...peace for generations
Mission Statement
We are a diverse group of residents of south-suburban Chicago who are committed to promoting peace and justice. We aspire to leave a legacy of hope for our children and future generations and a blueprint for productive conflict resolution through education, diplomacy, action, and leadership-by-example. We have compassion for military personnel and all those affected by conflicts throughout the world, even as we ardently support efforts to end war. We have faith in our ability to make a difference.
You are welcome to join us!
We meet on the 1st Monday of each month, from 7 to 9pm
at 3505 Lakeview, in Hazel Crest.
(In the clubhouse of the Water's Edge Condominiums)
click for map
contact: g4p@generations4peace.org
click here to learn more
Next Meeting: MONDAY,
March 1st, 7 - 9 pm
Water's Edge Clubhouse
3505 Lakeview, in Hazel Crest
AGENDA:
HOPE TO SEE YOU!
Shall We
Respond to Mayor Daley's Call for Action?
Join the March 18th Rally in Federal Plaza- 5:30 pm
Meet at Federal Plaza to show your support for ending the wars & occupations now! There will also be a March on Washington, DC on Saturday, March 20th. Buses are available from Chicago. For information, e-mail CCAWR@aol.com/
Mayor Daley wonders where all the war protesters have gone....he connects the ten years of
war and occupation with the economic crisis in our country (and in Chicago). Read the excerpt below.
Daley protesting wars to save education
John McCarron February 15, 2010
Is that really Mayor Richard M. Daley last week urging people to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?
It sure looked like the mayor, up on the speakers' rostrum of the Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency. And it sure sounded like him, all wound up and passionate about the federal government needing to spend less on war and more on education...
"We always believe America is No. 1," the mayor declared, citing our nation's battlefield prowess in wars past. But lately, he went on, we've been quick to dispatch armies abroad instead of taking care of business at home.
"Just think of all the money that we spend on wars to save the world. Today we can't save America. Why do we always have to go to war, continually, why can't we rebuild America? Why is it we have to take $300 or $400 billion dollars . . . and then tell people we're only going to be there for a year and we're coming home . . . and then we'll declare victory."
"What is it about America?" he challenged the crowd. "How did we start this century with 10 years of war? Ten years of war!"
"Where are the anti-war people?" Daley wanted to know. "I look down at the Dirksen Center (the federal plaza in the South Loop favored by protesters). Where are they? They've disappeared! What happened? I thought war was evil? Where are the people who believed in their heart against George Bush. What happened?
"But don't you know it's a political issue," Daley mocked, as if answering for the Obamacrats. "We won the election. Now we go home."
So what's to be made of this outburst? Will next we see the mayor on a picket line wearing a tie-dye and love beads?
I think not. But there is something going on here that bears following, especially by those Chicagoans who happen to live or work in the White House. Our mayor, for all his excitability and non sequiturs, is a hard-nosed pragmatist with an uncanny feel for the blue-collar pulse. He understands that more and more average Americans are fed up with spending billions we don't have fighting shadowy enemies in places we don't understand. He apparently feels the same way......(more online)
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
The Conscientious Projector

