Location:

24th Annual North Dakota Peace Conference
“Cultures of Peace - Past, Present, and Future”

Saturday, October 6, 2007
» ND Heritage Center, 612 E. Boulevard Ave, Bismarck map
» Bismarck/Mandan UU Fellowship, 818 East Divide Ave., Bismarck map

Agenda

Please note: All events will be held at the Heritage Center except the annual meeting, award dinner, and peace concert, to be held at the UU Fellowship.

Speakers / Performers

Cameron White

Cameron White

Cameron White is a Minnesota native, A Peacemaker and an Iraq War Veteran. As a Marine, he was deployed to Iraq twice. Disillusioned by what was so clearly an illegal and immoral war, he became actively involved in the Peace Movement while still on active duty, as part of a performance art piece called "The Fifth Commandment," which toured the United States. Upon his discharge he returned to the Fargo-Moorhead area and became active with the Red River Anti War Coalition.

Later he joined forces with the North Dakota Peace Coalition and testified in the North Dakota Legislature in support of the Peace Resolution (SCR 4022). He now resides in Los Angeles and is an active member of the LA chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace. This year he walked across the U.S.-Mexican Border on a Peace pilgrimage with his Zen Buddhist teacher Claude AnShin Thomas.

Cameron has been featured on NPR, The Ed Schultz Show, The Bunker with Jeff Steele, the Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle and several other media outlets. Some of Cameron's letters from the Iraq War were featured in Frank Schaeffer's book "Voices from the Front". Cameron is currently Creative Director at the National Veterans Foundation in Los Angeles.

Paddy McLauglin

Paddy McLaughlin

Human being with a passion for this rare Earth and brilliant humanity. Paddy offers The Center for Peace, in Fargo, for those on personal journeys to global journeys, with a focus on peace, women's spirituality and empowerment and political education. She is co-host of PeaceTalk Radio program on 105.9 FM, Sat. mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M.

Sister Yvonne Nelson

Sr. Yvonne Nelson is a member of the Sisters of the Presentation, Fargo, ND. She received her MA in Administration from Marquette University, and taught at all levels in formal academics. But for over 30 years she has used her skills and training and experiences with and among those made poor. Sister Yvonne worked with the mountain women in Appalachia, founding a center for women and children, the directorship of which has been owned by the mountain women for over 25 years. Sister Yvonne also ministered on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, MT, and as Director of Dismas House, a rehab center for former felons in Knoxville, TN. For the past 5 years she has been Director of Presentation Peace Studies in Fargo. She resigned this position this past May, and leadership has been assumed by members of the Council of which she continues to be a member.

Brian Palacek

Brian Palacek

Brian Palacek is one of the founding members of the North Dakota Peace Coalition. He served as its Executive Director from 1983 to 1987. He was the campaign spokesperson for the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign in 1982. He is the author of the nuclear freeze narrative "A Letter to the Emperor." He currently teaches English and Humanities at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota. The title of his doctoral dissertation for the University of Creation Spirituality (now Wisdom University, San Francisco) is "Abolition and Remembrance: Spiritual Practice and Current Nuclear Weapons Issues in North Dakota."

Karen Van Fossan

Karen Van Fossan

Karen Van Fossan has been credited with revitalizing North Dakota's peace movement. Co-founder of the Peace Studies-West series, she has served as the Peace Coalition's volunteer lobbyist, grassroots organizer, and coalition-builder. An award-winning author, Karen is the founder of the Dragon Jane Performance Art Company, which has been described as "a life force," "boldly outrageous," and "mystical, magical!" She received the 2007 "Love Without Fear Award" for musical and theatrical contributions that better women's lives. She also received an Artist's Fellowship from the Archibald Bush Foundation, which permits her to live and work as a full-time playwright for the next two years. She holds an M.A. in Dance/Movement Therapy from Naropa University, Boulder, CO, and an M.A. in Children's Literature from Hollins University, Roanoke, VA. For 20 years, she has been an activist, healer, and artist for peace.

Kristin Kitko

Kristin Kitko

Kristin Kitko, folksinger/songwriter, delights audiences with her "disarming sense of humor" and "musical superpowers" (Chicago Tribune). Her quirky brand of comedy, unique guitar playing style, and soul searching lyrics have earned her national attention. Guitar Noise predicts that “Kitko is a name that will go far.”

Dragon Jane

Dragon Jane member

"Dragon Jane is a life force!" says Bonnie Palecek, founder of the ND Council on Abused Women's Services. Sometimes bold, sometimes outlandish, always rooted in compassion — Dragon Jane combines theater, movement, music, and the spoken word to create and embody its vision of peace in this world. Collaborative and intergenerational, Dragon Jane roots itself in community, fostering creativity and imagination in young and old alike. As Rae Abileah, national coordinator for CODEPINK, has said, "Dragon Jane is a living example of the Gandhian philosophy — 'Be the change you wish to see in the world.'"

Registration

Brochure includes printable registration form.

Registration includes lunch, dinner, and concert.

Pre-Registration

Although pre-registration is not required, it would help with planning and meal preparations to have registrations in by September 30th. Please help us with this coordination by pre-registering. Thank you!

Silent Auction

Please bring an item for our Silent Auction and help raise funds for the ND Peace Coalition. You'll receive a $5 discount on your registration. Thanks!

Scholarships

Scholarships are available. Contact Annette Martel for more information.

Peace Room

The Peace Room is a spiral journey through the stations of peace that lead you to your own inner sanctum, somewhat like a labyrinth. The intent is to assist you to feel peace and know it exists through photography, poems, sound, light, scent, and inspiring quotes. Surrounding and supporting the peace journey will be peace-rooted art. You are invited to participate!

Peace Carpool

In the effort to encourage earth-friendly and people-friendly transportation, we encourage the use of carpooling and caravanning to travel from Grand Forks, Devils Lake, and Fargo. Please contact Paddy McLaughlin for info. 701-232-0694

Host Homes

A limited number of host homes are available. Please contact Karen Van Fossan for information by email or phone 701-258-6667.

For more information

Print the brochure and keep it handy. See you there!

For further information about the conference, please contact Annette Martel.

The Peace Conference is sponsored by the North Dakota Peace Coalition.

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