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Conejo Valley Peace Heroes Walk Commemorates Fifteen Years Since 9/11

The attacks of September 11, 2001 marked the worst terrorist attack in modern history and the deadliest foreign attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor.   In the 15 years since those attacks, the world has seen a rising tide of ideological extremism, refugees, and terrorist incidents associated with the Middle East, bringing fear and divisiveness to global and local communities – making peace literacy and quality childhood education in crisis zones and disadvantaged communities all the more critically important.

reGeneration president Shepha Vainstein ® with peace hero honoree Itaf Awad
reGeneration president Shepha Vainstein ® with peace hero honoree Itaf Awad

Of the 2,977 people who perished on 9/11,  411 were first responders, including 343 firemen and 60 policeman.  Honoring our first responders and promoting peace literacy seems a fitting community commemoration for the 15 anniversary of 9/11.

Peace literacy is the acquired knowledge and skills required for nonviolent responses to problems and conflicts, and is critical for human survival.  The Peace Heroes Walk is a family-friendly team event designed to promote peace literacy education through the stories of peace heroes and an exploration of the ideals that guide these role models for our community.

The walk strives to unify diverse groups of people around ideals that all peace heroes have in common:

  • Recognition of the interconnectedness of all people
  • Promotion of justice
  • Rejection of vengeance.
  • Foster reconciliation

For more information:
Peace Heroes Walk video
www.peaceheroeswalk.org
peaceheroeswalk.org/events-and-locations/conejo-valley-peace-heroesteam-captain-list/
Facebook Event Page: Conejo Valley Peace Heroes Walk Around the World

Peace Heroes Walk

2016 Conejo Valley Peace Heroes Walk

Commemorating 15 Years Since 9/11

California Lutheran University

Lundring Event Center at Gilbert Sports Area

Sunday, September 11, 2016

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Free to the Public

in collaboration with Conejo Valley Interfaith Association, CLU Campus Ministries, and 21st Century Peace Literacy Foundation

Join us in honoring the legacy of 9/11 by promoting peace literacy, uniting our community, supporting reGeneration, and celebrating heroes who make a safer and more peaceful world.

The Peace Heroes Walk is a family-friendly community event designed to promote peace literacy education through the stories of peace heroes and an exploration of the ideals that guide these role models for our community.

The goals of the 2016 Conejo Valley Peace Heroes Walk are to:

  • Unite our local community and commemorate the lives lost on 9/11
  • Honor our local firefighters and police for their dedication and service to our community
  • Educate, inspire and empower a new generation of peace leaders through learning and celebrating the stories and ideals of peace heroes.
  • Raise funds for peace-promoting early childhood development and peace literacy educational projects in the Middle East and the United States

The short walk through the CLU campus will be made up of teams formed from local organizations (faith communities, civic groups, businesses and schools) honoring the peace heroes they have selected. The program will involve an opening ceremony commemorating the victims and heroes of 9/11 during which the community’s gratitude will be formally expressed to local fire and police departments, followed by a procession of Peace Hero teams with posters and trading cards, and a final program of wisdom sharing by local peace heroes with a music program including sing-a-longs led by Cantor David Shakiur of Temple Adat Elohim of Thousand Oaks and Kenneth Ellis.

This event is particularly exciting because some 20 peace heroes are being championed in the Conejo Valley, including Rev. Gifford Smith of the Conejo Valley Interfaith Association, Greater Contribution founder Karon Wright, LDS Relief Society General President Linda K. Burton, Barbara Fields, co-founder of Gandhi-King Season for Nonviolence, and U.N. recognized Israeli educator, Eyal Bloch.”

– reGeneration founder and president Shepha Vainstein

reGeneration, an American interfaith organization, based in Agoura Hills since 2006, is the primary organizer of the Conejo Valley Peace Heroes Walk Around The World 2016. reGeneration builds bridges locally and networks globally to promote positive social change in the Middle East through supporting the innovation of quality early childhood development and education.

To sign up as a team captain or register for a peace hero team go to Conejo Valley Peace Heroes Walk and click on Lead a Team or Join a Team.

For more information:
Peace Heroes Walk video
www.peaceheroeswalk.org
peaceheroeswalk.org/events-and-locations/conejo-valley-peace-heroesteam-captain-list/
Facebook Event Page: Conejo Valley Peace Heroes Walk Around the World

  • “

    Two Peoples, One School

    At Ein Bustan we are two peoples, two languages, two different cultures. Yet when I bring my children to the kindergarten in the morning and see the children sitting, playing, building, singing, hiking, eating and working together, they are equal, and it’s not make-believe. This togetherness and the mutual wish to create a joint reality is what brought my family to the kindergarten. At school, we are all equal, and we all have a heart that can speak, listen, and be compassionate.”

    – Ester Springut, a parent at reGeneration partner school Ein Bustan
    Ester
  • “

    Training Crisis-Zone Ready Teachers

    Before I became a Waldorf teacher, I taught in public schools where the children rarely leave their desks. The Arab children especially have problems holding their pencils because they move their bodies so little…Thanks to my reGeneration scholarship, I became more sensitive about the need for children to be held in a protected space. Upon my return to school, I plan to find a way to build a separate area for our young children, so they have a more sheltered space than what they have now.”

    – Aida Awad, a founding teacher at reGeneration partner school Tamrat El Zeitoun
    Aida
  • “

    Uniting Communities

    With reGeneration, we created a Waldorf School based on the beauty of Arab culture and language, which also teaches Hebrew and English. It is a school where all the different religions and cultures of Arab people are represented and work together: Muslims, Christians, Druze, and Bedouins. The idea of bringing all these children together in one school is not the norm...but it is a model for how to integrate Waldorf education into the Arab culture.”

    – Lana Nasrallah, cofounding teacher of reGeneration partner school Tamrat El Zeitoun
    Lana
  • “

    Transforming the Holy Land

    Fear presents a choice whether we recognize it or not: to love or to hate. If we choose to love, we have sparked the first flame of creation. We are propelled into right action. House of Hope is honored to partner with reGeneration to continue our right action and bring transformational healing through holistic education to children in the Holy Land.”

    – Milad Vosgueritchian, co-founder and Chairman of reGeneration partner school House of Hope
    Milad
  • “

    Encountering the Other

    reGeneration brought The Way of Council to our bilingual Arabic Hebrew school. The Way of Council is a way to become aware that the person sitting across from me is a person just like me, who was born an empty vessel, and whom life has filled with different content, which is not necessarily the ultimate truth. I could have been born as Muhammed or Fatma, and I would then think as they do. So I think that within me I am actually a little bit Muhammed and a little bit Fatma, a little bit Amir or Rachel. And a little bit Gidi.”

    – Gidi Hyman, a teacher at reGeneration partner school Ein Bustan
    Gidi