Giving

"We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give."

Winston S. Churchill

Each of us has something to give others.  Time, skills, connections, but a simple thing to do this holiday season is to give your money.  

Consider skipping a few cups of coffee or lunch out in order to make an impact in the local community.  

December is crucial to many non profits success for the next year. Large or small every donation to local non profits makes a tremendous impact.  

Here are a few to chose from that Project Peace has worked with over the years.

Shelters- B.O.S.S or Y.E.A.H.

Anti Trafficking- M.I.S.S.S.E.Y.

Mentoring- Shalom of Oakland

Thanksgiving

"Black Friday: Because only in America, people trample each other for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have." 

 Someecards

If you are on facebook you have surely seen these quirky, snarky ecards.  They make me chuckle, but this one hit a nerve.  This particular ecard made me sad because it's true.  

I have also been seeing posts on facebook about what people are thankful for.  I have yet to see a post about being thankful for the things people bought last year on black Friday.  I do see people thankful for family, health, and the little things in life.  

I'm not saying we shouldn't shop, but maybe instead of trampling each other the day after we can keep being thankful and consider giving in a different way for a different purpose.  

Check out Trade As One if you need some inspiration. 

Thoughtful, Committed Citizens

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed it's the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Mead

I saw this quote on the facebook page of Upward Roots and have not been able to shake it.

  

The truth of it is compelling and daunting at the same time. There is little room for excuses when we are faced with the issues of our day both near and far knowing exactly where to start.  

Indeed I hope as Project Peace gathers thoughtful, committed citizens it will change the East Bay.  

Getting It All Done

"We are all busy, yes. But we also labor under potent illusions, and isn’t it a wondrous thing that we can help ourselves see through them by lending a hand to someone else?" 

Gareth Cook 

I read Getting It All Done by Gareth Cook in the beginning of April and it could not have come at a more perfect time.  I was in the midst of planning/executing the Project Peace Speakers Series, The Slave Next Door and was feeling slightly pressed for time.  The article cites a study by the Harvard Business School which found that, "doing something for someone else shows us that we can get things done and makes us feel effective and in control." 

I highly recommend the article which puts serving others in a different light, but would also recommend serving others as a means of making an impact in your community.  

Maybe by pairing the two we feel more freedom while bringing it to others.

Generation Y

In January 42,000 college students gathered in Atalanta chanting "freedom" and vowing to end slavery. They also happened to raise 2.6 million for causes battling human trafficking.

A couple of weeks ago a few college students joined our volunteer team for planning The Slave Next Door. They were remarkably well informed and ready for the challenge of combatting slavery.

I happen to be a gen x'er and it seems like my generation is ignoring this issue. It's much simpler to buy organic and shop local. I realize the scope and nature of modern day slavery is incredibly daunting. Its not easy to read or hear about. It's like the elephant in the room waiting for someone to recognize it.

Generation Y recognizes it. Some have labeled them the slacker generation, but maybe a more fitting title would be the abolitionist generation.

Silence

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

The past couple of weeks I have been working with a team of volunteers on the upcoming Project Peace Speakers Series: The Slave Next Door and the more time I invest the more I see how this issue matters.

There are 27 million people enslaved in the world today. To put that in perspective about 8 million people live in Manhattan, now multiply that by 3.

Silence on this issue is not an option and the goal of The Slave Next Door is to be apart of breaking that silence.

Community in Action

In the 1950's broadcaster Edward R. Murrow began a radio program entitled This I Believe with the intention of chronicling peoples beliefs. It was revived in 2005 to encourage people to write and share essays describing the core values that guide their daily lives. Over the years as I have listened to these essays I have been inspired, brought to tears numerous times, and proud of everyday people sharing extraordinary beliefs and accomplishments.

Back in 2005 I heard writer and broadcaster Studs Turkel share his belief in community.

"It is the community in action that accomplishes more than any individual does, no matter how strong he may be."

February 11th we have the opportunity to be that community in action at the Project Peace Day of Peace. We are able to accomplish so much more together as we build more sustainable communities at Claremont Middle School and B.O.S.S.

Invite your friends, colleagues, and neighbors to participate in the community we engage in.

Listen to Studs yourself here:

http://thisibelieve.org/essay/37/

Giving

“We strongly believe that the regular, spiritual practice of giving is the single greatest way that we can divest our money of its power over us--a power that attempts to form and shape our identity, whether it be through a false sense of status (“I have more”) or security (“I need more”). God is a generous giver...and becoming a generous giver is the consistent reminder of his grace in our life, a recollection that prompts gratitude toward him and generosity towards others.”

