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Read stories from participants in past Department of Peace Campaign national conferences and get a sense of the experience and impact you can expect at the 2009 Conference. You can also
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with us in 250 words or less so that we may then share it with others and post it here. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the conference!
    
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From Christopher
Aquino
New Mexico
I live in a small town in New Mexico. It's fairly good sized by New Mexico standards but small by national standards.
In February of 2007, I attended the National Peace Alliance conference in Washington D.C. I had only been to Washington one other time, when I was ten years old. I don't remember much about that trip.
I remember every nuance of my '07 visit. People that were there often used the word "Empowered." There is no better word to describe the absolute liberating experience of that conference.
I knew how government was supposed to work but like most Americans I was pretty pessimistic about how it really worked. I never felt that contacting my elected representatives would do any good. They were rich and powerful Washington leaders, after all. Me, I'm...well, a regular working class citizen.
After three days at the conference I was confident enough to talk with my elected officials. Yes, I was empowered. Since then I have become on a first name basis with all of them. I even ran for state senate last year. The revelation of my power and responsibility as a citizen of America was the gift that the '07 conference gave me. Thank you
From David Hazen
Oregon State Coordinator
Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace
When I thought about going to the 2007 national conference, my first question was "What will I get out of it?" It costs money, physical stress, and time to travel across the country; I wanted it to be worthwhile.
When I changed the question to "What do I have to bring to it?" my level of enthusiasm immediately made it possible to register and book my flight. I connected with my deepest passion for a peaceful, nonviolent world which comes from my life experience of its opposite. I visualized myself bringing my candle of hope to join with others in this magnificent bonfire, and bringing some of that fire home with me to share with others.
My experience exceeded my expectations. I was lifted out of my ordinary, plodding, problem-solving analysis into a visionary synthesis of where we stand as a unified body in service to humanity. Some of that vision began before I left home, when I received all the funds necessary to cover my expenses as the result of an e-mail appeal to my friends and relatives. I was not traveling for myself any more.
I shared a room with four other men, and we ate together, walked together into the halls of Congress, stayed up late at night talking together. I found a deepening and lasting bond of brotherhood that now spans half-way around the globe. Some of us will meet again in 2009, and the reunion will be like family.
The most exciting part of the 2007 conference for me was returning to the hotel after spending all day walking from Congressional office to office. I was feeling tremendously satisfied that our delegation had been heard with respect and that I was newly empowered as a participant in a nonviolent revolution without anger.
From Jan Mercuri Grossman
New Hampshire Co-state Coordinator and Creative Director
Department of Peace Campaign
I had been encouraged to attend the last national conference in 2007 by my State Coordinator. I baulked and resisted, not believing that I had a place or a role to serve in Washington , DC . Although I was committed as an educator to working toward Peace, I had no desire to get so close to politics!
The incredible line-up of speakers, with a depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding of the necessary consciousness shift (which underscored my interest in the campaign) won me over. I committed to attend.
Once in DC, I was struck by the privilege and thttp://www.thepeacealliance.org/administrator/index2.php?option=com_content§ionid=16&task=edit&hidemainmenu=1&id=650he duty to speak my truth. Attending the conference with so many like-minded citizens from across the states was inspiring in itself but the philosophy of the "leadership" of The Peace Alliance, along with the presenters, practiced so gracefully the art of "shared responsibility, shared leadership" that I felt an integral, important and equal participant. (The old notion of hierarchical power was absent, fully dispelling my personal feelings of Washington inadequacy.) We were honored, listened to, educated, inspired, rallied then impelled to go to the Capitol to speak our Peace.
The excitement and inspiration of being a part of this organization has nurtured me since the last convention and beckons me to the next.
I realize that we must knock at the doors of the structure that is in place in order for them to eventually swing wide open to the change. I continue, as I have been encouraged by The Peace Alliance, to share this deep seated belief as only I can; as a simple, caring citizen, educator/artist from New Hampshire.
From Shirley Thagard
Volunteer, Hayden, Idaho
An overcrowded Jail lead me to attend the 2007 Peace Alliance conference in Washington, DC.
My community was/is faced with jail overcrowding and I was asked to sit on a commission to address the issue. What an education! Subsequently, I learned a platform of The Peace Alliance addresses the issue with sensible rationale and that was the button that prompted me to attend.
The leaders of the conference provided guidance for each state delegation in lobbying members of Congress and I had the opportunity to speak about reforming the Justice System with members of Congress from Idaho. What an exciting opportunity.
The planning and organization of the conference was excellent and extremely effective, guiding each of us to have an opportunity to speak on the issues we were most concerned with.
I’m looking forward to the 2009 conference. You, I, We are the change we have been waiting for!
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Last Updated ( Monday, 23 February 2009 )
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