Summit aims to promote nonviolence
Sep 03, 2008 02:33 PM Filed in: News
reprinted from the Vacaville Reporter
By Ryan Chalk
Article Launched: 08/31/2008
One Community: No hate, no violence.
That is the theme for a major youth nonviolence summit planned for January of 2009.
PeaceJam Solano is spearheading the Solano County Coalition to Eliminate Racism and Hate, a group of members throughout the community, including local law enforcement, school officials, clergy and businesses working together in an effort to eliminate racism and hate in Solano County.
"I believe personally that racism and hate play a much larger part in youth crime and violence," said Sherilyn Henry, president of PeaceJam Solano. "We're addressing this throughout the county."
Organizers are working hard in the planning stages to hold the event in Fairfield, with a tentative date of Jan. 10.
Henry envisions a huge "Martin Luther King, Jr.-like" march starting at Fairfield High School and moving its way down North Texas Street, ending at Armijo High School.
From there, the summit would take shape with activities throughout the day. Events such as panel discussions from violence prevention experts, discussions groups led by the youth, a 'peace picnic' and concert will be held as well as opportunities for families to interact, all with the goal of identifying and drafting solutions to local violence.
"We invite everyone in our community who have a heart for youth and who want to be part of an event for non-violence," added Henry.
The planning process is moving forward quickly, according to Henry. Organizers will be holding planning meetings on the second Monday of the each month with the next scheduled meeting set for Monday, Sept. 8 at the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District Office in room 319.
The 6 p.m. meeting is open to anyone who would like to get involved with the summit or would just like to learn more about PeaceJam Solano, according to Henry.
PeaceJam Solano grew out of the internationally recognized PeaceJam Foundation, which was founded in 2006 by 12 Nobel Peace Prize winners including The Dalai Lama.
According to Henry, PeaceJam Solano was the first chapter to grow out of the foundation, and it developed a model that is now being duplicated not only across the country, but also worldwide.
One of the goals of PeaceJam Solano is to provide youth the tools to deal with conflict.
"When the youth really believe they can make a difference, miracles can happen," said Henry.
For more information about the summit, contact PeaceJam Solano President Sherilyn Henry at 208-0853, or E-mail Sherilyn@PeaceJamSolano.org.
The youth need to be inspired in order to become caring and thoughtful citizens, according to Henry, "and I think PeaceJam can provide that."
PeaceJam Solano and The Coalition are working together make sure the nonviolence summit has an impact on the youth.
We would really like to see our youth move from coping alone with this environment of violence,"
By Ryan Chalk
Article Launched: 08/31/2008
One Community: No hate, no violence.
That is the theme for a major youth nonviolence summit planned for January of 2009.
PeaceJam Solano is spearheading the Solano County Coalition to Eliminate Racism and Hate, a group of members throughout the community, including local law enforcement, school officials, clergy and businesses working together in an effort to eliminate racism and hate in Solano County.
"I believe personally that racism and hate play a much larger part in youth crime and violence," said Sherilyn Henry, president of PeaceJam Solano. "We're addressing this throughout the county."
Organizers are working hard in the planning stages to hold the event in Fairfield, with a tentative date of Jan. 10.
Henry envisions a huge "Martin Luther King, Jr.-like" march starting at Fairfield High School and moving its way down North Texas Street, ending at Armijo High School.
From there, the summit would take shape with activities throughout the day. Events such as panel discussions from violence prevention experts, discussions groups led by the youth, a 'peace picnic' and concert will be held as well as opportunities for families to interact, all with the goal of identifying and drafting solutions to local violence.
"We invite everyone in our community who have a heart for youth and who want to be part of an event for non-violence," added Henry.
The planning process is moving forward quickly, according to Henry. Organizers will be holding planning meetings on the second Monday of the each month with the next scheduled meeting set for Monday, Sept. 8 at the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District Office in room 319.
The 6 p.m. meeting is open to anyone who would like to get involved with the summit or would just like to learn more about PeaceJam Solano, according to Henry.
PeaceJam Solano grew out of the internationally recognized PeaceJam Foundation, which was founded in 2006 by 12 Nobel Peace Prize winners including The Dalai Lama.
According to Henry, PeaceJam Solano was the first chapter to grow out of the foundation, and it developed a model that is now being duplicated not only across the country, but also worldwide.
One of the goals of PeaceJam Solano is to provide youth the tools to deal with conflict.
"When the youth really believe they can make a difference, miracles can happen," said Henry.
For more information about the summit, contact PeaceJam Solano President Sherilyn Henry at 208-0853, or E-mail Sherilyn@PeaceJamSolano.org.
The youth need to be inspired in order to become caring and thoughtful citizens, according to Henry, "and I think PeaceJam can provide that."
PeaceJam Solano and The Coalition are working together make sure the nonviolence summit has an impact on the youth.
We would really like to see our youth move from coping alone with this environment of violence,"