This quote, from a local pastor, resonates with me as I process much of what has been happening across our nation the past months. The country is restless due to inequity on so many levels and I wonder how things could change if we thought more of gratitude and generosity.

What if generosity became a hallmark of our communities? How could that change us personally and collectively?

As my own giving habits have become more consistent over the years I have grown more thankful and been continually reminded of the grace I trust in.

December is crucial to many non profits success for the next year. I hope as we all consider the concepts of gratitude and generosity it would compel us all to dig a bit deeper and give more.

So do yourself a favor this holiday season- give to a non profit that is up to good in this world. Every gift add's up to make a difference in the communities we live in and might just make a difference in your life too.

Albert Einstein

The past few months I have been working on Project Peace's second annual speakers series. In spring 2012 we will be hosting an event to raise awareness regarding the abolition of modern day slavery. Honestly, it is an issue that is disturbing to dig into and overwhelming to consider tackling, yet, I am compelled to keep at it.

I came across this quote from Albert Einstein which is encouraging me to act.

"The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."

I am striving to be someone who does something about it.

Collaboration

Collaboration: working together to achieve a goal

Thru Project Peace I am able to help make collaboration happen on a regular basis in our communities. In the past couple of months I have seen our community come together to clean a fountain, play kickball with kids who needed a day to be kids in a safe place, serve meals to those in need, clean a park, prep two schools for the beginning of the year, and plan a night to raise awareness about modern day slavery. I get to see an amazing community in action working for the betterment of the cities we live in. The issues we face seem insurmountable at times, but as we work together across areas of expertise we make a difference. What we see as small contributions add up when we work together and our communities do become more just and sustainable. We collaborate toward peace.

In less than 2 weeks we all have an opportunity to be apart of this goal. Project Peace is hosting its 4th 2011 Day of Peace at 3 sites and I encourage you to be apart of the the good work in our cities. Come see your "small" contribution add up together!

Please, RSVP here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2128029995

Projecting Peace During the Holidays

Maybe because it's getting cold outside. Maybe because the focus on what we're thankful for highlights the needs of so many others. Maybe because celebrating God's gift to the world at Christmas inspires us to give more generously than usual. Maybe just because we have the "holiday warm fuzzies." Whatever the reason, as we head into the holiday season, many of us are looking more intently for meaningful ways to "give back" to our communities.

Here are a few opportunities to engage with the East Bay community through Project Peace during the 2010 holidays:

Thanksgiving Meal
College Avenue Presbyterian Church (5951 College Ave., Oakland) hosts a Thanksgiving meal for homeless and low-income individuals in the community. This year they could use some extra help. Click here for more details on how to get involved.

2010 Project Peace Advent Gifts
On Sunday, December 19, Christ Church East Bay will take two special offerings - one in Berkeley, one in Rockridge. The monies from these offerings will be equally granted to three of Project Peace’s community partners, where they will further the crucial work of mercy and justice that these organizations are doing in Berkeley and Oakland. We hope to give each organization a grant of $1,000 (minimum). The 2010 Advent Grantees are: Claremont Middle School, World Impact Oakland, and YEAH! Click here for more information on how to give (even if you're out of town on the 19th or don't attend Christ Church).

Donate Directly to Project Peace!
It's been an exciting year, and your tax-deductible gift will enable us to continue growing our community programs in Berkeley and Oakland. Read our 2010 Holiday Letter for an update on our programs and how to donate.

A Final Thought...
Take a moment (which I know is difficult this time of year!) to think about why we tend to be more generous with our time and giving during the holidays. What would happen if we took this burst of goodwill and concern for our fellow humans and extended it throughout the rest of the year? Does that sound overly idealistic and sentimental? Or scary, because of the way it would change your life? Or both? Consider giving it a try. (You can start by checking out Project Peace's list of community partners, and contacting the Liaison to learn more about volunteering at one of them).

Can I Still Serve the Community if I Have Kids?

Before I write any further, I want to make VERY clear that this is not intended as a judgmental essay! As the mom of two children under 3, with a third on the way this Spring, I am right smack in the middle of the chaos that ensues when children enter our lives. Suddenly, our schedules are not our own -- days are driven by naptimes and regular feedings, and when we do have an unscheduled moment, we're completely exhausted or maybe would just like to spend some time with that spouse of ours (remember them?).

So why this reflection? Well, this morning my husband and I took our two daughters (and the kid in utero) to the Project Peace Day of Peace at Claremont Middle School. There was a nice turnout and a lot of kids there -- all of which is great! But one of our dedicated volunteers noted that a lot of our former regular volunteers from the surrounding neighborhood have stopped coming to these quarterly service days, and the common denominator seems to be the birth of children over the past few years.

