Friday, September 12, 2014

PEACE WEEK 2014 - THE PEACE TEAM STORY


September 8:

 Johnny L. promoted Peace One Day and called for intentional acts of kindness, compassion and service during the 11 Days of Global Unity 9/11-921.  He presented the following video @ chapel.



September 10:





The Peace Team had a Skype session with the Peace One Day Education coordinator who listened to teams' initiatives and suggested to document actions taken during Peace Week and Peace Day.












September 11-September 21 International Day of Peace  


Ananya and Johnny presented a video to promote unity and advocate acts of kindness compassion and service during the week.  The goal was to raise awareness of the 11 Days of Global Unity, Peace Day, and the Compassion Games.


Intro


You are just who we need. Are you ready to become a Secret Agent of Compassion? Join the International Kindness Team (IKT) and prepare to make the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.

Badge in Hand

To The Secret Agents of Compassion:

There is a powerful antidote to counteract the hate, violence, and negative consequences that plague our global community. This highly potent antidote is called COMPASSION and it exists within you.

As part of the 2014 Compassion Games, the International Kindness Team is gathering Secret Agents from around the globe to take part in an effort to inconspicuously inoculate citizens everywhere with this antidote.

Beginning September 11th and continuing for 11 consecutive days, Secret Agents will engage in acts of compassion, kindness, and good will to spread joy, love and positivity around our planet – thus neutralizing the harmful effects of negativity while creating a global community that tips the scales towards kindness.


 
You have been selected to join this critical team of Secret Agents.

Secret Agent of Compassion
 Mission 001 - Sept 11, 2014

Good Morning Agents!

We have learned of a powerful antidote to counteract the hate, violence, and negativity plaguing the global community. This highly potent antidote is called COMPASSION and it exists within you.

Your first mission, should you choose to accept it, is to spread this antidote today by demonstrating compassion for strangers. These are people you typically pass by, maybe even ignore, as you go on with your day. Instead, your job is to think of everyone as your friend. Smile at people, hold doors open, let folks go in front of you. If you can, use your sense of self to decide how to complete at least one act of compassion that requires a tiny bit of additional work on your part.

Should your actions or those of any of the International Kindness Team be exposed, it will increase the positive ripple effect of creating more kindness in the world. Thus, we at IKT HQ request that you report your activities on the Compassion Map


During the summer, Ananya connected to the the incentive of $ 1 per pinwheel made for Pepper's Ranch during Peace Week.  Casady delivered 900 pinwheels to Pepper's Ranch.  500 made by high school students. Pinwheels were made by Spanish I and II classes, led by Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Clay and the freshman English classes led by Mrs. Crossno and Mrs. Finley.  

Pepper's ranch is centered on taking orphaned foster children out of the OKC foster system and housing them until they find forever families or are adopted. They currently house 75 children, and are looking to expand their numbers to 100. 


Supplies for the pinwheels were donated by English and foreign language programs, as well a huge donation from a member of the freshman class.  Other pinwheels were made by LD students from all grades and MD French and Spanish classes led by Mrs. Robertson, Mr. Chaverri,  Miss Castro and Mr. Pardue.














Ananya also helped organize a Day for Kids on 9/20 @ Boys and Girls Club.  She was unable to participate due to conflict with her debate team schedule.










Ananya also promoted Recipeace or coming together over a meal to serve peace @ our tables.  She was not successful with local restaurants, but our Sage Program under the leadership of Chef Kevin had a Recipeace soup at Calvert on 9/18.

B. Johnny, Ananya and Turner facilitated pinwheel making at Summer by the Lake.  Johnny and Turner also promoted pinwheel making @ the Single Parents Network Family Fair. Over 200  pencil pinwheels were delivered to Peppers Ranch made at the Fair. 

LD PLANTING PINWHEELS BY CHAPEL ON 9/18

PD Pinwheel Blessing on 9/18  Human Rights Day
CASADY SCHOOLS PINWHEELS ON 9/19 FREEDOM DAY
Johnny and Turner also attended the Youth LEAD OKC lock-in Experience on 9/20 and 9/21 @ Camp Fire USA.  Other Casady students who participated in the lock-in were Sidney J., Taylor B., Mallory W, Pierce S., Gabrielle M,  Jack and  The lock-in had as a goal, facilitating ice-breakers as a rock start, creating a project to be implemented as a team in 2014.  The project is a culturally enhancing meal time @ Positive Tomorrows, a local school for homeless children.  Ananya is part of the planning team of Youth LEAD but was unable to participate because the date of the lock-in was changed and conflicted with her debate schedule.




