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Past Events: 2003 | Upcoming Events | 2011 Events | 2010 Events | 2009 Events | 2008 Events | 2007 Events | 2006 Events | 2005 Events | 2004 Events | 2003 Events | We are proud of our political/social education, fundraising, community outreach, and other activism events! The events listed below were presented, hosted, or strongly supported by Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace or our members during 2003. Winter 2003 First Meeting Wednesday, February 12, 2003 7:00 p.m. Merriam Park Library, and St. Mark's Catholic Church, 2001 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul The first meeting of Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace was held on Wendesday, February 12, 2003, at the Merriam Park Library in St. Paul on the corner of Fairview and Marshall Avenues. Anne Benson and Rachel Goligoski, the group's co-founders, had distributed flyers to all houses in the neighborhood that were displaying "Say No to War with Iraq," "Peace," "Wellstone," or other progressive yard signs. They expected about a dozen people to show up, but over 60 neighbors crowded enthusiastically into the library basement conference room that night, forcing the library to ask us to either reduce the number or move to a new venue because we were breaking the fire code. We moved to the nearby St. Mark's Catholic Church, where we have held our weekly meetings and many of our events ever since!
Phil Steger, Director of Friends for a Non-Violent
World: Monday, February 17, 2003 7:00 p.m. Carolyn Hall, St. Mark's Catholic Church, 1983 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul
March 2003 Global Candlelight Vigil for Peace Sunday, March 16, 2003 7:00–8:00 p.m. Intersection of Summit Avenue and Snelling Avenue, St. Paul MoveOn.org and the Win Without War coalition, together with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Reverend Robert Edgar, and other religious leaders and faith-based organizations, have called for candlelight vigils around the world on March 16th to say yes to peace—and no to war with Iraq. Beginning in New Zealand, this will be a rolling wave of candlelight gatherings that will quickly cross the globe. It's time for the world to come together in this moment of darkness and rekindle the light of reason—and of hope. It's time to renew our commitment to building a positive world for our children. Please join Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace and hundreds of thousands of people from around the world in a Candlelight Vigil for Peace. Invite your neighbors. E-mail your friends. Let's show the world that we stand united for peace! This will be a silent vigil, not a rally. Bring a candle (and something to protect it with) or a flashlight. If you have a digital camera, please bring it to take pictures to share on the Global Vigil web site. For more information on this international event, visit the Global Vigil for Peace web site.
Spring 2003 Pad Thai Grand Café Wellstone Memorial Event Sunday, April 13, 2003 2:00–4:00 p.m. Weyerhaeuser Chapel, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul Phou Vanh Phetnongphay, owner of Pad Thai Grand Café and friend of the Wellstones, would like to extend an invitation to all of you to come celebrate the Thai New Year at an event honoring Paul and Sheila Wellstone. Pam Costain will speak about the Wellstone legacy and their special relationship with the Minnesota immigrant community. The afternoon will also include performances by a Thai band and dance troupe. Delicious food will be provided free of charge by Pad Thai Grand Café. Sponsored by Phou Vanh Phetnongphay and Pad Thai Grand Café, and supported by Wellstone Action, Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace, and other organizations. E-mail Kippy for more information: clkfreund@msn.com
Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:00 p.m. Cafeteria, St. Mark's School, 1983 Dayton Avenue (Dayton and Prior), St. Paul Many activists opposed to the war on Iraq have experienced hostility by proponents of the war, who often appear at marches, vigils, and other peace activities to counter-demonstrate. In an effort to facilitate positive, productive communication with war proponents, Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace is sponsoring a training session with Susan Skye from the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC). The CNVC's Nonviolent Communication method teaches people to speak in a way that does not trigger defensiveness and hostility. Instead, it uses a language from the heart that addresses feelings and needs, rather than a language from the head that destroys connection through hurtful analysis, diagnosis, and criticism. Using Nonviolent Communication, you can learn how to transform potential conflicts into peaceful dialogs. Please join us if you'd like to learn how to avoid war on the home front! E-mail nvc@mppeace.org or call Susan Damon at (651) 645-7709 for more information on this event. For more information on Nonviolent Communication and Susan Skye, visit http://www.cnvc.org or http://www.tcnvc.org. Full-page flyer in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format Full-page flyer in Micosoft Word (.doc) format Half-page flyer in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format Half-page flyer in Micosoft Word (.doc) format
Sunday, April 27, 2003 Weyerhaeuser Chapel, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul Join Robert Bly, Minnesota Book Award finalists Greg Hewett and Rich Broderick, Patricia Kirkpatrick, Ilze Mueller, Thomas R. Smith, and others for readings and music. Admission is free, but donations of non-perishable food shelf items are welcome. Sponsored by Minnesota Poets Against War and Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace. Call (651) 295-4521 for more information. Half-page flyer in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format Half-page flyer in Micosoft Word (.doc) format
Gardening Season 2003 Gardeners, show your support for peace by planting pink and white flowers in your front yard, boulevard, or container gardens. Even a few pink plants will make a statement! Get involved, meet other gardeners, share plants, and work for peace. Click here for meeting dates, plants lists, flyers, press releases, and other information.