Which got me thinking about how we choose our family activities. Now, don't get me wrong; if I weren't the Executive Director of Project Peace, volunteer service on a Saturday morning might not be the first activity I'd choose, either! But upon reflection, I think it's one of the most important things we've done together as a family. It's gotten us connected to a local, underserved school that we'd otherwise just walk right past. It's a pretty low commitment: 3 hours, 4 times a year (and often families will come late or leave early, which is totally fine!). And the girls love it! The Days of Peace are designed to be kid-friendly, and at Claremont they always have lots of work for us to do in the garden. Our girls, who lack a yard at home, love digging around in the dirt (whether or not that's actually helpful).
But the most important thing about a Day of Peace isn't that it's easy to take your kids to; the most important thing is the message that we're conveying to our kids when we make activities like this a priority. Sure, right now my girls are most excited about the Great Harvest muffins they get at these events. And sure, I tend to spend about half the time at the Days of Peace kid-wrangling, so I'm not at my most productive and helpful. (And honestly, by the time we get home, everyone is exhausted and grumpy and filthy!) But I'm hopeful that one day our kids will remember, "You know, even when we were little, our family made a point of going out regularly to volunteer in the community." And I'm hopeful that this might encourage them to grow into the kind of adults who are active in their own communities.

So the next time you have a free Saturday morning (February 26, 2011?), consider coming out to a Day of Peace, even for a short time. Bring your kids. After all, it's pretty hard to tell our kids to love their neighbors if we're not giving them real chances to do just that.

Looking for Liaisons!

As the summer winds down and we approach a new program year at Project Peace, we are looking for men and women who are passionate about seeing social justice in our communities to serve as Project Peace Liaisons. Click here for more information and to sign up!

What, you may ask, is a Project Peace Liaison?

It's a new position that should make Project Peace function much more clearly and efficiently out in the East Bay community!

Here's the deal: under the old system, every small group serving with Project Peace had to select their own internal Project Peace Coordinator. This Coordinator was responsible for helping the group identify a social service provider or cause, coordinating all dates of service, and following up with evaluations, etc. This proved to be too much on the shoulders of one person, who may not have been very committed to the role to begin with.

The NEW system: We're looking for Project Peace Liaisons who are already passionate about getting volunteers connected to a particular East Bay service provider/ministry/cause. The Liaisons will work directly with the social service provider to calendar 6 days of service throughout the 2010-11 program year. Then, they'll communicate these dates to the small group(s -- there will likely be more than one group per service provider) who have signed up to serve. While there will still be a Project Peace Coordinator in each small group, their role will primarily be to remind their group of the next service date. The Liaison is really the link between server and served, and will be primarily responsible for communication and evaluation.

This new system is the product of a lot of learning over the short life of Project Peace. We hope that you'll be seeing some exciting new changes in our structure this year, which will enable us to streamline our operations and better serve the East Bay communities that we are so passionate about!

The Gospel of Matthew

We are delighted to welcome Justin Ashforth, Project Peace’s new Director of Development, who will help us develop an individual donor base as well as an arts outreach program! Justin is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He played the title roles in Macbeth and Henry V, and was the founder and artistic director of the Living Shakespeare Company in NYC. His film work includes In the Bedroom, Payback, and The Greatest Game Ever Played. In addition, Justin is a fully licensed financial adviser who managed high net worth clients at UBS in the flagship Beverly Hills office. Justin was raised in the Napa Valley and currently lives in Berkeley.

To inagurate Project Peace's arts outreach program, Justin will be performing his one-man interpretation of The Gospel of Matthew at Christ Church Berkeley (2138 Cedar St. in Berkeley) on Friday, June 25. There will be a reception from 7-8 PM, and the performance will start at 8 PM, followed by a Q&A. RSVP Here.

We hope to offer Justin's powerful performance to churches around the East Bay. If you are a member of such a church, or know of a church that may be interested, please email justin@projectpeaceeastbay.org.

Project Peace's 2009 Annual Report

What a year it's been! We're pleased to celebrate our 2009 fiscal year with our 2009 Annual Report.

BATTLE OF THE SALSA BANDS (DOS)!!

Things have been very busy at Project Peace lately -- lots of strategizing and action planning for next year, which has not left much time for blogging. BUT our major social event of the year is fast approaching, and it seems remiss not to at least include it here.