free film series
presents
BEYOND BELIEF

Wednesday, March 24th, 7 – 9 pm
St. Andrews Methodist Church
18850 Riegel Rd., Homewood (corner of Riegel and Idlewild)
This film is the story of two September 11th widows who
moved beyond tragedy and grief by reaching out to Afghan widows.
Their experience is a journey of strength, reconciliation, and a
testament
to the vision that peace can be forged, one person at a time.
“A moving and beautiful film!”
Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner
See our latest project below!
Thanks to everyone who donated funds and worked with billboard companies
to make this collaborative project with the American Friends Service
Committee possible.
Location: I-94, in Indiana, at the Grant St.
exit. The sign is on the south side
of the expressway and faces east (so you'll seeing it driving toward
Illinois).
If you would like to donate
money to keep the billboard up past December 7th, contact
g4p@generations4peace.org!
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Synopsis of Meeting with Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. , April 7th, 2009
He is “dismayed” at Obama’s decision to escalate troops in Afghanistan (and said he has told the President).
He wants to exit Afghanistan quickly, but fears it will be known as “Obama’s War.”
He says he is “not anti-drone," explaining that he feels drones do an important job and that there is a trade-off between "getting targets" and keeping our soldiers safe and, unfortunately, sometimes killing or injuring civilians.
He says the details of the proposed DoD budget (the largest ever) reflect a very different kind of approach to defense, including a more “agile” military force and more humanitarian aid. He seemed to feel the increase is good and necessary.
He shares our desire for peace, but says this must be balanced by the fact that there are very real global threats which cannot be dealt with by doing nothing.
The greatest threat
to peace is a failed nuclear state (
Pakistan ).
Monday, March 8th, 8-10 pm
What
the HELL do you know about AFGHANISTAN?
Iraq Veterans Against the War present a series of shorts, improvised
skits, talks, stories and performances that dive into how little and
how much we know about Afghanistan.
Where: The HIDEOUT 1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago
Who: Iraq Veterans Against the War
Donations: 10$ donations at the door (No one turned away)
Sunday, April 18th 1:30 – 5:30 Does U.S. Policy on Israel and Palestine Uphold our Values? Mock Congressional Hearing Ida Noyes Hall at University of Chicago, 1212 E. 59th St. Amazing “cast” of witnesses and listeners
Sunday, May 16th, 1pm
9th Annual Walk for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine
First United Church of Oak Park. 848 Lake St.
Speakers, music, food, and a 1-mile solidarity walk through downtown Oak Park
PEACE:
How Do We Get There?
-
September 26, 2009
This educational conference, held at the Flossmoor
Library, featured presenters and activities focused on peacebuilding
and conflict management. The conference was held in recognition of
International Day of Peace, which occurs every year
on September 21st.
Speakers included:
Facilitators from Homewood School District 153's SEED diversity project
Representatives from the Homewood-Flossmoor Restorative Justice/Peer Jury Program
Teen filmmaker Stephen Sotor and his documentary, Peace
Governor's State University professor, Dr. Larry
Levinson
Our brown-bag lunch discussion explored this question:
How would a U.S. Department of Peace impact our government and our society?
Children's activities featured a "Peace Heroes" workshop led by Ginny and Jim
Hartley, former Chicago-area coordinators of
Parenting for Peace and Justice.
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Julie Haverty, Judy Gleitsman, Concetta Smart, and
Karen Maurer (right photo) admire the Peaceful Earth sculpture
made by children at First Presbyterian Church, Homewood.
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Mary Fazzini and Peer Jurors role play a Peer Jury
session.
Dr. Larry Levinson speaks about a peace
Generations for Peace member, Joan Sanders, talks
as an ongoing process and the successes
with a conference participant.
of NGOs and grassroots organizations in
peacebuilding
March 15, 2008: Speaking out in the Local Press
The ad below appeared in the Southtown Star on Sunday, March 15th,
in the Neighborhood section. We had over 100 "signatures" of support!

Eyes Wide Open Exhibit - October 25, 2008
Generations for Peace honored fallen U.S. military personnel and Iraqi civilians by bringing the traveling exhibition: Eyes Wide Open: The Cost of War to Illinois to Homewood's Irwin Park.
This state exhibit is one of 46 included in the
national Eyes Wide Open network, created by the American Friends
Service Committee. As of the date of the Homewood event, the exhibit
included 151 pairs of boots representing servicemen and women from
Illinois who have died in the Iraq War. A white pair of boots was
included to represent the unknown number of soldiers who have committed
suicide either in Iraq or upon return home. In addition, pairs of
civilian shoes were displayed around the perimeter of the exhibit to
represent the thousands of Iraqi men, women, and children who have died
as a result of the war.

Nan Wexler and Judith Vicari prepare a pair of boots for the Eyes Wide Open exhibit.
International Day of Peace - September 21, 2008

Generations for Peace sponsored "Imagining World Peace," an event to mark International Day of Peace, designated by the United Nations as a global day of personal and political ceasefire and peace-building. People of all ages gathered together. We sang traditional peace songs, learned dances designed to create peace and unity, and viewed a short documentary about one young man’s dream, Peace One Day. We also wrote messages which were sent to a peace group in Tehran, Iran, which was holding its first-ever International Day of Peace event.
Read about the event on the blog of Karen
Van Fossan, Archibald Bush Artist Fellow:
http://peacetheater.blogspot.com/2008/09/this-bag-is-for-peace.html

FaLL 2008:
The Penny Poll
Project–
How YOU want your
tax dollars spent!
This fall found Generations for Peace members at various south suburban Farmer’s Markets
running
a public education project, the interactive Penny Poll exhibit.
Participants were invited to view the bar graph, below, which shows how Congress chose to spend our 2007 tax dollars. Then we
gave participants 10 pennies (each representing 1/10 of a dollar) to
"spend" among 5 budget categories—military, education and jobs, science and environment, healthcare, and diplomacy and foreign aid.
The results were tallied at the end of each day.
Here's how CONGRESS spent each of your 2007 federal income tax dollars:

How would YOU spend each dollar?
Results from Illinois School's Sunflower Festival (62 participants)
Because families at this school live in four different communities, Mrs.
Linda Green's
6th-grade math students graphed the results by city.

