By Kendra Mon
Volunteer, CA-6
August 20, 2008

The 2008 California Regional Conference, "A World Beyond Violence," was held August 1-3 at U.C. Berkeley, California. 150 attended the full conference, including 19 youth, and more came to the opening event with Peace Alliance co-founder, author, and teacher Marianne Williamson.

Williamson focused on the urgency of action, likening the current world situation to being on the Titanic and knowing we are headed for the iceberg. "There will be no new America until we have new Americans," she said. "Today we need to end all war through external and internal work. We have to go from who we used to be to who we can be."

Peace Alliance Board members Christine Elliot and Dan Smith presented an award to the Chair of the U.C. Berkeley Dept. of Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS), Jerry Sanders, for peace innovation and leadership. PACS was founded in 1984 and is the oldest and largest peace studies program of the more than 300 existing in the U.S. today.

The rest of the program was filled with presenters who demonstrated through their life works and their vision the powerful effect one person can have on a community and the world.

Aqeela Sherrills grew up in an the Watts L.A. war zone, turned his own life around, and brokered a peace agreement between rival gangs, the Bloods and the Crips. Reverend Shumake of violence-ridden Richmond, CA, organized the churches to each work in their own neighborhoods.

Kokomon and Aeeshah Clottey began working with 15 neighborhood youths in Oakland, CA, and now serve 3,500 daily through their Attitudinal Healing Connection. Samina Faheem Sundas invites any and all to her home for periodic dinners and founded American Muslim Voice to work with all Americans for peace and justice.

Participants learned about The Peace Alliance, the Student Peace Alliance, H.R. 808 and its history, how to lobby, and the importance of funding. They also took action. They practiced personal laser talks, they wrote 54 letters that are being delivered to CA Senator Boxer about sponsoring a Senate bill, they committed to join or increase efforts for bill passage, and they contributed funding.

After inspired appeals by CA Co-state Coordinator Terry Mason and Managing Director Wendy Greene, the Peace Alliance received an annualized amount of $14,904.50, including commitments from 25 new Peace Partners to make monthly donations and two new Guarantee Fund members to contribute at least $1,000 per year!

All agreed to take their enthusiasm and energy back ot their home Districts and to begin planning to attend the exciting Washington D.C. Conference next March.

And all felt a little closer to our "World Beyond Violence."

See a video montage of photos from the conference here.