Saturday, April 21, 2007

9 AM to 5 PM

Evergreen Valley College
3095 Yerba Buena Rd,
San Jose, CA
Free Parking [Map]

Community Conference Partners:
  The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment [web link]
  San Jose Vice Mayor Dave Cortese [web link]
  City Year of San Jose [web link]
  Evergreen Valley College [web link]
  The San Jose Sikh Gurdwara Community [web link]
 
Anticipated Attendance: Over 800 Adults and Youth from diverse
ethnic, racial, religious, spiritual traditions and cultural backgrounds
as well as adolescent youth

Purpose:
To realize the profound impact we each have in our families,
community and our world upon building a culture of peace and
a better future for our children; to learn skills for nonviolence
that support acts of courage and deep listening to each other;
to understand, learn from one another, and actualize the
potential that lies within the simple and profound acts we commit
ourselves to.

To realize peace in our families, our community and our world
we must prepare for peace. We educate ourselves, discover
the tools necessary for building a culture of peace and commit
to simple and profound acts that support a better world for all.
Participants will be introduced to the key concepts of nonviolence
as a practical basis for positive change toward overcoming
habitual violent coping mechanisms in our society. The conference
will draw upon the wisdom and inspiration of three great leaders
who brought about socially beneficial change through nonviolent
means: Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez.

Leaders and participants from diverse faith traditions, non-profit
community service organizations, government agencies, and global
non-governmental organizations will offer capacity-building skills for fostering a culture of peace. Our emphasis is on those individuals and groups who have clearly demonstrated how a simple and profound act, inspired by the intention to contribute to peace, has brought about positive change. These individuals and groups will provide inspirational and educational tools during the morning of the conference with panel discussions and workshops. Participants will be able to select the focus area for cultivating peace of greatest interest to them: the family, community, or world.

Goals and Objectives:
There are four key objectives for the conference:

1.  To build bridges of peace and understanding within our own community. The day will provide many opportunities to meet others, to experience the world through the diverse cultures of our own community, and to develop mutual respect through education and dialog.

2.  To raise awareness for participants of the resources that are available in our community. The South Bay is culturally rich and blessed with many individuals, groups, and organizations that are doing valuable work for peace. Both groups and individuals can benefit from the opportunity to learn from and about one another.

3.  To further capacity building for individuals and organizations by providing new tools for working with individuals and groups.

4.  To provide the inspiration, tools and support that make it possible for participants to commit to simple and profound acts that contribute to peace.