29th Annual MayDay Parade and Festival Sunday, May 4, 2003 1:00 p.m. Parade: Bloomington Avenue South, between 25th and 34th Streets Festival: Powderhorn Park, 3400 15th Avenue South, Minneapolis Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace will be joining other Minnesota Neighbors for Peace groups in the 29th Annual MayDay Parade and Festival sponsored by In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre in Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis. We will be marching as part of the Minnesota Neighbors for Peace float in the main parade and will be handing out information about our group, events, other Minnesota Neighbors for Peace opportunities, and FNVW's Iraqi Children's Emergency Relief Fund.
Tom Bottolene and Pepperwolf, AlliantAction: Thursday, May 15, 2003 7:00 p.m. Carolyn Hall, St. Mark's Catholic Church, 1983 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul Depleted Uranium munitions contain uranium-238, a radioactive toxic waste left over from the uranium "enrichment" process. Combined with titanium, the DU alloy is extremely hard and makes devastating armor piercing ammunition. These weapons were an important part of the decisive U.S. military victory over Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War, and are being used in the current war against Iraq. However, the radiation released from these weapons has been linked to major health problems and death to thousands of American GIs and their offspring, as well as to the Iraqi civilian population. Tom Bottolene and Pepperwolf are members of AlliantAction, a 7-year-old weekly vigil at Alliant Techsystems, the Minnesota corporation which is a major supplier of Depleted Uranium weapons for the Department of Defense.
Peter Erlinder, Past President of National Lawyers
Guild: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 7:00 p.m. Lower Church (Basement), St. Mark's Catholic Church, 1983 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul Please join us to learn why the peace movement in the United States must turn its focus to the war at home—the war on our civil liberties. Peter Erlinder will discuss how the U.S. PATRIOT Act and the Homeland Security Act affect every citizen (and non-citizen) of this country and how these executive orders have jeopardized our constitutional protections. He will also discuss the national movement to defend our Bill of Rights and why it is critical for those in the peace movement to play a part. Already, over 80 U.S. cities have passed resolutions or ordinances supporting our national traditions of liberty and rejecting parts of the PATRIOT Act that are unconstitutional. Find out why. Peter Erlinder is past president of the National Lawyer's Guild, professor at William Mitchell College of Law, and defense attorney for Omar Jamal, Executive Director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center, a national advocate for the rights of Somali immigrants in the U.S.
Neighbors for Peace Potluck Picnic Sunday, June 1, 2003 4:00–8:00 p.m. Hidden Falls Regional Park, St. Paul Co-sponsored by all of the groups in Minnesota Neighbors for Peace Calling all neighbors for peace! Neighbors for Peace chapters have taken root all over the Twin Cities and the greater Metro Area. Let's bring all our incredible neighborly energy and spirit together for a boisterous picnic and amateur talent show! For months and months, we've all been working and organizing and planning and meeting and…isn't it time to get together and just relax in a beautiful park, eat some food, enjoy each other's company, and have some fun under the warm spring sun? (The answer is yes.) Everyone is encouraged to bring some food to add to the feast. Please bring your own beverage, utensils, plate/bowl, and blanket or lawn chair. We'll have a grill or two ready for BBQ. No alcohol is allowed in the park. Also, any dogs must be on a leash at all times. We'll also have a sound system for an amateur talent show—bring your instruments, favorite poems, stories, songs, jokes, etc., and we'll share our creativity and talent with each other. Bring your family and friends! And if you're looking for a Neighbors for Peace group to be a part of, this is the place to be. Hidden Falls Regional Park is located just south of Ford Parkway on East Mississippi River Boulevard in St. Paul. Enter in the north side of the park—Magoffin Entrance. We'll be under the large picnic shelter. Click here for the Hidden Falls web site. Click here for a Mapquest map of the park's location. For more information, e-mail Tony at ynotwrite@hotmail.com.