C. Miranda:  Promoted an aerial picture symbolizing unity of mission of Peace One Day.  Weather did not allow the picture to take place.  Only UD had an attempt.  We think it is doable, but it will take about 30 minutes to take such a picture.




E. Cathy: Promoted peace connected to sports. Casady students volunteered at a softball fundraising tournament as part of the compassion games during Peace Week ( 11 days of global unity)






F. Claire: Promoted peace in art classes.  Mrs. Thompson's  LD classes worked on a peaceful friendship chair and visions of peace during 9/11-9/12.



G. Gracie: Joined the team with the idea of a Peace Team t-shirt, which the team will explore in 2015.

 H.  Mrs. Clay: Aimed to raise awareness of Peace Day and connect Peace Week to the Compassion Games during the 11 Days of Global Unity (9/11-9/21) in all divisions and the greater Oklahoma City community.  

9/21 International Day of Peace
Ananya was not able to attend the Interfaith Youth Tour due to conflict with her Debate schedule.  The tour took place on 9/21 International Day of Peace.  The tour expected 180 teens but over 300 participated.






The International Day of Peace 2014 ended with a lovely observance of the day at OCU.  Sunday, September 21st -- 6:30pm, The Great Hall of the University Center, Oklahoma City University
2501 N. Blackwelder, OKC.  

From UN Blog
This free program was co-sponsored by Joy Mennonite Church, the Oikos Scholars program of Oklahoma City University, the Center for Conscience in Action, the Peace House, the Oklahoma City group of Pax Christi USA, the Respect Diversity Foundation, and by the Oklahoma City chapter of the United Nations Association of the USA. 

The program started with Dr. Imad Enchassi

“Sometimes I think God exposed me
to so much hatred and violence.
so that I can be a voice for love and peace.”


Dr. Enchassi is a renowned voice for peace, interfaith understanding, and religious tolerance in Oklahoma and beyond. He is the recipient of the 2014 Humanitarian Award of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, the "Dialogue Award" of the Dialogue Institute of the Southwest, theCommunity Service Award of the Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma, and in 2011 he was recognized by The Oklahoman newspaper as a Visionary in Religious and Education Outreach.

Beyond these many accolades, Dr. Enchassi is a gracious man of gentle humor. He inspires confidence with his knowledge and ability to communicate. He is a highly sought-after speaker.

The son of a Palestinian father and a Syrian mother, Dr. Enchassi grew up in the Palestinian refugee camps of Beirut, Lebanon.

“I am a third generation refugee," Enchassi recently told The Red Dirt Report. His father was Palestinian, his mother from Syria.

As a teenager, Enchassi and his six siblings were in the Sabra and Shatila camps when they came under attack from the fighters of a Christian militia group. It was September, 1982.

It wasn't just an attack. It was amassacre. More than 30 years later, the world can't forget the deaths of so many unarmed civilians. Estimates of the death toll range from 762 to 3,500. The UN General Assemblycondemned the slaughter, which stretched over the course of 3 days.

As related by The Oklahoman newspaper: "Enchassi said surviving the massacre made him think long and hard about the power and destructiveness of hatred."

“I knew that hatred had to stop,” he said.

After surviving the massacre, at the age of seventeen, Enchassi moved to America, beginning a long journey of education. He studied business management at South Plains College in Texas as well as at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany. Eventually, he earned a masters in management from the University of Phoenix.

“Making it to the U.S. was a dream,” Enchassi told the Red Dirt Report. For nearly two decades, he excelled in the restaurant industry as a regional manager and consultant.

For the last ten years, Dr. Enchassi has focused his life on building up the Islamic community in Greater Oklahoma City. He succeeded in creating the first accredited Islamic school in Oklahoma City. During that time he also became the founder, Imam and President of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma ‘City (ISGOC).

ISGOC has grown to become the largest Islamic Center in the state of Oklahoma.

Dr. Enchassi and his wife, Judith, are the proud parents of five children.

