Living Peace Workshop with Richard Reoch!

Richard Reoch has been involved with human rights, peace efforts and humanitarian work almost his whole life. Richard Reoch began working at  Amnesty International in 1971, and by 1978 he was appointed to head Amnesty’s global media operations. Currently, Richard Reoch serves as the President of Shambhala, which is one of the world’s most influential Buddhist communities. He is also on the board for the Center for Living Peace, the Chair of the International Working Group on Sri Lanka, as well as a trustee of the Rainforest Foundation. In his spare time he speaks at schools and colleges, is trained in oriental medicine, teaches tai chi and qigong, and travels throughout the world to help spread the ideas and principles of Living Peace.

On February 19, 2011, human rights activist Richard Reoch will be visiting the Center for Living Peace to lead the first of a four-part series on cultivating inner and outer peace. The beginning of the series opens with the question, “What is Living Peace?”. Delving deep into this question, participants will explore the definition of living peace and how it is applicable to their own lives. Richard Reoch will guide the discussion and exercises based around these ideas in order to discover more about how we experience living peace on a personal level, and reflect that into our respective communities. The agenda for the day includes presentations, dialogue exercises, and meditation.

To find out more or sign up for the class, click here.

 

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out.

 

 

If You Build It, They Will Come…

…especially if it involves cupcakes and lemonade!  Our Grand Opening Weekend was a great success, thank you to all who came out and participated in the weekend of free events and demonstrated many ways to “live peace.”  Take a look:

Children and adults alike had the chance to work with artist Natasha Shoro at her Expressive Arts table in the Center’s world cafe area.

Families also enjoyed perusing the library in this space.

The lobby’s koi pond, made from a Burmese fire bowl, was the most popular of all the unique furnishings in the Center.

Acclaimed street muralist Melanie Stimmell worked throughout the weekend on the mural begun at our Grand Opening Party.  Melanie also led workshops in chalk art for all ages.

Melanie’s finished chalk mural will be permanently hung in the Center.

The first of all the free workshops of the weekend was led by Terry LePage of Open Door Communication.  This Nonviolent Communication class, focusing on how to communicate more effectively and compassionately with others, set the perfect tone for the weekend and beyond.

Craig Causon of The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity and Julie Hudash of Team Kids teamed up to present a service inspired story and art activity in our South Wing.  Children made masterpieces from recycled and trashed materials.

Breaking ground in the Center’s North Wing, The Ecology Center guided families and kids in creating their own terrariums.

Richard Reoch, International Human Rights Advocate and former Media Chief of Nobel Prize Winning Amnesty International, led a discussion on Making Peace Possible followed by an introduction to meditation.

Girls danced, drew, and worked with the impermanence of sand as a medium in Justine Amodeo’s class, Tapping the Body’s Wisdom.

Smiling Monkey Yoga, a children’s program designed specifically for The Center for Living Peace by Patrice Simon and Amy McConnell, made a fun debut teaching yoga and breathing techniques using play and imagination.

The Orange County Museum of Art helped visitors harness the power of the sun to create whimsical solar portraits from collected objects.

Putting our mission into action and making good happen, volunteers from Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and Team Kids collected over 2 barrels of donations for the hungry.

It was a wonderful weekend had by all!  Missed out?  Visit our events calendar for ongoing programs and workshops.

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out.