From the May 2001 Newsletter

FAVAN Update

April 2001

FAVAN Update was a section of the IPJ Newsletter, Circles of Peace Circles of Justice.  It is a publication of the Families against Violence Advocacy Network.

FAVAN Annual Meeting -- We're 5 Years Old!

FAVAN activists from 21 states gathered in St. Louis on March 10-11 for the annual meeting that marked the 5th anniversary of the network.  The meeting was an opportunity to share both successes and struggles in our efforts to promote alternatives to violence.

It was a time to make connections and then support and encourage one another in the projects we are working on.  People shared programs, effective strategies, resources, new possibilities.  We laughed, we cried, we worked, we played, we sang, we listened, we forgave (ourselves and others).  But perhaps the most important outcome for those in attendance was a renewed energy and commitment to the work of nonviolence.

Several people worked long hours prior to and during the meeting to put the finishing touches on an exciting new program to involve young people -- Teens Acting for Peace (TAP).

Judi Buchman from Grand Rapids, Michigan shared some reflections from one small group she participated in that capture one of the important learnings of the weekend -- me must be the peace we seek.

We walked in silence and then sat in silence until someone wanted to share.  We were even blessed with sighting 4-6 deer in the meadow across the way.  The sharing was really rich.

The importance of being in the present time came up in several different ways, from stopping the car and responding to the kids on the street, to watching the birds, to taking those moments while on hold or waiting for the computer.  To get away from the daily and be able to renew while seeing our work with fresh eyes.  Connecting with our spiritual lives, not in the frenzy of activity but in a centered way.

I think the best part of the time was just a recognition that we need to be deliberate.  We need to be spirit filled with our work.  We can't promote peace when we aren't peaceful ourselves.  We need to model and live what we want our world to become.  There are many ways to get there, but taking time is essential preparation to the work that we do.

Mark your calendar for next year's meeting -- March 1-3, 2002.

[Click here for more information shared at the FAVAN annual meeting.]

News of the Network

Pat Jaehnig, FAVAN coordinator in Providence RI, reports that the Catholic Diocese of Providence has designated 2001 as a year to recommit to building peace through nonviolence using the Pledge of Nonviolence as the central resource.  They developed a special prayer and reflection card with the Pledge and have already distributed 50,000 copies.  The bishop sent a letter to all diocesan leaders urging them, among other actions, to use the cards at the beginning of every meeting held during Lent.  Resource packets are also available for all parishes and schools.

Maureen Connolly, FAVAN coordinator in Omaha, has developed a 90-minute training program for employees on implementing the Workplace Pledge of Nonviolence.

The FAVAN group in the Philippines, under the leadership of Jogy Mantaring, joined with the Rotary Club of Makati to offer a seminar to over 50 youth on the topic of "Violence in the Family."  The participants made a verbal commitment to the Pledge, agreed to work to spread FAVAN by reaching out to their churches and youth groups, and scheduled a follow-up session in 3 months to assess their progress and to decide if they are ready to formally sign the Pledge.

Actions for Advocates - Click here for our Advocacy Page

How the Pledge is Making a Difference

For the past year and a half, a small group of South Korean activists who want to promote alternatives to violence have been translating, integrating and adapting the Pledge and FAVAN resources and programs for use in their country.  Here are some excerpts from a recent communication from the coordinator of this effort -- Kim, Tae-Jin -- that shows the incredible progress they have made and the commitment to the FAVAN vision they are fostering:

Last year I bought the small land.  I will build two houses at the land.  One will be the house in which our family can live and will have the office for "People Creating a Circle of Peace with Justice" (PCCPJ).  The other will be re-creation place for the volunteer workers who work for the poor people.  I wish that place can give them the chance to step back and think, to open up and be made new, to walk through life with eyes up and heart open, to expand the human parts of their human experiences.  Probably on weekends families will be able to re-create themselves.  My family will move there at the end of May this year.

We decided to call our institute PCCPJ.  Its Korean name is "Pyung-Hwarl Gakkunun Saramdl."  We took a lot of pains to decide the name.  Now we are happy to hear that people feel like joining in our institute when they hear of its name.  We made the home page (web site) of our institute that will offer the place where our group members communicate.

PCCPJ is a broadly based organization of various "Peace Meetings" and will try to form new meetings.  Though most people are used to helping the poor financially or feeling pity for them, they are afraid of practicing themselves for the just world.  I believe if they have meetings for peace, they can realize the importance of the peace with justice and learn how to practice it in their everyday lives.  It is a difficult job to do alone, but if we do it together, we can have more courage to practice it.  That's why we think it important to form a meeting.