The program continued with the introduction of Kristen Swartley and El Sistema

El Sistema is an international movement for music education -- "The System," in English.

It came to Oklahoma about a year ago, the result of a commitment by Phil and Cathy Busey, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, and the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University.

Kristen Swartley, a teaching
artist for El Sistema Oklahoma,
will introduce the orchestra's
jazz combo at our Peace Day
celebration on Sept. 21.
The first concert of the El Sistema Oklahoma youth orchestra was last October. One hundred children in grades 3 through 6 delivereda rousing performance in downtown Oklahoma City. It included young people from several Oklahoma City elementary schools, including Sequoyah, Putnam Heights, Cleveland, Linwood, Gatewood and Kaiser.

As a mission project of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in partnership with the Wanda L Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University, El Sistema Oklahoma benefits from a variety of community partners for their success.  In addition to St. Luke’s and OCU, Trinity International Baptist Church provides classrooms for after-school practice sessions.

“We are honored to serve our community by providing a place where children and their families can feel an abundance of grace, hope and joy on a daily basis.  When children see that they can be good at something and be part of something great, it has the power to change the trajectory of their lives,” says Robyn Hilger, Executive Director of El Sistema Oklahoma.


For your viewing pleasure: Here's a 30-second clip
of El Sistema Oklahoma's full orchestra performing
Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" on YouTube.

The program introduced the jazz combo will be Kristen Swartley, a teaching artist for El Sistema Oklahoma. 

Ms. Swartley talked briefly about her experience living and working in Bolivia in 2009 and 2010. It was there that she heard about El Sistema and realized its potential for youth development and social engagement. 

Appearing with Ms. Swartley will be Robyn Hilger, the executive director of El Sistema Oklahoma. 

Children who study music don't just get better at playing
the trombone or violin. They also gain a better ability to
process language. That's according to a new study published
in The Journal of Neuroscience. Learn more from NPR:
"This Is Your Brain. This Is Your Brain On Music"
El Sistema started in 1975, inspired by a Venezuelan economist and musician, José Antonio Abreu.

Abreu believes that an orchestra represents the ideal society, and the sooner a child is nurtured in that environment, the better for all.

We are fortunate that we have visionary leaders in our community who are willing to invest in the education of our young people in this way. 

And, we are proud to showcase the El Sistema Oklahoma Jazz Combo as part of our celebration of the International Day of Peace. 

"Music has to be recognized as an agent of social development, in the highest sense because it transmits the highest values - solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion. And it has the ability to unite an entire community, and to express sublime feelings"
--José Antonio Abreu

Find out more about El Sistema: 

"El Sistema"
CBS News, 60 Minutes 
(12 minute video report)

"Venezuela's El Sistema"
The New York Times 
(3 minute video) 

(online article)

The program ended with  Albert Gray Eagle

A noted flute artist, story teller, and creative writer.   Mr. Gray Eagle is a teaching artist for the Oklahoma Arts Council. If you have children in an Oklahoma school, they may have participated in a workshop with him. He is frequently invited to enrich the classroom experience of children in Oklahoma City and beyond. 


As described on the Arts Council's website:

"Residencies with Gray Eagle may include the art of flute making and playing of the instrument while building on an understanding of history relevant to the Native American. He may provide storytelling for both children and adults that offer a perspective and philosophy of Native American culture of the past and present. Through his artistic talents and gentle nature for teaching, participants will be guided to develop their creative and artistic selves. As a U.S. Army veteran, Gray Eagle performs frequently for veterans events."
Read more about Gray Eagle
at the NewsOK.com website:
"Tuneful tradition: Albert Gray Eagle's
flute music entertains, teaches"
by Brandy McDonnell

Mr. Gray Eagle hasn't always been a teaching artist. In 1973, at the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Army. After completing his military service, he worked for a dozen years as an office manager. Then another 12 years as a truck driver.

But the flute has been his passion for many years.

Born in Colorado, Mr. Gray Eagle grew up in a Native American family. He is of Oglala,Cheyenne and Apache descent.

As a teen, Gray Eagle's great-uncle John Eagle showed him how to make and play flutes.

"He told me God gives you all kinds of gifts inside your soul, and you'll learn to respect them when you unwrap them. And you won't know what they are until you unwrap them," he said.

