Catch up on news from Creativity for Peace!

Creativity for Peace News October 2017

Photo by Chelsea Call

Dear friends,

This summer's camp was as rewarding and complex as ever. Each of the 16 campers brought a rich mix of intelligence, passion, and curiosity. They struggled, with a lot of integrity, to better understand themselves, each other, and the inscrutable conflict between Palestine and Israel. There were many inspiring interactions between them and our supporters, young Americans, and the general public, and they left New Mexico feeling affirmed, empowered, and full of new questions, which they will begin to explore in their training seminars with us over the next two years.

Unfortunately the Palestinian young women arrived home to a social media rampage.

A story written and distributed by Agence France Presse, which contained photos and a video, was published by the Times of Israel and dozens of other news sites in Europe, the Mideast, and globally. Although the piece portrayed our work in a sensitive way, it caused a widespread negative reaction on social media. The posts - primarily by Palestinians - viciously attacked our girls, threatened them, accused them of conspiring with the enemy, and worse. After decades of living under Israeli occupation, I understand why Palestinians are frustrated and angry. However, expressing that pain by attacking innocent young women from their own communities is reprehensible.

Thankfully no one was physically harmed but we may not realize all the consequences for a while. Certainly, I can say that the five young women and their families from the West Bank were incredibly strong in the face of this painful and frightening onslaught. The affected Young Leader has already agreed to help us recruit Palestinian girls for next year's camp. They are nothing short of amazing.

We have posted a statement about this situation on Facebook and our website. You can read it here.

Sadly this ugliness comes with the territory. Peacemaking is incendiary. Our job is to do all we can to support those who take it on.

Thank you to the following wonderful volunteers who contributed to the success of our 2017 camp!

Castille Aguilar Lamia Faruki Lynn McKelvey Nadia Anhalt Najwa and Majed Faruki Maryel McKeown Sue Barnum Larry Feldman Jane Messinger Jennie and Thomas Stephanie Feldman Mary Miello Baudhuin Francine Foster Matthew Mitchell Aviva Baumann Carla Freeman Bruni Musikant Julie Bennett Faith Garfield Darcy Nicholson Bruce Berlin Tony Gerlicz Paige Prescott Lynn Bickley Monica Gilboa Anne Raye Pamela Blackwell Jade Gordon Kim Robinson Jeremy Bleich Marcelle Grant Janet Rosenzwog Leslie Boni Erica Greenwald Veda Rosso Malina Brannen Gregory Gutin Joshua Sage Sue Breslauer Teri Hackler Mohammed Salhoot Marcie Brooks Margaux Hale Merna Saliman Uzi Broshi Rita Hemmig Frances Salles Nan Brown Jill Heppenheimer Adriana Sanchez Beverley Byers-Pevitts Gaile Herling Laura Sanchez Elizabeth Christine Dianne Hillyard Patrick Sanchez Lisanne Cole Shari Hurst Ximena Sanchez Julie Colton Tamara Johnson Sitara Schauer John Connell Elisa Keir Cierra Schreck Myoko Costello Jeanne Keir Leora and Malcolm Ann Coulston Chris Kemper Siegel Bess Daunis Bo Keppel Emma Simmons Sarah Deats Stephen Landau Alicia Smith Tess Degange Mary Langdon Debra Snyderman John Delemeter Beth LeBron Hayriye Busra Solak Jessie Dickter Daven Lee Jimmie Spulecki Glenn Dickter Judy Lehman Elana Sue St. Pierre Nan Dietrich Sue Llewellyn Sandra Stubblefield Michelle DiNapoli Holly Logan Brooke Sutor Nancy Drake Elizabeth London Yaara Tal Megan Drake Raquel Lopez Charlotte Thurman Jacki Dulle Ellie Lowenburg Veena Vasista Elizabeth Dunham Elliott and Julie Maizels Christy Vasquez Rob Elliott Greg Manoff Ellie Voutselas Emily Ennis Jessie Markovitz Ellen Zieselman David Esquibel Zahra Farmanfarmaian

Our camp wouldn't be possible without your support. Here are some highlights from this summer:

2017 Salaam Shalom fundraiser at the Santa Fe Farmers' Market Pavilion Photo by Alysha Shaw

Our campers and local youth program participants helping Tewa Women United at their healing garden in Española. Photo by Joshua Sage

