June 10, 2006 

Dear Friends,

As you know, over the past years we have been developing a grassroots infrastructure throughout the US with activity in fifty states, almost 300 congressional district team leaders, 15 city council endorsements, and various interfaith, education, business, celebrity, academic and other endorsements as well, including most recently a spirited and inspirational message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Our most recent campaign mobilization effort was around Mother's Day, in the spirit of peace, alongside many of you, with Julia Ward Howe's original poem the centerpiece, calling for an end of all war and a culture of peace. We delivered pies to members of Congress stating that peace wants a piece of the pie. Last year we visited 40 offices. This year we visited 167 offices.

And today, posted at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR03760:@@@P we realize we made a difference, as seven new co-sponsors are listed on the Thomas.loc.gov official website and we are able to confirm that our supporters visited them and at least four of them received pies. This brings the total to 71 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and two co-sponsors in the Senate. This fall we begin a concentrated effort to gain further support in the Senate and in the committees where the bill is presently sitting, as we will call for hearings on the bill. And we plan to participate in candidate forums throughout the country, asking two pertinent questions: What is your plan to reduce violence domestically? and, What is your stance on legislation presently in the House and Senate calling for a US Department of Peace and Nonviolence?

Next week our US delegation joins representatives from 24 countries at the Victoria Summit where we will coordinate our efforts with the participants in the International People's Initiative for Ministries and Departments of Peace. This year we received funding to scholarship eleven representatives from developing countries. Following the Summit we will attend the World Peace Forum in Vancouver and, joined by Marianne Williamson and Dennis Kucinich, will present a session on our international work.

Finally, we are in the process of creating the infrastructure for our Student Peace Alliance (SPA), led by youth and coordinated and supported by our youth/adult partnership model, and will once again have a presence at the UN on the International Day of Peace, September 21, 2006. SPA will formally launch at the DC Conference February 2-5, 2007.

Please visit www.peacealliancefound.org for more information about our Global Engagement initiative, Peace Registry, and efforts to empower civic activism for a culture of peace.

It is a time of recognition and expression for many of us in this work. We are grateful to partner with so many of you, and we wish you all the best as the journey continues.

In the Spirit of Peace,
Dot

Dorothy J. Maver, Ph.D.
Executive Director
The Peace Alliance
Campaigning for a US Department of Peace
www.thepeacealliance.org
The Peace Alliance Foundation
Empowering Civic Activism for a Culture of Peace
www.peacealliancefound.org
802.272.5504

International People's Initiative for Ministries and Departments of Peace
http://www.peoplesinitiativefordepartmentsofpeace.org

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