Women's Interfaith Initiative (WII)
Information
Gathering Women around the world to connect, collaborate, empower, inspire, and activate. SARAH woman's organization is temporarily serving as our connective agent.
Website: http://www.sarah4hope.org
Members: 104
Latest Activity: May 11
Dear Helene,
I am responding to your inquiry about peace activism.
We (SARAH) also believe that we have to be the Peace we wish to see in the community. As women of the community, we accept the responsibility to behave in a manner that promotes generosity, kindness and harmony. When our early vision of creating a lapel pin of our logo was realized and we were holding it in our hand, we realized we had to do more with this little heart shaped token. It was then that our Empowerment Pin was manifested. We created a pledge that accompanies the pin, "When I wear this pin I remember that I am a women of my community dedicated to creating a safe and harmonious environment with my daily actions." You can see the pin on our website www.sarah4hope.org
This is our way of empowering women to be reminded that our actions alone can create a more peaceful society.
Another way we promote peace is through our annual initiative of bringing the community together for a county wide weekend of community service. As an interfaith organization, we have had lots of experience bringing the community together to be spoken to or provided dialogue opportunities. However, what we really learned was that communities thrive and grow, not just when we sit and talk, but when we focus on a unifying goal. Last year we activated 1000 people out to 96 service projects and we know that those who otherwise would not come to the table found themselves working shoulder to shoulder with one another doing something for someone else less fortunate. Walls come down, barriers dissolve and we can develop relationships from a new perspective to create a more peaceful, understanding community. (also on our website).
I cannot wait to read this book!!!
Blessings!
Sande
I am responding to your inquiry about peace activism.
We (SARAH) also believe that we have to be the Peace we wish to see in the community. As women of the community, we accept the responsibility to behave in a manner that promotes generosity, kindness and harmony. When our early vision of creating a lapel pin of our logo was realized and we were holding it in our hand, we realized we had to do more with this little heart shaped token. It was then that our Empowerment Pin was manifested. We created a pledge that accompanies the pin, "When I wear this pin I remember that I am a women of my community dedicated to creating a safe and harmonious environment with my daily actions." You can see the pin on our website www.sarah4hope.org
This is our way of empowering women to be reminded that our actions alone can create a more peaceful society.
Another way we promote peace is through our annual initiative of bringing the community together for a county wide weekend of community service. As an interfaith organization, we have had lots of experience bringing the community together to be spoken to or provided dialogue opportunities. However, what we really learned was that communities thrive and grow, not just when we sit and talk, but when we focus on a unifying goal. Last year we activated 1000 people out to 96 service projects and we know that those who otherwise would not come to the table found themselves working shoulder to shoulder with one another doing something for someone else less fortunate. Walls come down, barriers dissolve and we can develop relationships from a new perspective to create a more peaceful, understanding community. (also on our website).
I cannot wait to read this book!!!
Blessings!
Sande
Discussion Forum
Now what?
Started by Sande Hart. Last reply by Jennifer Surdam Jan 15, 2010. 10 Replies 0 Likes
What's the first thing you are going to do when you get home from The Parliament with all that motivation, activation, inspiration and wisdom?
Tags: Women
Comment Wall
Comment
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Comment by Rev Denese Schellink on January 7, 2010 at 6:59pm -
I am interested in joining this beautiful group of women. I too read Greg Mortenson's book "Three Cups of Tea" still to read his newest, "Stones to Schools". Yes, He continues to be doing amazing work of building schools in remote areas of Afghanistand and Pakistan, with emphasis on educating girls.
I facilitate a small women's group that gathers and sponsors Women for Women International, help women of warring countries make a new life using gifts and micro loans.
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Comment by Linda Higdon on January 6, 2010 at 3:33pm -
Hi Eileen, I have been offering up an idea for this beautiful group of women that is gathering here. Would you be interested in a conference call, where we could all get on the line and meet one another and have a discussion in small groups about one particular topic, probably focused on the content of what is being posted? I am about to jump in and get something organized but could use to hear back from someone if this is a good idea. Blessings, Linda higdon
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Comment by Eileen Epperson on January 6, 2010 at 2:12pm -
A powerful personal commitment for the year, Olivia.
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Comment by Louise Macdonald on January 5, 2010 at 9:47pm -
Thanks Helen, your book suggestion caught my attention. Another book which is perhaps in a similar vein is Hugh Brody's The Other Side of Eden. It looks at the impact of agrarian cultures on hunter gatherer societies and the links with the biblical text and metaphors for ecological domination such as the garden. As a keen gardener it certainly challenged my world view. Living in the top end of Australia and working with indigenous people here these issues are near to my heart and part of my motivation in attending the Parliament
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Comment by Helen Spector on January 5, 2010 at 2:47pm
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I highly recommend Stephen Newcomb's book, Pagans in the Promised Land, which describes from a cognitive perspective why we non-indigenous peoples have difficulty seeing and understanding the continuing impact of 15th Century Papal Decrees/Bulls and Royal British charters on the lives and religious freedoms of our neighbors who are members of Indigenous Peoples. It is a reasoned and understandable description of how something so big remains so invisible to us in the majority culture. I think it will change the way you understand the Report from the Indigenous Assembly as presented at the closing plenary in Melbourne, AND I think it will also help you understand how our own frameworks of knowing are constructed in ways that allow us to see what we expect and totally not see what we may not expect.
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Comment by Kay Lindahl on January 5, 2010 at 1:59pm -
I like the idea of sharing books we are reading. I just finished Greg Mortenson's new book "Stones to Schools", which takes up where "Three Cups of Tea" left off. He continues to be doing amazing work of building schools in remote areas of Afghanistand and Pakistan, with emphasis on educating girls. The world is waiting and ready to hear the voices of women and how together with men we can create and support cultures of peace.
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Comment by Sande Hart on January 5, 2010 at 1:15pm
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Thanks Janet! I will add those books to SARAH's suggested reading page.
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Comment by Janet M. Elfers on January 5, 2010 at 12:36pm -
It seems to me that the most creative and inspired ideas come out of times like these--when we are facing great challenges. I am going to begin by networking with various women I know in my area. A Muslim friend of mine and I are considering starting a professional women's interfaith group. I am also involved in a Jewish, Muslim and Christian women's group called, "Among Women." And a women's book club I participate in just finished reading "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide." by Nicholas Krisoff and Sheryl WuDunn. I recommend the book. We have spent a good amount of time developing trusting relationships with one another through sharing meals and books. Now it is time for us to move to action!
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Comment by Linda Higdon on January 4, 2010 at 8:42pm
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Hi Sande and Eileen, I think this would be great to share victories. Could we do this in a conference call format, instead? I have access to a wonderful tool which would allow us to all introduce ourselves in one large tele-room and then we could breakout into groups of 2 or 3 for a more interactive and intimate discussion about our victories. My phone number is 312-339-9037 if you are interested! Take care, Linda Higdon
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Thanks Eileen,
That is exactly what we should do! Start by sharing victories! Do you want to start?
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