The Anti-War Movement: Tuesday, June 3, 2003 7:00 p.m. Carolyn Hall, St. Mark's Catholic Church, 1983 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul In the months before the U.S. war on Iraq, a huge anti-war movement grew from every corner of the world. Millions took to the streets around the world and thousands of Minnesotans participated in many anti-war activities. Come to the June 3rd panel discussion to hear different views of what the anti-war movement accomplished and where we can go from here. Speakers will represent both new and long-established groups and communities: Marie Braun from Women Against Military Madness and the Twin Cities Campaign to Lift Sanctions, Jessica Sundin from Anti-War Committee, and representatives from Educators for Peace, Code Pink, Veterans For Peace, and others to be announced. There will be a discussion session after the speakers. For more information, contact the Anti-War Committee at (612) 379-3899, Twin Cities Campaign to Lift Sanctions at (612) 522-1861, or Women Against Military Madness at (612) 827-5364.
Let's Take Back Our Constitution: Friday, June 6, 2003 7:00–9:00 p.m. Carolyn Hall, St. Mark's Catholic Church, 1983 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul Find out how the federal government is taking away your rights to privacy, free speech, and personal security in the name of fighting terrorism. Learn how far they have gone and what we can do to protect our constitutional rights. Panelists include Michael Andregg, Adjunct Professor, University of St. Thomas, Justice and Peace Studies; Saeed Fahia, Somali Community Member; Zainab Hassan, Co-founder, Women of Africa Resource and Development Association (WARDA); Peter Nikitas, Civil Liberties Attorney; and Celia Rumann, Professor, University of St. Thomas, College of Law. Form more information, please visit the St. Paul Bill of Rights Defense Committee web site: http://www.stbordc.org or call Matt Ehling at (651) 335-2037. Funding provided by the Headwaters Fund.
Summer 2003 "Israel and the Palestinians: The Territorial Dispute" Tuesday, July 8, 2003 7:00 p.m. Carolyn Hall, St. Mark's Catholic Church and School, 1983 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul As tension mounts in the Middle East, learn more about the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. What is the history of the conflict? Can the "Road Map" lead to peace? Join us for a presentation by Florence Steichen and John Schwarz. The key factor in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is, and always has been, territory. Unfortunately, media coverage — especially in the U.S. — has given short shrift to the Palestinian perspective and over-emphasized Israeli views. This talk will address the central territorial issues — as viewed by Palestinians — in the region from the Palestinian perspective. The intent is to better balance the listener's understanding of these events, the claims made by both sides throughout the conflict, and the territorial concessions already made by Palestinians since 1948. John Schwarz is a freelance writer and political researcher and holds an M.A. in Government from Cornell University where he is a past president of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly. John will give a historical perspective of the crisis in the region, how we arrived at the current situation of the territories, and past attempts at resolutions. Florence Steichen lived in Bethlehem 1987–1992, and was registrar of Bethlehem University in the West Bank during the first Intifada, when the University was closed by the Israeli military for nearly three years. She returned for visits in 1995, 1998, and 2000. From her experience, Florence will speak of daily life in Palestine, how the road map could work, Internet resources, and political activism.
