Household Hazardous Waste

Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be household hazardous waste (HHW). Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides, that contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special care when you dispose of them. We here at the Center for Living Peace believe that it is important to care for the environment, and this is one of many ways to do so!

Photo Source

Improper disposal of HHW can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash. The dangers of such disposal methods might not be immediately obvious, but improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health.

To learn more about hazardous household waste and to find a free disposal site near you, visit: Earth911 or Keep Orange County clean!

Have dead batteries to dispose of? Drop by Center for Living Peace to fill our battery bucket!

Good Happens.

Pay it forward!

Center for Living Peace Décor: Gingko Wall

Here’s our monthly look into the Center for Living Peace’s design inspiration. This time we’ll be focusing on our lovely ginko leaf wall.

Gingko Leaves

These panels depict young bamboo branches called “gingko.” Gingko has been planted outside of Buddhist monasteries as a symbol of longevity. The oldest gingko was reportedly over 800 years old! When they grow at the top of the trunk, they do not grow at the same angle as the older branches. This allows sunlight to reach their “elders,” or the older branches.

Kids, don’t forget to connect with your elders as well! Take a fun art class together or read a book about peace in our Lounge and Library area!

Come visit the Center for a closer look at our various art pieces or check out our previous CLP decor posts!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Living Peace Projects: Update from Mpilonhle

We love to share the good that continues to happen thanks to participants of our Living Peace Projects!

On December 4th, 2010 we hosted our Living Peace Projects (formerly known as “Working Groups”) with Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP)! The Social Action Squad of the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) supported Mpilonhle and its efforts in making Good Happen. Here are some photos of the work that has been accomplished!

Ana Robelo, one of the Living Peace Projects participants & awesome CLP interns, had this to say about the project:

“Working with Center for Living Peace through the speakers series has served as a kind of starting point for a growing momentum of interest in community engagement and civic engagement projects where I was forced to develop into capable leader. The Center really provided support in terms of organizing and pushing me to really envision something big that could have an impact and provide something that mattered to me, like art, to youth so far away. I also began to think about community empowerment because of Mpilonhle’s efforts to give communities the tools to become informed and have agency over their health. I love that it has been a project that I have had updates from as it unfolds.”

Our thanks to Mpilonhle for sharing the updates with us! We are so thrilled to see the continuing impact of these Living Peace Projects and the Living Peace Series. Thank you to all of the participants and partners who have made this possible!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Live Peace with Share Our Selves

Share Our Selves, a nonprofit organization based in Costa Mesa, has been working to serve the underprivileged of Orange County since 1970. Starting out, SOS tackled the most serious concerns of the poor by providing meals, clothing, transportation, prescriptions, and emergency financial aid and eventually expanded to include medical and dental clinics. In addition to immediate aid, SOS also provides counseling and social services, including job consulting, to financially disadvantaged families.

Some ways to volunteer or become involved with Share Our Selves are through the Adopt a Family program, which matches up families selected by local schools to donors who provide holiday gifts and food, or by simply volunteering onsite in the food pantry, at the medical and dental clinics, or being a driver to local food merchants. To learn more about how to volunteer or donate to SOS click here.

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Erwin Wang Makes Good Happen

As part of the Living Peace Series with Sir Richard Branson, we hosted our Living Peace Projects (formerly known as “Working Groups”) on January 22, 2011. With each Living Peace Series speaking event, we host a day of service for youth encouraging participants to not only get involved, but continue to do good in the world.

Now, over a year after the Living Peace Projects with Virgin Unite, we are so happy to highlight the work of Erwin Wang. As a local high school student, Erwin joined us back in January 2011 and began a project to raise funds for charity. As part of the project Erwin began at the Living Peace Projects, he raised $2,000! The funds supported the Human Options scholarship program here at the Center as well as the food pantry at Families Forward.

Erwin and CLP Founder Kelly

When asked about the impact the event had on him, Erwin said:

“Since I could remember, both my mother and father spoke of the importance of generosity, and the far-reaching happiness it brings to all people. It is an aspect that has influenced me throughout my childhood and teenage years. I’ve been privileged to have been raised in such a nurturing environment – it only seems fitting to give back to the community that has given me so much. What started out as a simple idea developed into a full-fledged fundraising event. It was a wild and exciting ride from start to finish, and ultimately saw it appropriate to provide the funds to Families Forward and the Human Options program. Many are unaware of the financial and domestic issues families in Irvine must tackle daily – which is precisely why these organizations are deserving of these funds. I’d like to acknowledge my team for pulling off such a feat, along with Kelly Smith and Rebecca Hendrickson of CLP for allocating the funds.”

-Erwin Wang

Erwin is certainly an amazing example of making good happen and how a project that may seem small can make a huge impact. We wish him all the best in his college career and endeavors!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Celebrating Living Peace Projects and International Day of Peace

On Sunday, September 23rd we hosted two wonderful events! Our latest Living Peace Projects with Roots and Shoots was in the morning followed by our International Day of Peace celebration in the afternoon. We are so thankful for all who joined us and made so much good happen! Check out some great photos from the exciting day.

