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Being grateful & helping others
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November 2014
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"I don't need a holiday or a feast to feel grateful for my children, the sun, the moon, the roof over my head, music, and laughter, but I like to take this time to take the path of thanks less traveled." - Paula Poundstone
Hi (Contact First Name),
While we have many things to be grateful for this upcoming holiday season, we still find ourselves wishing there was more peace and justice in the world right now.
In this month's PLC newsletter we've included a few of the ways we're trying to create more peace and justice in our community while also sharing how you can do so as well - which includes participating in a coat and blanket drive for the homeless.
In addition, regardless of the outcome of the grand jury's decision in the Ferguson, Missouri case, it has brought to light injustices occurring in our country which desperately need to be addressed. Tim Nation, PLC's executive director, shares our organizational response to this situation - as we believe it is an issue which impacts all cities across the United States.
Peace on,
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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FOCUS 2020: CREATING A CULTURE OF PEACE WORKSHOP
This will be the LAST Focus 2020 workshop!
When: Thursday, Dec. 11, 12:30-3:30 pm Where: Peace Learning Center, 6040 DeLong Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46254 What: Free and open to the public. Learn and practice advanced techniques of conflict de-escalation, dialogue, and communication skills and how to use those skills to build a more peaceful community. Then, design strategies for applying these skills in their homes, workplaces, and communities. Click here to register or learn more.
COAT & BLANKET DRIVE FOR THE HOMELESS
Do you have an extra winter coat or blanket you can spare to keep someone warm this winter?
When: Tuesday, Dec. 9, 6-7:30 pm
Where: 825 Westfield Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46220
What: Join POP (People of Peace - PLC's Young Professionals Group) for a coat and blanket drive Drop-off Celebration to benefit homeless people in Indianapolis. They would love to have you join them at the "drop-off celebration" for hot chocolate and holiday cheer, but will gladly accept donations at Peace Learning Center before the event. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Click here to RSVP.
PEACE-RECONCILIATION-FORGIVENESS DISCUSSION SERIES "Ain't gonna Study War no More" and "Gonna lay my burdens Down" When: Fridays: Dec. 5, and Dec. 19 from 5:30-6:30 pm Where: Center of Interfaith Cooperation, 1100 W. 42nd St. Room 145, Indianapolis What: Featuring presentations and a testimonial by Kizito D. Kalima, Rwanda Genocide Survivor and Peace Activist. To register please RSVP with number of attendees to [email protected] or call 317-363-8065. POWER OF PEACE AWARD NOMINATIONS Do you know someone who does extraordinary work to further peace and justice in your neighborhood, family, business or community? When: To submit your nominee, please click here to complete the short questionnaire and submit it no later than Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. Where: The Power of Peace Award will be presented at PLC's 17th Annual Martin Luther King Community Festival on Saturday, Jan. 17 What: An annual award to recognize a local leader or group which has demonstrated peacemaking in action within the central Indiana community. Past awardees include the Latino Youth Collective, Tarik Glenn, Rupert Boneham, J. Stewart Goodwin, and the Efroymson Family.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT DAY FUNDRAISER FOR
PEACE LEARNING CENTER
When: Wednesday, Dec. 17, All Day
Where: Whole Foods Markets in Carmel (14598 Clay Terrace Blvd.) and Indianapolis (1300 E 86th St)
What: Mark your calendar to make a difference by shopping to support Peace Learning Center! Shop at Whole Foods Market� in Indianapolis and Carmel on Wednesday, December 17 and 5% of the day's sales will be donated to Peace Learning Center. PLC representatives will be on hand and light refreshments will be served from 11-1 pm and 5-7 pm.
 PEACE LEARNING CENTER'S 17th ANNUAL MLK COMMUNITY FESTIVAL
- PRESENTED BY WHOLE FOODS MARKET
When: Saturday, Jan. 17, 11 am - 3 pm
Where: Christian Theological Seminary, 1000 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis
What: Free family-friendly Community Festival to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #2015MLKIndy
Click here to learn more about sponsorship, tabling, and volunteer opportunities!
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VOLUNTEERING AT PLC
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Upcycled Flowers - Just in time for the holidays! The Peace Crew at Crispus Attucks, a group of high school students who volunteer every Friday at local elementary schools, is currently selling handmade upcycled flowers to raise money for their service-learning trip to NYC. Click here to purchase an upcycled flower ($2), a bouquet of six flowers ($10), or a bouquet with a vase ($15).