Neighbors for Peace Potluck Picnic Sunday, July 20, 2003 5:00–5:30 p.m. – Brief meeting to give updates on what each group has been doing 5:30–8:00 p.m. – Potluck picnic Newell Park, 900 North Fairview Avenue at Pierce Butler Road, St. Paul Anyone who is a member of a Neighbors for Peace group or is interested in joining a Neighbors for Peace group in the Twin Cities is invited to attend our second monthly Neighbors for Peace Potluck Picnic. This month's picnic will be hosted by Como Park Neighbors for Peace at Newell Park, 900 North Fairview Avenue at Pierce Butler Road, St. Paul. Please bring a potluck item, beverage, your own plate, cup, and utensils. A grill will be available, so bring charcoal if you'd like to barbecue. There is also electricity just in case. Bring flyers for upcoming events or actions. Click here for the Newell Park web site. Click here for a Mapquest map of the park's location. Contact: Kathleen Schuler: (612) 375-0188, kschuler@ix.netcom.com
Workshop on Fair and Clean Elections (FACE) Wednesday, August 6, 2003 7:00–9:00 p.m. St. Mark's Catholic Church, 2001 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul. Community Room in NW corner of Lower Church (basement). Enter through door on NW side of building and go downstairs to Community Room on immediate left. Open to any community organization leader who is interested in learning more about Fair and Clean Elections (FACE) and who may be interested in attending a future workshop facilitator training so he/she can sponsor future FACE workshops in his/her own neighborhood.
Israel and Palestine: Some American Jewish Peace Perspectives Monday, August 18, 2003 7:00 p.m. Twin Cities Friends Meeting House, 1725 Grand Avenue, St. Paul Suggested Donation: $5-10, but no one will be turned away This is the second event in our ongoing speaker series highlighting the disparate approaches to the issues surrounding Israel/Palestine. Barbara Nordstrom-Loeb and Neal Gosman will present some American Jewish peace perspectives. Both Barbara and Neal speak from a deep commitment to a just peace between Jews and Arabs in Israel/Palestine while supporting the State of Israel. Although both are associated with Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, neither will be speaking on behalf of Brit Tzedek. Barbara Nordstrom-Loeb is an American Jew who has been involved with the Minneapolis Jewish community since she moved here 12 years ago. As a psychotherapist working with individuals coping with trauma, Barbara is skilled at seeing many sides to complex emotional issues. Barbara is an active member of Mayim Rabim Reconstructionist Congregation and co-chair of the Minnesota Chapter of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom (Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace), a national organization that is both pro-peace and pro-Israel. She has also co-written a play exploring four different Jewish perspectives on Israel and Palestine. Her involvement in Israel/Palestine issues comes from her deep belief that heartfelt listening to all sides is a core component of peaceful co-existence. Neal Gosman is a founding National Board member of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, and is active in its local Minnesota Chapter. He is a member of the Reform Congregation, Shir Tikvah (Song of Hope), in Minneapolis. Neal has worked in various government service positions and has two decades of experience in the non-profit sector. He is a life member of both Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA Chapter 62) and the Jewish War Veterans (JWV Chapter 354). Two of his three adult daughters live in Israel in a Hasidic community. Neal will provide an historical perspective of the Israel/Palestine issues.
Iraqi School Kit Sewing Bees and Donation Drive Now through September 30, Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace will be sewing drawstring school kit bags and collecting school supply donations for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in cooperation with Ten Thousand Villages on Grand Avenue. This is part of a larger effort across the country to collect 92,000 complete kits. The school kits are needed to provide children in 9 countries with the materials they need for school. 40,000 kits are needed for children in Iraq. Click here for more information on the MCC drive. How can you help?
Please contact Krista at web@mppeace.org or (651) 641-7592 to arrange pick-up or delivery of materials or school supplies, volunteer your sewing expertise, or volunteer to coordinate a drop-off site.
