. Col. Daniel Butler, chaplain for AZ National Guard; Chuck Carlson, Middle Eastern affairs. During the Q & A, Terri was able to talk about the DOP for a few minutes, and how it will eventually help to make war unnecessary.
June 14, 2004: The Scottsdale Republic printed an informative story on Terri and the DOP Campaign in Arizona. Michael Ferraresi wrote the story and Shauna Stephenson took the photos, both passionate adults in their 20s who are already making the world a better place with their gifts.
June 16, 2004: We were invited by our friend Earnest Feaster to have lunch with his Tempe Rotary Club. We spoke about the DOP, and several members signed the DOP petition and wrote postcards to their AZ Congressional representatives asking them to sponsor the HR 1673 legislation.
June 17, 2004: Thanks to a chance encounter with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on June 12, we were invited to spend 2 hours with him in his Phoenix office talking about the wisdom of a Dept. of Peace. This Sheriff's office is the 4th largest in the US. Also attending the meeting was former Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams. Sheriff Joe has a reputation of being the "toughest sheriff in America". We also saw a vulnerable and tender side to him, and Thelda suggested to us that he would be our "white knight"! This one opportunity offered all of us a chance to come together with arms and hearts wide open, to let go of judgement, and to focus on the good in people. The goal is not to change overnight; the goal is to be open to the process of change. There are 60 social programs offered to assist the jail prisoners while they are incarcerated; the public often does not know about these beneficial programs, like a high school for the inmates, and a foster pet program to care for the inmates' dogs and cats while they are in jail, etc. Sheriff Joe also endorsed the DOP & AZDOP Campaigns.
June 18, 2004: Several peace groups gathered at AIPER House. We plan to bring a nationally well known speaker to the Valley in the next few months to address peace and social justice. Several members are also involved with planning events to coincide with the Oct. 13 final Presidential Debate.
June 18, 2004: We met with Sandra Rembrandt who started the Community Celebrating Diversity, an arts and humanities based organization in Scottsdale in 1992. Their first initial undertaking was a breakfast in 1993 honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She also started Rembrandt Diversity House, a consulting firm that seeks to promote cultural harmony not only through artistic means but also through health, life, and family matters. Sandra is impressed with the philosophy of the DOP & AZDOP Campaigns, and she has offered her support.
June 19-20, 2004: Cynthia Lukas attended Marianne Williamson's "A Course in Miracles" workshop in Michigan. When Cynthia introduced herself to Marianne as an AZDOP activist, Marianne hugged her and said "Arizona has one of the best DOPs in the country." Bravo to all the wonderful AZDOP activists!
June 21, 2004: We attended the first StarShine Academy Charter School high school graduation, which was held at the AZ State Capitol. Founder Trish Adams is a miracle worker, and through her efforts a magical ceremony was given to these first 4 graduates who have overcome great adversity to earn their diplomas. Featured speakers were: Vernon Parker, U.S. Asst. Secretary for Civil Rights; Tom Horne, AZ Superintendant of Public Instruction; Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Also present was Dr. Gary Sibigtroth, Colorado Asst. Commisioner Educational Services. Rev. Joyce Buekers played her harp, and it was a day to remember.
June 23, 2004: Our AZDOP citizen activism got a big boost today. Shirley hosted the District 5 & 6 people at Billie Rudd's home and Terri hosted the District 3 & 4 people at Susan Seats / John Kula's home. 25 DOP advocates showed up to focus on specifics like community outreach, media contacts, and legislative liaisons. More people sign up every week to help, and the momentum continues to build in Arizona. Thank you thank you thank you! Upcoming meetings will be posted at the end of this email.
June 29, 2004: Shirley and Terri enjoyed a lively conference call with Lynn McMullen. We reviewed our June 5 Day of Citizen Activism, and learned about upcoming NAPA / GRA / DOP events. Sept. 12: DOP / NAPA webcast, details to follow Nov. 5-7 (not yet confirmed): National DOP / NAPA Conference in San Francisco Feb. 2005: National DOP Conference in Washington, D.C.
