Fwd: Peace Award

[John Gear]

Begin forwarded message:

Hi everyone,

 

Elaine and I are being honored next week in Salem for our years of volunteer work in the community. For those nearby, we’d love to have you there if you can make it. The capstone of the evening will be a major address by Erica Chenoweth, activist, author, university professor and an associate at the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, Norway. http://www.ericachenoweth.com/research/wcrw/

The award is given yearly by a group of like-minded nonprofit organizations including Willamette University. Our being chosen this year is largely due to our teaching and training others in Nonviolent Communication, under the umbrella of the Oregon Prison Project. What began 8 years ago at one maximum security prison, helping prisoners become peacemakers, is now being offered in 5 adult prisons and 2 juvenile corrections facilities. What started with two men volunteering to teach 20 inmates has grown to 30 volunteers teaching hundreds of men and women each year. We anticipate being able to eventually  teach in all the state’s correctional facilities, helping prison reform from the inside out. In the meantime, many of our “graduates” are now free and living in the Portland and Salem area; some have even begun to teach others alongside of us.

This being the 26^th year of the Salem Peace award, we join the ranks of those who have been an inspiration to us, some of whom are now friends. The ripples from the efforts of these and other volunteers is truly helping Salem live up to its name (Salem, or Shalom = Peace)

Please consider attending the free event, next Wednesday the 21^st, at 7:30 at Willamette’s Hudson Hall. (A flyer is attached) 

Also consider taking a look at the Oregon Prison Project website to learn more about our work. If you can donate to the cause, please do so while you’re there. www.oregonprisonproject.org.

 

Please forgive me if you’ve received notice of this event elsewhere.

John Gear
JohnGearLaw.com
SalemConsumerLaw.com

A values-based Oregon law practice serving consumers, elders, employees, and nonprofits.

503-339-7787

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