Beyond his workshops in Oklahoma schools, Gray Eagle has been a popular entertainer at the Red Earth Festival, at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, and at other public and private performances.

Gray Eagle has won praise from educators across the state. Mike Woods, superintendent of Fargo Public Schools, has said:

"He exemplifies the good of Oklahoma, the heritage we have here, the quality of the people we have here."
Enjoy a 2-minute YouTube video featuring 
Albert Gray Eagle's voice and flute.
"The Lord's Prayer in Cheyenne"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5byHU3FC4nM

Gray Eagle often performs with his friend and collaborator, Matheson Hamilton, a story teller and creative writer.

At his website, Gray Eagle explains his motivation for teaching:

"With the air we breathe we choose whether to say something nice to someone or to be mean and create hate. We would rather have the people we teach create an instrument and use the air they breath to create music; allowing them to express who they are as individuals through their artwork, and hopefully through this introduction, give them the opportunity to express themselves through a universal language."

Through his workshops, Gray Eagle inspires his students -- young and old, alike -- to:

• Develop imagination and craftsmanship
• Explore cultural heritage
• Learn patience and respect for others
• Learn to work together as a team




"Together, let us demand the right of peoples to peace."
 --Ban Ki-moon

UN Secretary-General



Pinwheels for Pepper's Ranch
Trees to plant home



    

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

WILL YOU JOIN US FOR PEACE WEEK AND PEACE DAY?

People from around the world are sharing what they will be doing to celebrate the International Day of Peace on the 21st of September and to observe the 11 Days of Global Unity (9/11-9/21).  

On the 21st of September, Jeremy Gilley, creator of Peace One Day, reports that there will be peace walks in Tijuana, cycling in Kampala, football matches in Manila, prayers for peace in Jerusalem, flashmobs in London, festivals in Sydney, DJ sets in Dar es Salaam, roundtable debates with politicians in Moscow, distribution of fuel efficient stoves in IDP camps and vaccinations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), water backpack distribution in Marsabit, Kenya, concerts in Kigali and Bujumbura, food drops and much more - this is only a tiny sample of what people are doing to mark Peace Day. The Casady Community Service-Learning Program in collaboration with the YAC Peace Team responded to the biggest call for peace the world has ever seen with promotion of the Compassion Games during the 11 Days of Global Unity through acts of kindness, compassion and service.




COMPASSION GAMES: KINDNESS & SERVICE SELF,OTHERS, ENVIRONMENT
Consider letting us know what you are doing http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090d45aeaa22a46-compassion 


Day/Theme
Suggestions
UD Chapel
Special Actions
OKC Events
Monday, September 8









Play the Global
Compassion Games
9/11- 9/21
PEACE ONE DAY
S-L
YAC
PEACE TEAM
Pinwheels for Peace @ Wing by appointment
$ 1 per pinwheel made donated to Peppers' Ranch.  Up to $15,000

4:00-6:00 PM New York Says Thank You Screening @ Boys and Girls Club
Thursday
September 11
9/11 Observance
Do a good deed in remembrance of 9/11
Peace Team
Pinwheels for Peace

7:00 PM My So Call Enemy. Building Bridges for Peace Panel Discussion Free. Saint Luke's United Methodist Church.
Friday
September 12
Declaration of Interdependence
Generation 9/12, New York Says Thank You
Meet someone new. 
Forgive, ask for forgiveness
Honor Code Signing
Pinwheels for Peace

3:30-5:00 PM Popcorn and a movie:  Screening of Peace One Day 2014 & The Day After Peace @ Casady Wing

5:00 PM Recipeace meals at homes and local restaurants
7:30 VFB @ Blanchard
Saturday
September 13
Use Less Staff
Plant a Tree
Use refillable Water Bottles
Volunteer @ the Food Bank Garden
Be part of @ Youth Finding Common Ground
Have a recipeace meal
Pinwheels for Peace


9-12 PM: Food Bank Garden Volunteering with Mrs.  Dana Martin supervising 1-4  PM Volunteer at Food Bank no supervision provided
10-12 PM  Youth Finding Common Ground Training with Mrs. Clay Raindrop Turkish House, 4444 N. Classen Boulevard, Oklahoma City.
Mrs. Clay supervising
12:30-2:30 PM Recipeace Dim Sum @ Grand House.  Mrs. Clay facilitator.  Bring money.2701 North West Classen.
Sunday
September 14
Make a Pinwheel @ home, help build a foster home at Pepper's Ranch