Our campers enjoying a songwriting workshop at the Academy for the Love of Learning. Photo by Joshua Sage Campers learning how to make New Mexican food with Chef Johnny Vee and dedicated culinary volunteers. Photo by Joshua Sage

Israeli and Palestinian Young Leaders and American Peace Ambassadors co-facilitating a Girls' Circle with our campers and local youth program participants at the Santa Fe Waldorf School. Photo by Joshua Sage

Campers singing a song they wrote together at our annual Open House. Photo by Joshua Sage

Check out our new video, and share with your friends! September Young Leader Tour

Gaya, Dana, and Jenny, three Young Leaders from Israel and Palestine, spoke about their experiences as peacemakers to hundreds of students, members of faith communities, and the general public throughout the Pacific Northwest and New Mexico last month, offering inspiration to many. At the conclusion of their tour, they facilitated a workshop on Transforming Conflict with teenage girls from 5 New Mexican high schools, offering participants tools to help them foster peace and positive change in their own lives and communities.

Closing circle of our 2017 Transforming Conflict Workshop Photo by Kirsten Szykitka

Jenny, Dana and Gaya. Photo by Kirsten Szykitka

Updates from the Middle East Our campers came back home from their summer camp and met again in Nahsholim to process their experiences and reconnect around the challenges involved in returning home.

In August we participated in the first Alliance for Middle East Peace alumni fair. The fair brought together alumnae and alumni from over 100 organizations that are part of a network of groups working to promote dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis.

In case you haven't seen it yet, our Women Building Politics of Peace leaders published their Feminist Inclusivity Political Action Code. You can read it on our website.

Fruits De Mer Appetizers: A Co o king Class with Chef Kim Calvo at the Albuquerque ho me o f Najwa and Majed Faruki to benefit Creativity fo r Peace Come and enjoy the fruits of the sea.

We will prepare a variety of fresh, wild-caught seafood appetizers that will sharpen your skills and delight your palate. Then enjoy the results of your labor at the lovely home of Najwa and Majed Faruki in Albuquerque.

Menu

Cold Poached King Salmon with Sour Cream, Dill & Cucumber

Halibut Ceviche with Mint, Grapefruit & Thai Red Chiles

Coconut Cream Poached Scallop Tostadas

Shrimp Pot Stickers with a Trio of Sauces: Lemongrass & Soy Sauce, Roasted Ginger & Shallot, Grilled Pineapple & Basil

Mini Asian Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

Vegetarian Nori Rolls

Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Sesame-Ginger Vinaigrette

Chocolate Dipped Fortune Cookies

Wine included!

PLEASE NOTE: Because of the nature of this class we are unable to accommodate special diets, food allergies or aversions.

Saturday, October 21

2 pm

Limited to 18 people

Donation: $225 per person

All proceeds benefit Creativity for Peace's leadership and peacemaking work in New Mexico, Palestine, and Israel

For further details and to register, email [email protected] Photo by Paola Gianturco Creativity for Peace Featured in Newly Published Book

Photographer/writer Paola G ianturco's latest book, Wonder Girls: Changing our World, has just published, featuring a chapter about Creativity for Peace!

Wonder Girls: Changing Our World is the first book to document the work of groups of activist girls age 10 to 18 internationally. The book features 15 groups of girls who are tackling challenges in 13 countries in the Americas, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania. Paola and her 11-year-old granddaughter co-author, Alex Sangster, interviewed and photographed 102 girls, each of whom tells her own story in her own words.

Paola came to New Mexico five years ago and took many photos of our camp activities. She then traveled to Israel and Palestine for follow-up photos and interviews with our staff and young women.

We are excited that Paola will be coming back to Santa Fe and Albuquerque on January 24-25, 2018 to give slide/talks to our supporters, the public, and a local school. This visit will also include an exhibit of photos from Wonder Girls at the Center for Contemporary Arts from January 23-30, 2018

For details, email [email protected].

Many thanks to Paola and to Jill Heppenheimer for their enormous support.

Paola G ianturco is an author/photographer who has documented women's lives in 62 countries, had five books published---and is a grandmother.

Her involvement with women's issues is long standing. She has lectured about them in the US, Canada, France, United Arab Emirates, and Spain. She spoke at UNESCO International Headquarters in on International Women' s Day 2008; her photographs were exhibited there in 2009 and 2011. Paola co-developed and taught Executive Institutes on Women and Leadership at , and served on the Board of the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID). She was a principal in the first women-owned advertising agency in the and is a current member of International Women's Forum.

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