July 1, 2004: AIPER in Tempe hosted an evening with Dwarko Sundrani, 81 year old last disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Dwarko says "my life is my message". His friend the Dalai Lama said to him, "Dwarko-ji. I teach compassion but you live it." After his wonderful talk, Dwarko and Terri and BJ Peters engaged in a lively talk about the Department of Peace. We all agreed that the power to change lies within the people, hence this extraordinary grassroots movement.
July 2, 2004: We met with Merlin Yockstick of Blue Planet Village, who is helping us to create "Humanity Rocks" for our 11 day peace celebration, Sept. 11-21, in Arizona. The entire event is called: Creative Community: A Global Vision, co-sponsored by StarShineAcademy, AZDOP Campaign, and United Nations Childrens Assn. More details coming soon. Then we met with Internationally known healer and physician, Dr. Gladys McGarey, who autographed her biography, "Born to Heal" written by her daughter, for each of us. Dr. Gladys is a strong supporter of the DOP & AZDOP Campaign.
July 3, 2004: As DOP advocates, we were invited to share the message of Peace with Phoenix's Catholic Social Services program, Strengthening Refugee Families. Our hostess, Jeanne Nizigiyimana, told us that the theme was "peace: a tool to strengthen families". 19 men and women, and 5th grader Ralph, listened as we explained the concept and mission of the DOP Campaign. They settled in the Phoenix area after leaving their African countries in turmoil: North & South Congo, Sudan, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Burundi, etc. Some spoke English, some spoke French, but the common language of the heart united us as an international family of peace and nonviolence. We were humbled by their courage and kindness, and look forward to developing a deep friendship with these remarkable people.
July 6, 2004: We met with Dr. Ruth Tan Lim, Mesa pediatrician and founder of Children's Benefit Foundation which is very involved in children's issues of peace, nonviolence and health. Every year the foundation sponsors a Week Without Violence, and this year it will be a part of our Sept. 11-21 events.
July 7, 2004: The Fountain Hills Times (AZ) editor Michael Scharnow wrote a great story about Shirley and her DOP efforts, and included a wonderful photo of her in her medicine wheel. (no URL available)
July 7, 2004: We hosted 2 of our AZ Congressional District activist meetings, and continue to build support, comraderie, and action. Thank you to Susan Seats and dad John Kula for offering the use of their home. Thank you to Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine for the use of their facility for the other meeting. All are welcome to attend future meetings. The schedule will be posted below.
July 12, 2004: Lynn McMullen connected with Terri & Shirley for a conference call, to catch up on her DOP activities and ours.
July 13, 2004: We were given a private tour of Madison Street Jail, part of the Maricopa County Jail system, 4th largest in the US. Lt. Dave Williams and Thelda Williams (former Phoenix mayor) gave us a tour of the MASH unit: Maricopa Animal Safe Hospice, a no-kill animal shelter for animals that have been abused or neglected by their caretakers, and also for pets of individuals who check into domestic violence shelters that do not accept pets. Sentenced female inmates are trained to care for the animals. One of the statistics that we were given is that animal abuse often occurs in homes where domestic violence, child abuse and / or elder abuse are present.
The next area that we visited is the high school for inmates. In one roon were 8 young male inmates, each studying at a computer supervised by a TA. In the next room were 8 more young male inmates engaged in dialogue with their teacher. We were able to speak for a few minutes about the DOP, and how these young men could become neighborhood leaders when they graduate and are released from the jail; education is key to a life of nonviolence. They plan to write letters explaining what peace means to them and why they think a Dept. of Peace is a good idea.
July 13, 2004: We met with Stu Starky, an 8th grade math teacher who is challenging John McCain for his Senate seat. Stu is passionate and dynamic, and promised that if he wins the election in Nov., he will be a DOP sponsor in the Senate. And he promised to write an endorsement for the DOP. Thanks to campaign manager Ed Mesert for organizing this meeting.
Aug. 12: we had the opportunity to meet briefly with Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) at his book signing in Phoenix; we offered to dialogue with him in Washington to help propel the HR1673 legislation forward. Then we met up with Fred Goldman, and explained to him that because of violent deaths such as those of his son Ron and Nicole Brown Simpson (on June 12, 1994), the DOP will focus on ways to eradicate domestic violence and murder through education and a shift in society's views of responsibility to one another as a community.
