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“Creating A Culture of
Peace”, a conference focusing on the prevention of
violence, to be held in Freeport.
South
Nassau Unitarian Universalist Congregation to offer day of
workshops for children and adults.
Freeport, New York,
October 20, 2001: The Anti-Violence Task Force of
the South Nassau Unitarian Universalist Congregation is
taking a proactive position in teaching parents and
children how to create safer and more peaceful
communities. Our first conference, “Creating A
Culture of Peace”, will be held in Freeport on October 20,
2001. The conference will be open to the public and
will be free of charge. All activities will be
secular and non-religious in nature.
Topics will include
parenting skills, playground strategies, media literacy,
combating bias, conflict mediation skills, and youth and
gang violence. Presenters include representatives
from the Freeport Police Gang Awareness, Suppression and
Prevention Program; Youth STRONG and The Long Island
Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives. Kolya
Braun-Greiner, M.Div., will offer a workshop for parents,
“Modeling Peace in the Home”, and the day’s activities
will include a panel discussion on how bias crimes affect
us all, with speakers from the Workplace Project, LIGLY,
the NAACP and the Anti-Defamation League.
In addition to workshops
for adults, children will participate in activities
designed to teach positive communication skills, conflict
resolution, peaceful play activities and how to say “NO”
to violence. Children will learn techniques,
through art and music experiences about the creation of
inner peace and sanctuary; through this, communal
peace can develop. Childcare will be available for
pre-schoolers and babies.
In response to September
11th violent attacks on the World Trade Center and
Pentagon, and the accompanying loss of life, an additional
workshop will be offered focusing on exploring spiritual
resources, connections, support systems, and coping skills
during times of crisis. This workshop will be
facilitated by the Reverend Charles Ayars of the
Presbyterian Community Church of Massapequa.
Participants may
pre-register by phoning the South Nassau Unitarian
Universalist Congregation at 516-623-1204, or Livia Polise,
C.S.W. at 516-379-6975. Pre-registration is required
for those in need of childcare. This
conference is supported by a challenge grant from the
Unitarian Universalist Funding Association, with matching
funds from the South Nassau Unitarian Universalist
Congregation and the Unitarian Thrift Shop. Food and
beverages have been donated by Trader Joe’s of Merrick.
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