The 2011 human peace sign! We will unveil the 2012 version soon…

Young peacemaker learning about native California animals with Inside the Outdoors.

A trio of our wonderful volunteers.

Spinning the prize wheel.

Enjoying story time in the library.

Exploring the Ecology Center’s Water Shed.

We are so thankful for the support of all who joined us on this wonderful day!  Keep an eye out for more pictures to be added to a Facebook album and future blog post!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

TEDxOrangeCoast 2012

This Fall on October 10th, TEDxOrangeCoast will be hosting a new event, TEDxOrangeCoast 2012 Redefining Relevance, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts! This will be an exciting conference with a mission to help turn inspiring ideas into action. UCI’s Center for Unconventional Affairs’s founder, Professor Richard Matthews, will be featured in his second TEDxOrangeCoast talk. His talk in 2011 was on Natural Resources for Peacebuilding and can be viewed on the TEDxOrange Coast website along with their other past talks.

This year’s conference will revolve around the questions, how do you make sense of a world that is constantly changing and how do you solve problems that haven’t been defined?

Apply and register to attend the conference, volunteer, and read more about upcoming TEDxOrangeCoast events on their website.

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Live Peace with The Wooden Floor

The Wooden Floor‘s mission is “to empower low-income youth from diverse backgrounds to strengthen self-esteem, self-discipline and a sense of accomplishment through dance, academic, and family programs.” This Santa Ana based non-profit offers free dance lessons to 375 underserved youth ,which are admitted on an audition basis, from ages 8 to 13 according to financial need and dedication to artistic and academic achievement. In addition, students have access to counseling and crisis intervention services, wellness and family workshops, and other enrichment programs. They also receive academic support ,with college entrance as an end goal, which includes tutoring, scholarships, and SAT prep classes. They are nurtured over several years to become successful individuals, artists, and leaders.

For more information and to support The Wooden Floor visit their website.

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Orange County Museum of Art: Junior Chef

Our latest Junior Chef class with the Orange County Museum of Art was a success! Junior chefs put together a healthy meal with fresh produce from the Irvine Farmer’s Market under the direction of Chef Jeff. They learned how to select the best fruits and vegetables and why it’s important to support local food.

Junior chefs at the Farmer’s Market

When they returned from their shopping trip, they began to prepare their food starting with some sour dough bread. Their menu also included cold fruit soup, salad, sourdough pancakes, sourdough banana bread, and sourdough pizza.

Chef Jeff demonstrates how to knead dough

The kids prepared their food, covering their hands in sticky dough, and mixing Chef Jeff’s super secret salad dressing. After a morning of cooking like gourmet chefs they sat down to enjoy their feast.

Junior chefs enjoying their meal

The next Junior Chef will take place August 8th from 10:00am to 12:00pm and is redeemable for our Build-Your-Own Summer Camp class package. The package allows you to mix and match classes from   our Smiling Monkey Yoga, Orange County Museum of Art, and The Ecology Center classes.

For more information, visit the event page on our website.

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Center for Living Peace Décor: Wooden Sculptures

If you’ve ever been to the Center for Living Peace, you know that it was designed in a mindful and symbolic manner that gives it a unique aura. Our space is filled with beautiful artwork that holds meaning and embodies the Center’s mission and focus. We’ll be sharing a bit about different pieces of art and design features of the Center once a month. This month we’ll be highlighting our four wooden sculptures

Each of the wooden sculptures in the Center represent one of our four pillars: environment, peace making and effective communication, arts and culture, and inner work and development. They are oriented facing the four cardinal directions and are associated with different parts of the world. All four sculptures are made out of a walnut tree. They are meant to wade off evil and help maintain peace in the Center for Living Peace.

East: Sekhmet, Egypt  

Environment

Sekhmet is a lion-headed goddess who is known as one of the oldest deities of ancient Egypt. A goddess of war and peace, and healing; she represents the East as a sun goddess with a solar disk on her head, as the sun rises from the East.

West: Snow Lion, Tibet

Arts & Culture

The snow lion is used as the national emblem in Tibet. It represents cheerfulness and a mind free of doubt. Snow lions are seen as the playful protectors and guardians of children. Snow lions were also known to be protectors of the Buddhist temples. The symbol of the snow lion has also been adopted in the western cultures.

North: Raven, North American

Peace Making & Effective Communication

Ancient holy men of the North-American tribes would call upon the raven to help seek clarity and truth behind what the physical eye sees. The raven is believed to be the bearer of magic and healing powers, and is known for long-distance healing. They are also widely used as a totem animal, a guide for humans through the physical and spiritual world.

South: Dragon, Eastern and Western Cultures

Inner work & Development

Dragons have roles in both Western and Eastern cultures and mythologies. They are symbols of wisdom and longevity in Eastern philosophy, popular for their power over the universe and force of nature. In western mythology, they are seen more as mystical creatures, described for their creature-like characteristics as sea serpents. For the Center for Living Peace, however, dragons are seen as a peaceful meeting between the east and the west.

Want to take a closer look at these majestic pieces of art? Our upcoming program schedule is available on our website, or simply stop by for a visit.

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!