Notes from a Peace Conference
I wanted to portray the idea of being so comfortable and easy with people that you could fall asleep on each other.
I was honored to be invited to speak at the 2023 International Peace Conference held in Birmingham this past weekend. Hosted by The Rotary International in partnership with The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and the Institute for Human Rights at the University of Alabama Birmingham, the conference served as a melting pot of individuals from different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, all united in their commitment to peace-building.
I’ll make a video of my speech so you can see what I got up to, but here I’ll highlight some of the incredible people I met and things I learned. I highlighted in bold the take-aways.
Dr. Bernice King, daughter of MLK, was one of the featured speakers, and was interviewed by local university and high school students. Through antidotes highlighting how she and her associates brave the current dicey social arena in our country, she opened my eyes to how many selfless, tireless people are out there trying to offset the haters. It is heartening to know MLK’s message of non-violent social change is being carried forward with such passion.
I met several people who are using the arts to uplift their communities. My fellow panel member, Kimberly Kirkland, brings creativity to patients at UAB Hospital here in Birmingham. UAB is one of the biggest and most prestigious medical centers in the world, and her program brings music and arts of all kinds to patients who really need it. Kimberley reminded us of how creativity is proven to be super effective at healing what ails us.
(One of my students, Libby Stephens, is a part of the program, playing her guitar and singing to kids at Children’s Hospital. I love her precious stories.)
Fabian Debora, is Executive Director of Homeboy Art Academy in Los Angeles. He led us in an “art ceremony” inspired by his Native American and Chicano roots, recovery programs, and universal creative wisdom. His program reminded me of a Without a Net Workshop, but with a wonderfully different flavor. I love to see the Good message being carried by so many diverse and beautiful voices.
Ashish Kulshrestha, friend of the Dalai Lama, led a program on, well, Peace. We talked about it, meditated on it, and heard his brilliant and serene take on it. There are things that can’t be described in a blog, and this is one. Just being in Ashish’s presence was a transcendent hour of minding the heart of peace itself.
I got to introduce Yolanda Lewis-Ragland, a doctor from Washington DC who works one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. She, among many other great things, is on the board of the David Lynch Foundation, bringing Transcendental Mediation to underserved communities and schools. I was thrilled to hear that the possibility of affecting many more people with the benefits of meditation are close to becoming a reality. It’s easy to forget that it takes money and organization and proof of effectiveness to get people to get on board.
There were several speakers who addressed the horrific issue of Human Trafficking. I learned that it is rampant, organized, and offenders are being incarcerated at alarmingly low rates. There were panels with victims educating how you can help to spot victims and report them. (This is the most likely way to capture offenders.) I hate that we even have to think about such things in the world, but we learned that this goes on right under our noses. You can read online ways to be of help.
Ivan Kenneth Ocen is from Uganda, and he shared at my talk that half his childhood was spent on the streets, the other half in a refugee camp. It was art that changed everything. A humanitarian project led an exercise in which they listened to music and drew what it sounded like. It transported and transformed him, and inspired him to leave behind the sorrow. He is now a Rotary Peace Fellow, traveling the world raising awareness of programs that help young women in extreme poverty start their own businesses and support their families.
Joel Lesko’s SunShower Learning informs businesses on how to avoid unconscious bias in the workplace. I wanted to hear his talk because as a white person, I worry about saying the wrong thing. I learned that it’s common worry about this, and that being open and willing to have conversations is the best way to learn. And there are courses you can take, like Joel’s.
Nar Saud, from Nepal, is a PhD student at University of Creative Arts in England. He brings his creative voice back to his home country in the form of programs and initiatives. He was a kind and gentle person, something I’ve heard about the Nepalese. I hope to do some collaborating with him and some of these other magnificent people.
My take away from the conference is much in line with Dr. King’s famous message, that fighting hate with hate is not the answer. It was powerful and elevating to be around so many inspiring people, sure to shape my Without a Project and hopefully rub off on you, dear reader. Stay tuned.