The Peace Meetings have been held everywhere:

• Hanl-Chigi group members are young people in their twenties and thirties.  These group members laid a foundation for PCCPJ.

• The Villange on the Mountain:  The group members are couples and families from their thirties to fifties.  They seek to lead a peaceful life in the family community and to serve for the peaceful world.

• Children and their Mothers:  There are six students in the high school and their mothers in this group.  They have learned and exercised to have nonviolence relationship in the family community.

• The Good People:  This group has ten elementary school teachers who want to be better teachers.  They have learned skills to understand and help their pupils.  The subject of the group meeting is: "How can we make the peaceful classroom?"

• The Group of Mothers Who Live in Masuk:  They have learned how to communicate with their children in order to be better parents.  While reading a Guide Book to the Pledge of Nonviolence, they have got interested in peace and justice.

PCCPJ educates individuals, families, groups, local workers, students, teachers, religious groups who are concerned about the peaceful and just life and make the program for them.  Our education and program are progressed in a regular workshop twice a year and in other workshops held in case of need.

The regular workshop held in spring and fall is for training leaders who are able to lead and form a meeting for peace in various areas.  Those leaders are the people who have already worke din their own groups (for example, civil society, regional welfare center, religious group, school, YMCA).  The workshops help people to form new groups, offer resources necessary to the existing groups and help them to use those resources effectively.

PCCPJ runs a school (Moon School) to help children and teenagers.  The purpsoe of the Moon School is to train young people to share their own pain, sorrow, joy and hope with other young people, placing love on the basis of everything.

Jim and Susan Vogt, along with Vinchu Lapid and Neva Goquingco from the Philippines FAVAN group, will conduct a leadership training workshop for PCCPJ in Seoul, So. Korea in the fall.

Teens Acting for Peace (TAP)
Tapping Youth for Building Peaceful Communities

A Youth Violence Prevention
Training Program

The national steering committee for this new FAVAN initiative met for two days in St. Louis prior to the FAVAN Annual Meeting.  Much progress was made during this time in creating a training model that will be further tested in several locations over the next few months and putting the finishing touches on three workbooks for the program.  Additionally, a promotional video was completed.

The committee, at this time, is made up of the following:  Jim McGinnis (St. Louis), Anne Marie Hansen (Beaver, PA), Judi Buchman and Diann Rockwood (Grand Rapids, MI), Mike Cazares - Committee Chair (Kansas City).

Youth steering committee representatives include: Theresa Hansen (Beaver, PA), and Rachel Norris (Kansas City)

Watch for more details and opportunities to begin promoting this important initiative in the coming months!  Click here for the TAP web pages.

Building FAVAN, with a Creative Flair

Do you have a script, song, musical arrangement, etc., which creatively depicts the Family Pledge of Nonviolence?  Have you used drama, plays, dance or other performing arts to communicate the Pledge more effectively?  If you would like to share your creativity with other members of FAVAN, send a copy of what you've done (written script, sheet music, etc.) to Ken and Gretchen Lovingood, 215 Santa Rosa Place, Santa Barbara CA 93109, 805-965-9541, kgloving11@aol.com.

On the other hand, if you would like to collaborate in writing a play, musical or such with other FAVAN members, send your name to Ken & Gretchen and mention the area you are interested in pursuing.

Resources

The Community Peace Packet from the Rochester, MN FAVAN team is a folder of information on community resources including peacemaking/nonviolence groups, conflict resolution, victim services, and local government services.  It also includes some practical guides to personal peacemaking: the Peace Pledge (with a specific reflection and suggestions for each component), two resources form Southern Poverty Law Center, a number of pieces from the Minnesota "Make the Peace" campaign, bookmarks with the pledge and state "Make the Peace" bookmarks.  contact Mary Vlazny for more info, 507-288-7372, vlazny@millcomm.com.

The Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence is now offering a 2-day training on domestic violence and religious concerns.  The next training will be May 24-25, 2001 in Seattle, with the theme, "Domestic Violence:  Religious Resources and Roadblocks."  Fore more info, contact Sandra Barone at 206-634-1903; cpsdv@cpsdv.org; website www.cpsdv.org.

"Stop the Violence! Educating Ourselves to Protect Our Youth" by Wendy Morris, director of FAVAN member organization Shalom Education.  This curriculum is designed for individual or small groups to help people reflect on issues of youth violence and determine what actions to take to make a difference.  Includes both a Leaders Guide and Participant Book.  Order from Judson Press (800-458-3766 or their web site www.judsonpress.com).