Ashland, Oregon goes to the United Nations
On March 11,2019 the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission (ACPC) will present Ashland as a leading and innovative International City of Peace at the United Nations highlighting the iconic symbol of peace - the World Peace Flame Monument.
This opportunity comes from the deep relationship ACPC has with the UN NGO Pathways To Peace (PTP). David Wick has been a director of PTP since its founding in 1980. Pathways To Peace is an UN-designated Peace Messenger Organization and has Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is a UN NGO member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The ACPC delegates will be attending the CSW63 conference, March 11 – 22, 2019, as members of the 17 member PTP delegation. There are approximately 10,000 people who attend the CSW conferences annually.
Since its inception as a local – global initiative in 2015, ACPC has had the intention of co-creating an on the ground, practical, and evolving local Culture of Peace, in a developing City of Peace, while creating an inspiring model that other cities and NGOs can learn from. This has been encouraged by many people and has become a reality with the invitation to present our accomplishments at the United Nations.
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“I can say without reservation that through Ashland’s Culture of Peace initiatives, your community spirit is firing the imaginations and inclinations of peace leaders around the globe. With each action toward increasing the safety, prosperity and quality of life of ALL citizens in your community, you are issuing a clarion call to cities of peace in Uganda, Argentina, China, Mexico, Nepal and 46 other countries.”
Fred Arment, Executive Director, International Cities of Peace
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The Ashland Culture of Peace Commission delegation
to the United Nations
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Irene kai - ACPC Co-founder, Director of Development
One flame unites people worldwide - the tag line from the World Peace Flame Foundation. Seven sacred flames from five continents were flown to Wales and united to become the World Peace Flame, an eternal flame resides in the monument. The Asian flame was from the eternal flame in Gandhi's memorial. I am the co-founder of the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission. In September 2015, I chance encountered the World Peace Flame Monument in Wales, as I gazed at the flame, I knew in my heart, peace begins with me - I am the flame to ignite the sacred flame in others' hearts.
In three years with grace and a lot of hard work, I brought the World Peace Flame and installed it in Ashland, Oregon on the International Day of Peace in 2018. It has become an icon to inspire and uplift our entire community. A class of middle school children volunteered to be the flame keepers to refuel the lamp with recycled biomass oil every Friday. When they move onto high school, the next class will be the new flame keepers, the flame will be lit in perpetuity. This flame is eternal as Peace is eternal.
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David Wick - ACPC Co-founder, Executive Director
My peacebuilding journey that brings me to CSW63 includes the following. In 1980 I helped launch the United Nations NGO, Pathways To Peace (PTP) which had assisted the adoption of the UN's International Day of Peace in 1981. I have assisted organizing the celebration of the International Day of Peace since 1984 and continue to serve as a PTP Director today. While working at Stanford University, in 1985 I founded the ten year-long PTP Peace Within Organizations program and in 1995 co-founded the visionary project Peace Building Through Business which led to being a leading member of a five year international think tank on the future role of business in the 21st Century. I have continued to serve in a leading role of the global Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI), a UN-designated "Peace Messenger Initiative", of which Pathways To Peace serves as the Secretariat.
Building upon this knowledge and experience, in 2015 I co-founded the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission (ACPC), which has become a leader in embracing a Culture of Peace and an emerging model as a City of Peace. This begins with each of us as individuals and leads to new ways of thinking and behavior which positively impacts the community.
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Patricia Sempowich - President, Board of Directors
"During the sixties, I was attracted to the anti-Vietnam war movement as a way of expressing my youthful idealism. Sadly, I became disillusioned as the movement became violent and dangerous. Contemplation has always been important to me. As I let go of the peace movement, I developed a daily meditation practice which eventually led me to the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Through my Buddhist practice, I have learned the importance of peace, not as a reaction against war, but as a path to calm, compassion, joy and love. Through the Eightfold Path, I have been able to commit to a life of peace andpeace making." From Zelda Fitzgerald, "No one has ever measured, not even the poets, how much the heart can hold."
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Anna Cassilly - ACPC Interpersonal Peacebuilding Consultant
"Creating a more peaceful world has been a major focus of my life for as long as I can remember. In high school when I learned the vast sums of money we spend on war and how many people die due to lack of resources, I thought, wow, if we could just stop fighting, we'd have all that money to take care of people. I have been most drawn to working at the inner and interpersonal level of peacemaking. Besides teaching the communication and conflict resolution skills necessary to prevent and resolve conflict, I have a strong emphasis on the skills needed to quiet the mind and reach a greater state of inner peace as a foundation to outer peace. At CSW 63, I look forward to exploring how building a culture of peace can contribute to the well-being of women around the world."
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Manju Lyn Bazzell, Board of Advisors
"There is nothing more important or with greater potential impact than the recognition of peace inherent in the core of all being and bringing this recognition into our human-based systems. Peacebuilding efforts are happening throughout the world in many different ways, levels
Manju Lyn Bazzell - Board of Advisorsand sectors. Our support of each other, our curiosity and capacity to learn from each other energizes me more than just about anything else. Peace is here right now, in our hearts. It grows as we greet each other with delight and curiosity, knowing that we share this invisible secret for creating a world that works for all."
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“What an inspiration to hear about thechildrens attachment to the culture of peace. Bravo to all those involved with the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission! I would encourage all of you to read these stories and learn about the young student’s dedication to work for the culture of peace.”
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury,
Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the UN
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Any purchase you make via Amazon.com provides a donation to the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission. This is a convenient way to help fund our Culture of Peace initiatives. Please use this link to smile.amazon.com to begin donations. Thank you.
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Direct donations for our work at the United Nations can be made at ashlandcpc.org. Thank you!
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Peace begins with a smile.
- Mother Teresa
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Come and join ACPC at Aqua on Wednesday, February 13
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm! Music, good food and your generosity.
The Taj and Aqua restaurants, 31 Water St. Ashland are very generous in helping our Winter Shelter Support Program, the Ashland Food Project and the Peace Meals at Pioneer Hall. Please read the specifics below and come on down for great food!
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Thank you Jatinder Kaur and your family!
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One of the best things we can do for ourselves, in one hour!
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You are invited to begin the powerful year of 2019 with a tax-deductible donation to the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission which allows us to continue this innovative work. This is one way you can help co-create a Culture of Peace,
EIN 81-3903630 at http://www.ashlandcpc.org. Thank you.
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