Results from Park Forest Farmer's Market, June 28th, (67 participants):

Results from Flossmoor Farmer's Market, July 11th, (47 participants):


Marimonica Murray conducts the Penny Poll with a Park Forest Farmer's
Market visitor
Homewood Independence Day Parade: July 4, 2008



Reality Check: A Coffeehouse to Mark 5 Years of War in Iraq- March 14, 2008
Intent on not letting the issue of the War in Iraq be
forgotten, Generations for Peace held a well-attended coffeehouse event
featuring musicians and speakers. Speakers included Margaret Jackson (Midwest
Regional Director for American Friends Service Committee), Ramona Mitchell
(mother of a GI serving in Iraq), and Jenna Kennedy (Partners for Peace). The
gift of music was provided by Anna Stange, the Mother Z's, and Rachel Mylan.
Candlelight Peace Vigil- December 16, 2007
About 40 brave souls gathered at the Veterans Memorial in Homewood to light a candle for peace. We sang songs, participated in choral readings, and....shivered!! The cloth banners draped around some participants are sections of the Peace Ribbon that was wrapped around the White House as a protest to the war in Viet Nam. They were
kindly shared by Rev. Richard Lewis.


Petition Delivery to Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., Dec. 13th
NO WAR IN IRAN!
Generations for Peace "hosted" a petition-delivering event at the Homewood office of Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. This event was organized by MoveOn, which supplied petitions urging our representatives to sign a letter to President Bush to let him know that he has no authority to strike or invade Iran without Congressional approval.
Rally for Peace and an End to the War: October 27th, 2007
This local rally (Homewood) was held as part of a day of
nationwide demonstrations and rallies in support of peace and an end to the war
in Iraq. Generations for Peace was honored to have folksingers Anna Stange and
Candy Heitner lead us in singing for peace. Speakers included Laurie Hasbrook
(from Voices for Creative Nonviolence), Pastor Nancy Dederer, Rabbi Ellen
Dreyfus, and Roderick Bashirr.
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Laurie Hasbrook
Pastor Nancy Dederer
Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus

Rod Bashirr with family and friends
Homewood Independence Day Parade: July 4, 2007

History
At the end of May, 2007, eight women met at the home of Jodi Libretti, in Homewood, Illinois, in response to a letter she sent to friends and acquaintances. The letter spoke of a deep longing to find other people in the local community who believed strongly in promoting peace and justice.
By the end of the first meeting, the women had decided to form an activist group that would include anyone committed to peace, not just women, and that, as a reflection of the many ages represented that night, the group would be called "Generations for Peace."
There were thirteen people at the next meeting, in June, where the mission statement was crafted. At that meeting, the decision was made to march in the Homewood 4th of July parade with signs and Generations for Peace t-shirts. In preparation for the parade, a sign-making party was held at the end of June. Over 30 people attended that meeting.
The Homewood 4th of July parade was the first public appearance of Generations for Peace. Parade bystanders reported that G4P was by far, the largest group in the parade. Over 65 women, men, and children walked with the group including one family representing three generations of peace activists, and the response from parade-goers was overwhelmingly positive. While some members of G4P were active protesters of the Vietnam War, many other members had never taken a public stand on any issue. This was a significant, moving, and uplifting event for the group.
Statement of Nonviolence
(adapted from the statement written by Voice for Creative Nonviolence
www.vcnv.org)
While nonviolence is defined in different ways by different people in different
contexts, and while there exists the need to continue discussion and debate on
how nonviolence and nonviolent action is conceived, we are committed to
following these principles in all of our group actions and events:
We will act with love, openness, compassion, and respect toward all people we encounter. We will seek dialogue with those who may disagree with us and maintain a spirit of openness, friendliness, and respect toward all with whom we engage.
We will not be violent in our actions or words toward any person or property and will not damage any property.
We will act fairly and honest with people regardless of the situation or role they play.
We will remain calm and aware at all times. We will keep a clear state of mind.
We will recognize our opposition is to a system of violence and militarism, not to individual members of the system.
We will carry no weapons.
We will gather in a manner that reflects the peaceful world we choose to create.
Contact Information for Congressional Representatives, Chicago south suburbs:
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Senator
Roland Burris (D) Fax: 202-228-3333
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Main District Office: |
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Senator Richard Durbin (D) http://durbin.senate.gov |
Main District Office:
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Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D)
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Representative Bobby Rush (D)
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South Suburban Office: |
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Representative Jerry Weller (R)
Washington DC: |
Phone: (815) 740-2028 |