Do you want to support their cause and sponsor a student?
A donation of $500.00 ensures that one young Indianapolis Youth gets the experience of the lifetime! (Any size donation is accepted and of course appreciated!) Contact Stacy Robinson at [email protected] or click here to make a secure online donation.
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH | |
Laura holds a sign during the #PeaceMob!
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Peace Learning Center would like to recognize Laura Granieri as the volunteer of the month! Laura is an original member of our young professional group, People of Peace (POP) and continues to be an integral part of its success!
Click here to read more.
Are you interested in volunteering at Peace Learning Center? Conact Jay Horan at [email protected] to learn how you can make a difference.
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PLC PROGRAMS: Youth Programs
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YOUR LIFE MATTERS
This is a story shared by Melita Carter - one of our youth development facilitators - all of whom utilize their talents and passion to help youth in our community succeed. We're very lucky to have Melita as well as all of our other youth development facilitators on our team. After reading her essay, we think you'll agree!
Last Friday, as I was leaving a PLC elementary school program, I came to the stop light of 42nd and Post Rd and saw a young African American male with three children. He was crossing two very busy streets while holding one child in one arm, carrying a three month old in a car seat, and leading a four year who was holding onto the baby's car seat. This young man had on no coat or gloves, was struggling with all these children, and it was freezing outside.
Click here to read more.
For additional information PLC's youth programs, please contact Kristina Hulvershorn at [email protected] or visit www.peacelearningcenter.org to learn more about how PLC can help you!
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PLC PROGRAMS: Community Programs
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Last year's Focus 2020 Grant Recipients
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FOCUS 2020 COMMUNITY ACTION GRANTS
We are very excited to announce our 2014 Focus 2020 Community Action Grant recipients! We recently awarded $24,954 in grants to 8 local community activists to support projects designed to create a more welcoming and engaged greater Indianapolis community.
Click here to see a complete list of the 2014 Focus 2020 Community Action Grant Awardees and brief descriptions of their funded projects.
For additional information PLC's community programs, please contact John McShane at [email protected] or visit www.peacelearningcenter.org to learn more about how PLC can help you!
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PLC STANDS FOR PEACE & JUSTICE
In response to the impending Ferguson, MO grand jury decision  :
Since 1997, Peace Learning Center (PLC) of Indianapolis has worked with schools, businesses, public safety officials, and community leaders to build the civic infrastructure to help communities resolve differences in ways that are peaceful and respectful which includes teaching a research-based peace learning curriculum to more than 5,000 local school students each year.
The support PLC receives from communities and leaders is in keeping with Indianapolis' long-standing commitment to promote open and honest dialogue on issues impacting the city's civic life. As such, PLC stands ready to help students, parents, local leaders and communities take peaceful action regardless of the outcome of the verdict.
At PLC we sincerely believe these words spoken by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice."
We encourage members of our community who are interested in taking a stand for peace to join our efforts by volunteering to support our peace education programs, attending one of our free community education workshops, participating in our annual Martin Luther King Community Festival on Saturday, January 17, 2015 to help celebrate diversity and our beloved community, and/or bringing our programs to your organization.
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GROW YOURSELF
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BEING GRATEFUL
How can I tell you I'm grateful for every little thing in my life and have you believe those are not just words? How can I tell you that my life changing experiences made me thankful for everything I have and that I "pay it forward" daily? Would my sob story make you a believer?
There are lots of websites that will tell you 10 ways to be grateful, 16 ideas to help you be thankful, 20 ways to teach your children how to be grateful. For me personally, it comes from the soul. It comes from your experiences. It comes from your heart. I have the following poem taped on my fridge - it's beautiful and for me, it's a gentle reminder for when I am whining about silly things. I hope this poem makes it to your fridge as well. Have a wonderfully fun Thanksgiving that is filled with memory making moments, fun and of course...gratefulness.
Click here to read more.
This section is written by Lisa Jones, PLC's Director of Human Resources and Operations.
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SUPPORT PEACE Make Good Changes Happen!
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All donations to Peace Learning Center are currently being used to support our $1 million Be Peace Campaign. Thanks to people like you, we've already raised $859,059 Please make a donation today to help us reach our goal to serve 10,000 people in 2014. Click here to donate now!
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