Aug. 14: we gave a DOP talk to the Phoenix Hard Rock Cafe Ambassador's Club. The Ambassadors are HRC employees who partner with local groups to make a difference; we began an instant friendship with them. http://www.hardrock.com/corporate/community/save_planet.asp
Aug. 15: Terri was invited to talk by phone on Mary Ann Morgan's radio show in Oklahoma City about the DOP Campaign. We in Arizona promised to help Mary Ann and her peers start the Oklahoma DOP Campaign. Mary Ann is a wonderful proponent of peace. http://www.maryannmorgan.org/litm_radio.htm Her new radio show starts in mid-November, 10pm-midnight (CST) at http://www.ktok.com Mary Ann also interviewed Terri on Aug. 29 & Sept. 5.
Aug. 16: We were interviewed by producer Scott Davis of Phoenix Channel 3 TV, concerning the DOP Campaign. This segment was aired on Aug. 31. Part of the interview can be read at http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/stories/KTVKLNews20040818.8db219ae.ht ml and you can still vote online if you agree that a DOP is a good idea!
Aug. 18: We represented the DOP by attending a WIPP (Women Impacting Public Policy) lunch in nearby Tempe to commemorate the 84th anniversary of women getting the right to vote. The guest speakers were Gov. Janet Napolitano and Sec. of State Jan Brewer. www.wipp.org
Aug. 21: The Romero family were in the midst of filming and writing their "A Critical Mass" documentary at various locations around the Phoenix area. This remarkable family literally started this creation on July 21, and finished it on Sept. 11. It is a wonderful teaching tool for people who want to see how one person can make a difference for peace, through the DOP Campaign and the Space Preservation Act. Just as in the movie "What the Bleep Do We Know?", there is a similar storyline written into this documentary; an unhappy person chooses to become happy and productive. http://www.azdopcampaign.org/html/critical_mass.html
Aug. 27: We attended AIPER (AZ Institute of Peace Education Research) monthly meeting with several peace groups in the Phoenix area, to support and educate each other in our various endeavors.
Aug. 29: We attended the 5th Sunday Arizona Social Change Fund brunch to honor the work that Tim Schmaltz and PAFCO (Protect AZ Family Coalition) do on behalf of women and children. www.pafcoalition.org Every 5th Sunday, Janet and Mike Valder graciously open their home to everyone interested in progressive changes in society.
Aug. 31: we explained the DOP Campaign to Dr. Ruth Tan Lim's "A Week Without Violence" group. Dr. Lim is a remarkable pediatrician and a one-woman DOP! She has helped to empower and educate children in the Phoenix area for many years.
Sept. 1: The DOP & AZDOP were featured in the Sept. / Oct. issue of Desert Paradise magazine published every 2 months in Scottsdale, AZ. Writer and AZDOP friend Dianne Moore interviewed Shirley and Terri for the story, and did a great job. Our webmaster Hugh will post it on our website soon. Copies can be ordered from publisher Richard Langham: info@firebirdpublishing.com
Sept. 1: we hosted our monthly AZDOP Dialogue for Peace meeting at the home of Susan Seats ("volunteer Rotary Ambassador to India") and her dad John Kula (retired Silver Haired legislator & Chicago teacher of the year).
Sept. 7: DOP conference call with Matthew.
Sept. 8: We gave a DOP talk to Dr. Ruth Tan Lim's Mesa Rotary Club in the East Valley. The Rotarians are such a powerful global / local force for good.
Sept. 10: Paula Christine of the World Peace Prayer Society, www.worldpeace.org flew here from New York to supervise the planting of the Peace Pole at StarShine Academy Charter School. (donated by Mike & Terri Mansfield) Students, teachers, and we friends wrote peace prayers and put them inside the hollow aluminum peace pole before we "planted" it in the school's Peace Garden...and so began our celebration of 11 Days of Peace & Sustainability...