Dr. Galia Golan: "The Role of Grassroots Activism in the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict" Thursday, September 18, 2003 7:00 p.m. Weyerhaeuser Chapel, Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul One of the founders of Shalom Achsav (Peace Now), the Israeli peace movement, Dr. Galia Golan has been a leading activist in the movement since its inception in 1978. A member of the executive of the Meretz Party in Israel, she is also a founder-leader of Bat Shalom, the Israeli component of the Jerusalem Link: An Israeli-Palestinian Women's Joint Venture for Peace, founded in 1994. Golan is a professor in the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy of the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzlia, specializing in issues related to globalization, international crises, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Golan moved to the IDC following a long career at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem where she had been chair of the Department of Political Science, chair of the Lafer Center for Women's Studies, and Darwin Professor of Soviet and East European Studies. She has served as a consultant to the IDF on the status of women and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Soviet and post-Soviet affairs. A frequent radio and television commentator, Golan was one of the founders of the Israel Women's Network and presently is on the executive of the Israel Association for Feminist Research and Gender Studies and of the Israel Association for Women's Health. A member of the government appointed public (Zameret) committee on religious-secular relations, she is also a member of the President's Council on Religious-Secular Relations (Yahad). She is also on the board of Keshev, the Association for the Protection of Democracy in Israel. Golan was the recipient of the 1995 New Israel Fund Alice Shalvi Award for Women in Leadership and was awarded the Gleitsman Foundation Activist Prize in 1999. Golan is the author of eight books and innumerable articles on Soviet foreign policy and on Eastern Europe, including a recent monograph on Russia and Iran, and works on the Arab-Israeli Conflict and on women and politics. She has been a visiting scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center and at the Washington Institute for Middle East Policy both in Washington, DC, as well as the Rand Corporation, University of California, Berkeley and UCLA, Cornell, Wellesley College, and the Royal Institute for International Affairs in London. She is an international fellow of the Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life of Brandeis University and has been a MacArthur Foundation and a Ford Foundation Fellow. This event is sponsored by the Macalester Student Programming Board, Macalester Campus Programs, Project Pericles, Macalester Women's and Gender Studies Department, Macalester Political Science Department, Macalester History Department, and Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace.
Fall 2003
CRY JUSTICE! October 24, 25, 26, 2003 William Mitchell College of Law 875 Summit Avenue, St. Paul On Friday night, CRY JUSTICE! opens with a panel of civil liberties activists who will discuss what's happening on the front lines of freedom — locally, nationally, and internationally. Their presentation will be followed by question circles as together we begin to create our strategies for solidarity and justice. Featured Speakers: Amy Goodman is host and executive producer of Democracy Now! from Pacifica Radio. She is the recipient of numerous journalism awards, including the Robert F. Kennedy Prize for International Reporting, the Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Silver Baton, and the Corporation of Public Broadcasting Award. Pramila Jayapal, activist, writer, founder and director of Hate Free Zone Campaign of Washington, a grassroots nonprofit organization created in 2001 in response to the backlash against immigrant communities of color. Workshops: Over 40 community workshops and panel discussions, including: Privilege as an Unjust Use of Power; Organizing While Under Attack and Continuing to Fight Back; People vs. Corporations: Rights, Freedom & Authority to Govern; and Tackling Health Disparities in Communities of Color via the Environmental Justice Movement. (Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace will present two workshops on community organizing.) Cosponsored and endorsed by over 50 Minnesota organizations. The CRY JUSTICE! Conference will be concurrent with the National Lawyers Guild convention, Demand Democracy!, being held at the West Bank Holiday Inn in Minneapolis. For more informaiton and a registration form, visit the CRY JUSTICE! web site or call (651) 221-1082.
Fair and Clean Elections (FACE) Workshop Trainer Training Friday, October 10, 2003 7:00 p.m. Community Room, St. Mark's Catholic Church, 2001 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul. Enter through door on NW side of church and go downstairs to Community Room on immediate left. Learn how to present workshops on Fair and Clean Elections (FACE).
Sunday, December 21, 2003 5:30–7:00 p.m. Intersection of Snelling Avenue and Summit Avenue, St. Paul Light a candle for peace on the darkest night of the year! Bring a candle and join neighbors from throughout the Twin Cities to quietly witness for peaceful solutions to world problems. If you are able, please bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Merriam Park Food Shelf. Sponsored by Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace. More information: info@mppeace.org or (651) 647-0580.
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Copyright © 2003–2013 Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace |
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Neighbors
March for Peace
Nonviolent
Communication: Maintaining Peace on the Home Front in a Time of War
Minnesota
Poets Against War
Neighbors
Lend a Hand: A Benefit Concert for Humanitarian Aid in Iraq
Winter
Solstice Peace Vigil