We're so excited for our 2nd Annual Battle of the Salsa Bands -- a party to celebrate the volunteers and community partners that work alongside Project Peace as we seek to create more sustainable East Bay communities. This year's event will be even bigger and better than last year's (which, any of you who were there will recall was a fantastic party). For starters, we're going to be treated to music from two of the East Bay's best salsa bands:

Orquesta Borinquen

Julio Bravo y su Orquesta Salsabor

And we'll be at a great new venue: Veteran's Memorial Building, 200 Grand Ave. in Oakland.

The Battle will be on Saturday, May 22 from 6:30-midnight. You can purchase or reserve tickets here.

Download Battle of the Salsa Bands flyer.

The Make Something Party

Thanks to the 70+ people who turned out last Saturday for the Day of Peace! It was a great kickoff to the school year, and so encouraging that so many people want to support our local schools.

We're thrilled to announce the next Project Peace event: The Make Something Party on December 6, 2009. 12:30-2 at the Gaia Arts Center, 3:30-5 at College Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Project Peace is partnering with Christ Church of Berkeley and Rockridge in their Advent Conspiracy, an effort to rethink the hectic consumerism that has become the hallmark of the Christmas season. In order to reclaim the meaningfulness of the Advent season, we are encouraging people to Spend Less and Give More. One way of doing this is the Make Something Party. We'll have craft tables where you can make a variety of quality gifts for your loved ones, all for the minimal cost of materials. Check out the Make Something Party Blog for more details and updates. Then come out on December 6 and channel your inner craftsperson!

Why Days of Peace Matter

Next Saturday, October 24, Project Peace is kicking off the school year with a Day of Peace. We'll have volunteers working from 9 AM - 12 PM at two local public schools: Oakland's Claremont Middle School, and Berkeley's Leconte Elementary School. If you've been to a Day of Peace over the past year, Claremont will be familiar to you; for over two years, we have been helping in various ways to improve their physical space. Leconte Elementary is a new site, and we're excited by the possibility of developing a similar long-term relationship with them.

What might come as a surprise to you, since both of these schools are located in attractive and seemingly affluent neighborhoods, is the extent of their needs. Both Leconte and Claremont are classified as "Program Improvement Schools," based on their failure to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP, a federal measure that requires schools to meet test score goals). 60% of Leconte students and 67.5% of Claremont students are classified as low-income by the state; due to the school assignment systems in Berkeley and Oakland, many of the students who attend these schools do not actually reside in the bucolic neighborhoods that surround them. The current state budget crisis has and will continue to impact these schools with severe funding cuts.

This is why it's important for us to continue to support our neighborhood schools like Leconte and Claremont. Showing up for 3 hours on a Saturday morning to weed school gardens, paint classrooms, and help set up for school fundraisers may not seem groundshaking, but it sends a message to over 700 students and their administrators that the community cares about them. It helps create school buildings and grounds that are clean and safe environments for learning. And it's the first step towards creating relationships with these schools -- relationships of respect, trust, and mutual problem-solving that will grow over time to include additional types of service.

So, please come to the Day of Peace on Saturday, October 24. And please RSVP here.

Some Good Reading Material

I'm technically still out on maternity leave until October, but that's given me a chance to catch up on some reading! A couple of recent reads seem fitting to recommend to Project Peace-minded folks, since they align quite well with PP's emphasis on justice:

The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God's Call to Justice by Mark Labberton (Pastor of First Pres of Berkeley).

Just Courage by Gary Haugen (founder of International Justice Mission).

Both are challenging exhortations to break out of the comfortable rut that the church often finds itself in (what Haugen calls a "cul-de-sac") and wake up to the call to seek justice for the oppressed in our own communities and around the world.

University Village Day of Peace

Thanks to all 29 of our great volunteers who came out to help put on the "Whatever you speak, you are welcome" UC Village International Festival and Potluck. Budget cuts were forcing the Village staff to cancel the annual welcome back event for resident Berkeley students and their families. But Project Peace came to the rescue to make the first ever International Potluck and Festival possible. Volunteers helped to set up and run game and art booths for younger kids, coordinate the international potluck for families, facilitate dodge-ball for older kids, and even administer the launch of a book exchange program. For many residents who are often mired in their studies, or who are new to Berkeley or even the U.S., this gathering of neighbors was a great event to meet new people and reduce the sense of isolation that student families can often feel, thereby fulfilling Project Peace's goal to "cultivate better communities." Even though twice as many people turned out to help as we had hoped for, we could have used more hands - so we hope to see you in future years as we continue to partner with the UC Village.

