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Intercultural Action for Peace
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Heather Foster and Paulette Sankofa, W A M M Co-Directors
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The peace movement experienced very difficult and trying months leading up to the start of the war on Iraq. While there was hope and enthusiasm generated by the global opposition to the war, there was still anxiety and frustration with the United States government’s decision to proceed despite the protests. We needed a breath of fresh air and new ways organizing that would allow us to stay engaged with the peace movement while fostering new relationships and providing an atmosphere of hospitality and welcome to populations that had not been engaged in the previous months—particularly populations of color.
W A M M called together a small but dedicated group of peace activists for a meeting at Seven Bridges World Market. We discussed how we could work together to forge new horizons in the peace movement. The Intercultural Action for Peace project was the topic of discussion. We emerged from the meeting with this shared goal: to gather grassroots community participants in critical reflection about the interconnections of poverty, racism, militarism, and war.
The Intercultural Action for Peace pilot project was designed to build community connections and engage participants in creating new ways to work for peace. Through a series of six weekly events, we looked at critical issues through a variety of lenses, and shared different paths to peace and peacemaking. In the process, we developed connections with many organizations and community members, including the following cooperating partners for this summer’s pilot project: Seven Bridges World Market, Black Storytellers Alliance, River’s Edge Playback Theatre, College of St. Catherine’s Diversity and Democracy
Initiative Committee, Speak Out Sisters (SOS), Insight News, Headwaters Fund, University of St. Thomas’ Critical Pedagogy Department, the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, and the Headwaters Fund.
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Vuzi Zulu of the Black Storytellers Alliance
shares a vision of creating peace in diverse
communities.
– Photo by Paulette Sankofa |
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At our first weekly event, we looked at the art of storytelling as a way to share a message and build connections. Facilitator Vuzi Zulu from the Black Storytellers Alliance narrated two stories that encouraged participants not only to listen, but to analyze and re-vision creating peace in diverse communities. At another event, we focused on visual arts for social change. Facilitator Jane Evershed encouraged us to look at creating artwork as a way to work for peace. She first shared her work for peace and justice through artwork, then guided participants to start creating simple drawn pieces. Although very few participants identified themselves as artists at the beginning of the evening, everyone was able to move out from the workshop with their own creation reflecting a vision for peace and social justice.
Later in the summer, “Food for Thought . . . From the Last Poets to Hip-Hop” became our most attended session. It featured an intercultural feast and table-sharing, followed by the music of Ipso Facto, poetry, and spoken word by a diverse group of local artists. Many amazing and moving pieces were shared and they gave us all a chance to reflect on the variety of ways that different individuals and communities engage in the struggle for peace and justice.
Other sessions included an evening of children’s activities; a workshop on stories of violence, transformation, and peace with River’s Edge Playback Theatre; and a session on culture and dance. WAMM member Marie Braun commented, “I loved learning about the history of the dances, particularly how dance was used as a form of resistance.”
The series culminated with a fun and informative Intercultural Festival planned by the W A M M summer interns. The event took place on Saturday, August 2, 2003, and key components included a youth caucus and peace walk through the community surrounding Seven Bridges World Market.
Overall, W A M M members and community participants were excited to take part in these new ways of peacemaking, especially with the involvement and leadership taken on by young people. “WAMM’s interns have pumped serious energy into organizing a tremendous community peace effort,” said participant and member Sara Tufveson Doure.
Intercultural Action for Peace will continue this fall with WAMM calling for the “People’s Declaration” of September as Anti-Racism Month, a critical dialogue and anti-racism retreat for WAMM leadership and constituency on September 12-13, and a “healing circle” in October. In addition, Intercultural Sisters gatherings will continue with monthly critical dialogues and relationship building. Plans are underway for the next phase of sessions on peacemaking through storytelling, visual arts, quilting, and theater. |
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W A M M Action
CRY JUSTICE!
Activism, Organizing, and Civil Liberties After 911
October 24-26, 2003
University of Minnesota Law School
West Bank Campus
Minneapolis
tel: 651.221.1082
online: www.cryjustice.org
email: info@cryjustice.org
Featured Speakers:
• Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!
• Pramila Jayapal, Hate Free Zone Campaign
• William Rivers Pitt, truthout.org
Never before have we as
Americans faced such a serious challenge to our liberties. In defiance of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, the USA PATRIOT Act was passed on October 26, 2001, in direct response to the events of September 11. No matter what issue you advocate for, no matter what your cause, we face in common a threat to our right to advocate, to organize, and to exercise our civil liberties.
The CRY JUSTICE! Conference will be concurrent with the National Lawyers Guild convention “Demand Democracy!” at the West Bank Holiday Inn in Minneapolis.
Join us! Together we will define the common threat to our civil liberties, make space for our work in these difficult times, create a movement support network, and find new ways to work together, create, and share new strategies.
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© 2003 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete September 2003 Index - click here
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