Sept. 21: In the evening, we represented the DOP at a lecture by Stephen Lewis, former Canadian Ambassador to the UN, titled "Women & HIV/AIDS". www.unfpa.org Stephen is the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. The event was held at Gammage Auditorium at Arizona State University where the 3rd and last Presidential debate was held. http://www.asu.edu/
Sept. 24: We were privileged to be invited to attend a unique GED graduation ceremony for 8 juvenile inmates of the "Hard Knocks High School" in the Maricopa County jail. Sheriff Arpaio wants all of his inmates to receive at least a GED education while incarcerated. http://yep.rbbalch.com/yep/hardknockshigh.asp Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights Vernon Parker flew in from Washington, D.C., and gave a moving keynote speech. Joyce Buekers played her harp, and RV Romero was given permission to film the event. Many media representatives were there too. One relative of each graduate was allowed to attend the ceremony & reception. The graduates wore caps and gowns over their black and white striped uniforms. Some of these young men wrote letters asking our Congressmen to sponsor the DOP legislation, so that all communities would have mentors to interact positively with many youth who do not receive adequate guidance from families or friends.
Sep. 26: We presented a one hour DOP talk to the Humanist Society of Phoenix. They were most appreciative of the DOP information and of the many activities in which so many Arizona DOP advocates are engaged. www.hsgp.org
Sept. 29: We hosted our AZDOP Dialogue for Peace, and showed our new documentary, "A CRITICAL MASS". One of our guests and new supporters was Dr. Lynne Kitei, M.D. www.thephoenixlights.net Dr. Lynne recently interviewed Terri for her new upcoming documentary. Dr. Gary Schwartz is another new advocate and supporter of the DOP concept of "peace on earth and in space". He directs cutting edge research at the University of Arizona in scientifically proving that love and consciousness are eternal! http://www.openmindsciences.com/
Oct. 2: We were invited to speak again by the Republican Women's Action Alliance. They like the community work we are doing with Peace Poles and with the students at StarShine Academy Charter School in Phoenix. They also like the fact that we present the concept of a Department of Peace as being totally inclusive, regardless of political persuasion.
Oct. 5: We represented the AZDOP at a showing of a powerful documentary called "Seeds".
http://www.seedsofpeace.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6096 Seeds of Peace is an extraordinary nonprofit organization started 13 years ago by John Wallach to bring together Arab and Israeli teenagers at a camp in Maine to learn conflict resolution, to be the future leaders of peace in the Middle East. It now works with 2500 youth from 4 global conflict regions.
Oct. 10: We represented the DOP at the finale of the Week Without Violence in the Phoenix area, sponsored by many proponents of youth, notably Dr. Ruth Tan Lim, a truly energized and dedicated pediatrician. We talked to the children and adults about the ways that a DOP would help to address the issues of school bullying and help to empower all of us to find solutions to all aspects of violence in society. One wonderful young man came forward and recited the preamble to the Constitution, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. " Hundreds of children had written peace poems and had created peace posters for the annual Week Without Violence.
Oct. 13: we had many opportunities to discuss the DOP as the 3rd Presidential Debate was held in Tempe this day. In fact one young man came up to us and was about to ask us to join him in a protest at a nearby speaking event, when he saw our DOP pins on our shirts. He looked confused, and we said that we were not protestors, that we tried to see the good in everyone, because that is what the Dept. of Peace is all about. After we told him our names and shook his hand, he muttered a thanks and walked away very quietly.
Oct. 17: Even at a family wedding in Kennebunkport, Maine, home of former Pres. George and First Lady Barbara Bush, it was fascinating to ask the locals what the politics were in that area. We were told people were split 50/50. Many of them were excited to know about the DOP legislation in Congress. (The Fall Foliage was exquisite!)
Oct. 21: We met Jo Ellen Felmann, national sales manager for the exquisite Sanctuary Resort in Paradise Valley, AZ. http://www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com/ Jo Ellen talked about the possibility of hosting a DOP event at the resort sometime in the future, as all paradigm shifts quicker and quicker!
Oct. 22: We met with Brian Helander, executive director of Body Positive in Phoenix. http://www.phoenixbodypositive.org/index.shtml Brian has extensive experience in the health care field, and is eager to support the DOP in Arizona.
Oct. 28: We finally met with Charlene Costanza, author of "The Twelve Gifts of Birth", "The Twelve Gifts for Healing". www.TheTwelveGifts.com Charlene contacted us last year after she read about the AZDOP in the paper. She truly supports the DOP and our Arizona efforts. As soon as she received her DOP bumper sticker today, she put it on her car bumper! Yay, Charlene!
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