Upcoming Day of Peace - August 29

Join us for our next Day of Peace:
Saturday, August 29
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
University Village Berkeley
RSVP now for Day of Peace

Day of Peace Details
We will be working with Berkeley’s University Village (a partner for one of our monthly service groups) to help put on the “No Matter What you Speak, You are Welcome” International Fall Festival and Potluck. Project Peace volunteers will be helping Resident Advisors set up and break down, man game booths, display a children’s art presentation, and coordinate an international potluck. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes!
NOTE: There will be no childcare provided for this event. However, mobile, supervised children are welcome to participate at both sites.

What is a Day of Peace?
A Day of Peace is a coordinated effort by Project Peace East Bay and local churches and faith-based groups in which volunteers serve with East Bay agencies and organizations in order to meet needs in the East Bay Community. Days of Peace are not overtly Christian projects (there is no teaching or prayer), and the agencies and organizations served are not faith-based non-profits.

What does a Day of Peace look like?
A Day of Peace usually involves community “sweat equity.” Landscaping, construction, painting, organizing, cleaning up a watershed—all of these activities and more comprise a Day of Peace. See photos on our Flickr collection.

About International Day of Peace, September 21

The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.

International Day of Peace is also a Day of Ceasefire – personal or political. Take this opportunity to make peace in your own relationships as well as impact the larger conflicts of our time. Imagine what a whole Day of Ceasefire would mean to humankind.

Background and Purpose - International Day of Peace

Project Peace Film Fest: Out of the Ashes

Out of the Ashes
Out of the Ashes is a film festival featuring films by Bay Area female filmmakers. The four films share the theme of women overcoming various obstacles and adversities.

Featured FilmsStep Into You by Dorian Davis
Moms Living Clean by Sheila Ganz (Work In Progress)
Exposing Homelessness by Kerri Gawryn
*La Corona by Amanda Micheli & Isabel Vega
*Academy Award® Nominated Documentary Short
Friday, July 31, 2009
Doors open at 7 pm
Films and panel discussion 7:30-10:30pm

Tickets
$10 (includes one drink and snacks)
All proceeds benefit Oakland Elizabeth House and Project Peace East Bay
Project Peace East Bay is privileged to partner with Oakland Elizabeth House in cultivating better communities.

http://www.outoftheashes.eventbrite.com/

June Day of Peace Photos are Up

IMG_5055, originally uploaded by Project Peace.

Check out the photos from the June Day of Peace at Berkeley Aquatic Park.

View the Photos here

Free BBQ

DSC_9228, originally uploaded by Project Peace.

Christ Church partnered with Urban Church to help with a Free Easter BBQ for the Oakland community.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/projectpeace/sets/72157617713268262/

Battle of the Salsa Bands

Party like it’s Cinco de Mayo — on Dos de Mayo! Project Peace East Bay invites you to a fundraiser to help us continue cultivating better East Bay communities. Come enjoy salsa music provided by Josh Jones & His Latin Jazz Orchestra. Free salsa dance lessons will be offered, beginning at 7:15 PM. $20 entry entitles you to one free drink, plus all the food, music & dancing you can handle. Additional donations are welcomed along with your ticket purchase as well as at the event. For more information, email contact@ProjectPeaceEastBay.org.

http://dosdemayo.eventbrite.com/

Chili anyone?

DSC_8904, originally uploaded by Project Peace.

Check out the photos from the chili lunch that Project Peace served up at Urban Church.

View photos here

February Day of Peace Photos are on Flickr

DSC_2635.JPG, originally uploaded by Project Peace.

Photos are up from the February Day of Peace at Claremont Middle School.

View the Flickr page here

College Avenue Friday Night Meal

090227_173143_1, originally uploaded by Project Peace.

Project Peace small groups serve throughout the community. One team from Christ Church of Rockridge serves once a month at College Avenue Friday Night Meal in Rockridge. Christ Church's team cooks a hearty and healthy meal and enjoys connecting with the community.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/projectpeace/sets/72157614854823144/

October 2008 Day of Peace Photos

Painting the Gym Wall, originally uploaded by Project Peace.

The Day of Peace is a coordinated effort in which members of the community serve the needs of a social service provider. On October 25, 2008, 50 volunteers helped with painting and gardening projects at Claremont Middle School in Oakland.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/projectpeace/sets/72157608524803385/

September 2007 Day of Peace

Heavy Load, originally uploaded by Project Peace.

Day of Peace is a coordinated effort that mobilize volunteers to serve and meet the needs in our East Bay Community.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/projectpeace/sets/72157607558231580/