Screenings of Peace One Day, The Day After Peace with Recipeace meals @ homes
ALL DAY: 2014 Matt Terri Memorial Softball Tournament
Bickham Park (Edmond, East of I-35, Midwest Boulevard and Danforth)




COMPASSION GAMES: KINDNESS & SERVICE SELF,OTHERS, ENVIRONMENT


Day/Theme
Suggestions
UD Chapel
Special Actions
OKC Events
Monday
September 15
HYPE (Healthy You. Positive Energy)
Eat Healthy
Thank Chef Kevin and Staff
Exercise:  Play a Sport, Dance, Walk
Hispanic Heritage Month
Pinwheels for Peace with Spanish Club, B-block, Wing











4:00-6:00 Pinwheels for Peace @ Boys and Girls Club
Tuesday
September 16
Make Peace Art
Casady Choir
"May Peace Prevail on Earth" Exhibit @ Miller
Girl Rising B-Block/Pinwheel Reflection
4:00-6:00 Peace Art @ Boys and Girls Club
Wednesday
September 17
Watch Girl Rising
Join Girl Up
Drew Edmondson

Girl Rising B-block
5:00-7:00 PM  Girl Rising Screening @ Boys and Girls Club
Thursday
September 18
Raise Awareness of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights
UD Mrs. Patton
PD-LD, MD Pinwheels Blessing &
Planting
7:30 AM UD Pinwheels  blessing and planting
B-block Seeds of Peace hands.  Aerial Photo 
5:00-7:00 PM The Day After Peace Screening @ Boys and Girls Club
Friday
September 19
YLOKC TRAINER @ WING: RECIPEACE MEALS
7:00-9:00 PM Popcorn and a movie:  Screening of Peace One Day 2014 & The Day After Peace @ Casady Wing
Saturday
September 20
MAKE PINWHEELS
PLANT THEM @ YOUR HOMES
HAVE RECIPEACE MEALS
WATCH PEACE ONE DAY CELEBRATIONS
10:00 AM YLOKC RETREAT. BUS @WING
10:00 -4:00 DAY FOR KIDS @ BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
9-12 PM AND 1-4  PM  FOOD BANK VOLUNTEERING
Sunday
September 21
WHO WILL YOU MAKE PEACE WITH?
6:30 PM Attend OCU's INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE Oklahoma City University
University Center (Great Hall)
2501 N. Blackwelder Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK   73106
WATCH PEACE ONE DAY CELEBRATIONS
8:00-12:00  YLOKC RETREAT
1:00-5:00: OCC INTERFAITH YOUTH TOUR  $15 per person
6:30: OCU Peace Day "Bringing our Journey of Peace to the Next Generation


 
WATCH THE LIVE STREAM OF THE PEACE ONE DAY CELEBRATION 2014 FROM GOMA, DRC!  The Governor of North Kivu province, DRC, recently announced his support for our concert on Peace Day. It was a pivotal moment for Jeremy Gilley and his 3-year campaign for Peace Day in the DRC and GLR. Showcasing global activation on Peace Day, this celebration will be headlined by five-time Grammy Award-nominated recording artist Akon, with performances from regional artists Lexxus Legal, Dety Darba, traditional drummers Sango’a, and comedian Mzee Mbukuli.  You can watch the celebration LIVE and FREE via the Peace One Day YouTube channel at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HtT6e1Y9yw

For more information click
here.   Please start thinking about who you can bring together to watch this momentous celebration of peace and unity on 21 September and please share the above link as widely as possible.   The concert will also be broadcast LIVE on radio and TV across the region and the world, supporting our goal of institutionalizing Peace Day across the globe.  THE PEACE ONE DAY STORY IN 60 SECONDS   To help you make some noise about Peace Day and their work for the day in the DRC and GLR, please find below the new film, ‘Peace One Day Story in One Minute’, telling the story of the sixteen year Peace One Day journey in 60 seconds. Please share freely.  
Mail out banner 21 08 14
Mail out banner 21 08 14 FRE V2


If you would like to get involved or are already planning an activity and would like to know more about the area or sector in which you work, then please contact us at the below email addresses: