Author: Alfredo Casuso

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

June 26-27, 2019

at the Hoover Institution

Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA

8:00 to 9:00 Registration

9:00 to 10:00 OpeningCeremony

Welcome Kiran Bali, MBE JP, Chair of the URI GlobalCouncil

The Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian Jr., Executive Director of URI

The Hon. George P. Shultz, Thomas W. and Susan B. Ford Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution

The Rev. Dr. Tiffany Steinwert, Dean for Religious Life, Stanford University

Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann, Senior Associate Dean for Religious Life, Stanford University

Sughra Ahmed, Associate Dean for Religious Life, Stanford University

Indigenous Land Acknowledgement

A CantataofPeace From Sapient by Steve Chesne

Composer Steven Chesne spent a year unearthing ancient peace invocations and prayers from all over the world: words of the oneness of humankind, spoken by Buddha, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mohammed, Sikhs, Hindus, Jews, Cheyenne, Kikuyu, and Baha’i.

Procession of Belief Traditions and Regions of the World

Leaders: Members of the URI Global Council and Staff

Remembering Victims of Violence and Injustice

Leaders: Rabbi Stephen Pearce, D.D., Ph.D. Sr. Rabbi Emeritus and Taube Scholar, TempleEmanu’el

Adeola Fearon, founder of the Charlotte Red Bench URI Cooperation Circle, Chair URI North America Leadership Council

Abraham Karickam, Regional Coordinator for URI-Asia, South Zone

Karimah Stauch, Regional Coordinator for URI-Europe

Enoé Texier, Professor Central University of Venezuela, Regional Coordinator, URI-Latin America and the Caribbean

Overview Kiran Bali, MBE JP, Chair of the URI GlobalCouncil

The Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian Jr., Executive Director of URI

10:00  to 10:30 Accelerating Peace Opening Appreciative InquiryActivity

Moderator: Sally Mahé, Senior Consultant,URI

Participants are asked to turn to a neighbor and ask their partner the following questions. Each person will have 15 minutes.

Appreciative Inquiry: Interfaith Action in Global Peacebuilding

1. To start, I’d like to learn a little about who you are. Please tell me your name, where you live and what drew you to this conference about interfaith efforts towards global peace building?
2. Our beliefs come from many places in our lives, religion, spirituality, culture. What is something you value deeply in your beliefs that informs how you think about and practice peace?
3. Though the story is still largely untold,  thousands upon thousands of people of different beliefs throughout the  world,  are reaching across boundaries to work together. In what ways have you seen or heard about interfaith peacebuilding in action?

10:45 to 12:00 Session I: Peacebuilding through Promoting Enduring, Daily Interfaith Cooperation: From Dialogue toAction

What is interfaith action? How does interfaith action fit into the larger framework of global peacebuilding? This session will explore the field of interfaith peacebuilding and the relationship between interfaith understanding, interfaith dialogue and interfaith action in the global and local peacebuilding process.

Moderator: The Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian, Jr, Executive Director,URI

Panelists: The Rev. Jennifer Bailey, Founder and Director of the Faith Matters Network Radia Bakkouch, President of Coexister, France, a URI Cooperation Circle Maria Crespo, Director of Cooperation Circle Support, URI

Audrey Kitagawa, Chair of the Parliament of the World’s Religions

Phil Lane, Hereditary Chief, Ihanktonwan Dakota and Chickasaw Nations, URI Trustee

Rabbi Daniel Lehmann, President of the General Theological Union

Michael Pappas, Executive Director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council, a URI Cooperation Circle

12:00 to 1:15 Lunch andKeynote

Speaker: H. E. Adama Dieng, Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Special Adviser to the Secretary- General of the United Nations on the Prevention ofGenocide

Introduced by Wambui Ngige, Human Rights Attorney, URI Global Trustee

1:15 to 1:30 Musical Performance – Pato Banton and Antoinette Rootsdawtah, Pato Banton’s Spiritual Family,  a URI CooperationCircle

1:30 to 2:30 Session II: Voices for a World Free of NuclearWeapons

Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons is a URI Cooperation Circle composed of dynamic voices from across the political, professional, and spiritual spectrums who have united in a single purpose: to eliminate nuclear weapons once and for all. This group of dedicated peacebuilders, which includes diplomats, scientists, lawyers and religious leaders created a video entitled “A Prayer from Voice s for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons” which we will view and then hear from our speakers during this session.

Speakers: Kehkashan Basu, Founder and President of Green HopeFoundation

Jonathan Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute

The Rt. Rev. William Swing, Founder and President, URI

2:30 to 2:45 Break

2:45 to 4:15 Session III: Ending Religiously MotivatedViolence

Violence in the name of religion has become one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. This session will explore how interfaith efforts to confront this challenge are a critical component of the overall effort to counter violent extremism, prevent mass atrocity and genocide, rebuild communities and societies post-conflict, build the positive relationships between people of different beliefs and create the conditions that are essential to sustainable peace.

Video Case Presentation: Countering Violent Extremism in Nigeria Introduced by Emmanuel Ivorgba, West Africa Regional Coordinator, URI

Moderator: Azza Karam, Senior Advisor at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); Coordinator of the UN Inter- Agency Task Force on Religion and Development, UnitedNations

Panelists: Samira Barucija, Co-founder of Youth For Peace, Bosnia/Herzegovina, a URI CooperationCircle

Mussie Hailu, Former Ambassador, Director of the Global Partnerships and Africa Coordinator for URI

Mamoun Khreisat, Middle East and North Africa Regional Coordinator, URI

James Patton, President and CEO, International Center for Religion and Diplomacy Musa Sanguila, Director of Pakigdait, Philippines,  a  URI  Cooperation  Circle Jessica Trubowitch, Public Policy and Community Building Director JCRC –Jewish

Community Relations Council

Janessa Gans Wilder, Founder and Executive Director of the Euphrates Institute, a URI Cooperation Circle

4:45 to 5:30 Keynote Conversation – A Bishop and General Talk aboutPeace

Theologian Hans Kung wrote, “There will be no peace among nations, without peace among religions.” Throughout human history, religion has been used as a motivation and justification for war, while at the same time religion has been used to inspire people to seek peace. In this session, Bishop William Swing and General James Mattis discuss issues of religion, war and peace.

Speakers: General James N. Mattis, Davies Family Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Former United States Secretary ofDefense

The Rt. Rev. William Swing, Founder and President of URI, former Episcopal Bishop of California

5:30 to 6:30 Reception

6:30 to 8:30 URI Circles of Light Gala & AwardsCeremony

(Separately ticketed event)

1. Celebrating the kick off to URI’s 20th Anniversary Year
2. URI Awards Ceremony
   • URI Global Peacebuilder Awards
   • The URI Bowes Award

Thursday, June 27, 2019

8:00 to 9:00 Registration

8:00 to 9:00 Breakfast andNetworking

9:00 to 9:30 Waters of the WorldCeremony

The Waters of the World Ceremony, led by Indigenous peacebuilders, brings waters that come  from over 150 sacred water sources in 65 countries on all seven continents and from the Seven Seas. These waters have been mixed and added to in ceremonies of the United Nations, the United Religions Initiative, the Parliament of the World’s Religions, and the Goldin Institute for International Partnership and Peace. They are mingled as a blessing for all beings of the Earth, in the hope that we may live in peace.

Leaders: Don Frew, Elder and National Interfaith Representative of the Covenant of the Goddess, URITrustee

Phil Lane, Hereditary Chief, Ihanktonwan Dakota and Chickasaw Nations, URI Trustee

Sofia Painequeo, Mapuche Indigenous Leader and Founder of the Aflailai Foundation, a URI Cooperation Circle, URI Trustee

Vilma Palax Tuy, Descendientes de Guatamaya, a URI Cooperation Circle

Audri Scott Williams, Trail of Dreams Peacewalkers, a URI Cooperation Circle, URI Trustee

9:30    to 11:00 Session IV: Building Cultures of Peace, Justice andHealing

for the Earth and all Living Beings: Women’s Empowerment and Environmental Sustainability

As women’s lives and well-being continue to be disproportionately impacted by ongoing violence, injustice and oppression, and the Earth and her inhabitants suffer from the impact of environmental degradation, interfaith peacebuilders are engaging these critical issues on a global and local scale.  This  session will explore these issues through on the ground examples and invite participants into dialogue around strategies for women’s empowerment and environmental sustainability.

Speaker: Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Secretary General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, a URI Cooperation Circle Introduced by Subhi Dhupar, URI Regional Coordinator for URI-Asia NorthIndia

Video Case Presentation: Women’s Empowerment and Environmental Sustainability

Presented by: Amira Diamond and Melinda Kramer, Founders and Co-directors of the Women’s Earth Alliance

Moderator: Kiran Bali, MBE JP, Chair of the Global Council of Trustees forURI

Panelists: Despina Namwembe, Regional Coordinator for URI-Africa GreatLakes

Swamini Adityananda Saraswati, Director of Programmes, Policy and Development of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA), a URI Cooperation Circle

Sofia Painequeo, Mapuche Indigenous Leader and Founder of the Aflailai Foundation, a URI Cooperation Circle

Monica Willard, URI Representative to the United Nations

11:15 to 12:30 Session V: Building Cultures of Peace, Justice and Healing for the Earth and all Living Beings: Global Organizations and GrassrootsPartnerships

Too often in the peacebuilding process a gap exists between global organizations and those at the grassroots engaged in work that seeks to address critical issues including conflict, violence and  injustice.  The session will explore strategies for closing this gap and why global organizations are prioritizing grassroots partnerships.

Moderator: Suzanne Siskel, Executive Vice President and COO, The Asia Foundation, URI President’sCouncil

Panelists: Kate Cumbo, Executive Director, PeaceJamFoundation

Mohamed Elsanousi, Director of The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers

Rabbi  Serena Eisenberg, AJC Northern California Director

Brian Grimm, Religious Freedom and Business  Foundation

Susan Hayward, Senior Advisor, Religion & Inclusive Societies, United States Institute for Peace

Aqueela Jogee, Vice President of Programs, Give2Asia

12:30 to 1:30 Lunch

1:30 to 2:00 Call to ActionKeynote

Speaker: Valarie Kaur, Founder of The Revolutionary LoveProject

Valarie Kaur has become one of the most dynamic leaders in the  interfaith movement, challenging us to ground the movement in an ethic of love. In describing The Revolutionary Love Movement and calling us to action, Valarie Kaur says, “We believe  Revolutionary Love is the call of our times. In an era of enormous  rage, we must resist dangerous policies and acts of hate that threaten our most vulnerable communities. But resistance alone will not deliver us: We will burn out or even start to mirror the  rage we  are resisting.  So we are staging a cultural intervention to birth a new  future. Our mission: to equip our movements and  communities with tools to labor in love —  love  for others, our opponents, and ourselves. When we pour love in these three directions, then love becomes revolutionary.”

2:00 to 3:00 Call to ActionStorytellers

Responding to the Call to Action through love for others,  our  opponents and  ourselves,  these  interfaith leaders weave their stories together reflecting on their own traditions, that which calls them to action and how they in turn call us to be interfaith peacebuilders in our communities and in our world.

Storytellers: Subhi Dhupar, URI Regional Coordinator for NorthIndia

Daniel Eror, Youth for Peace, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a URI Cooperation Circle

Sari Heidenreich, URI North America Regional Coordinator

Vincent Leong, Young Leader URI SEAPAC, Malaysia

Johnny Martin, Youth Director, Arizona Interfaith Network, a URI Cooperation Circle

Wambui Ngige, Human Rights Attorney, Kenya, URI Trustee

Sarah Oliver, Youth Programs Coordinator Southern Africa for URI

Ishaq Pathan, Deputy Director, Islamic Networks Group (ING)

Vilma Palax Tuy, Descendientes de Guatamaya, a URI Cooperation Circle

Shayda Sales, URI Program Associate

Elle Segal, Public Affairs and Civic Engagement Manager, JCRC San Francisco

Valeria Vergani, Director of the InterSpiritual Sustainability Society, Canada, URI Trustee

3:00 to 4:00 Call to Action WorldCafé

Using the World Café dialogue process, participants will engage three questions about their experience at the conference and how they intend to put their learnings into action. Discussion at Tables

1. What insights have you had or questions have arisen from our time together at this conference?
2. Has something changed in how you understand Interfaith Action and Global Peacebuilding?
3. What immediate and longer term actions are you inspired to pursue as you leave the conference?

4:00 to 4:30 Closing Ceremony

4:30 to 5:15 Closing Reception

Onsite Media Contact:David Perry (415) 676-7007
Media Advisory / Onsite Coverage Request: Wednesday, June 26: 9am – 8:30pm *

WHAT:On June 26 & 27 in Stanford, California, URI convenes an unprecedented international gathering of grassroots leaders and policy makers from around the world for the Accelerate Peace Conference, exploring interfaith strategies for global and local peacebuilding.
WHERE:Hoover InstitutionDavid & Joan Traitel BuildingStanford University Campus435 Lasuen Mall
WHO:URI’s Accelerate Peace Conference keynote speakers and panelists include:

• Kehkashan Basu, Founder/President of Green Hope Foundation
• H.E. Adama Dieng, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
• Dr. Azza Karam, Senior Advisor on Culture at the United Nations Population Fund
• Audrey Kitagawa, Chair of the Parliament of the World’s Religions
• Valarie Kaur, Human Rights Activist and founder of The Revolutionary Love Project
• The Rev. Victor Kazanjian, Executive Director of URI
• Rabbi Daniel Lehmann, President of the Graduate Theological Union
• Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Secretary General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance

• The conference will also feature a special keynote conversation entitled “A Bishop and a General Talk about Peace” between former Secretary of Defense, General James N. Mattis, and The Right Rev. William E. Swing, Founder and President of URI.  

WEB / FULL PROGRAM:

• URI.org/acceleratepeace
  

WHY:URI works in 109 countries through local and global initiatives that build the capacity of over 1000 member groups and organizations, called Cooperation Circles. These groups engage in community action such as conflict resolution and reconciliation, environmental sustainability, education, women’s and youth programs, and advocacy for human rights. 

The evening culminates with the Circle of Light Gala, honoring George & Charlotte Shultz.

One Page Briefing Paper for URI Spokespeople / Interviewees at 
Accelerate Peace Conference June 26 & 27

• URI is the largest grassroots interfaith peacebuilding network in the world. It cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities. 

• URI was founded 20 years ago by the Right Reverend William Swing, then the Episcopal Bishop of California. The international nonprofit has its headquarters in San Francisco’s Presidio in the Tides Foundation campus.

• On June 26 & 27 in Stanford, California, URI convenes an unprecedented international gathering of religious leaders from around the world for the Accelerate Peace Conference, exploring interfaith strategies for global and local peacebuilding.
  
• URI works closely with different United Nations agencies and other global organizations in promoting enduring interfaith cooperation to end religiously motivated violence and create a culture of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.

• The URI Accelerate Peace Conference takes place at the Hoover Institution on the Stanford University Campus. It is hosted by former US Secretary of State, George P. Shultz, a fellow at the Hoover Institution and member of URI’s President’s Council. 

• URI works in 109 countries through local and global initiatives that build the capacity of over 1000 member groups and organizations, called Cooperation Circles. These groups engage in community action such as conflict resolution and reconciliation, environmental sustainability, education, women’s and youth programs, and advocacy for human rights. 

• URI conferences keynote speakers and panelists include:
  * Kehkashan Basu, Founder/President of Green Hope Foundation
  * H.E. Adama Dieng, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
  * Mohamed Elsanousi, Director of The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers
  * Dr. Azza Karam, Senior Advisor on Culture at the United Nations Population Fund
  * Audrey Kitagawa, Chair of the Parliament of the World’s Religions
  * Valarie Kaur, Human Rights Activist and founder of The Revolutionary Love Project
  * The Rev. Victor Kazanjian, Executive Director of URI
  * Rabbi Daniel Lehmann, President of the General Theological Union
  * Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Secretary General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance

• The conference will also feature a special keynote conversation entitled “A Bishop and a General Talk about Peace” between former Secretary of Defense, General James N. Mattis, and The Right Rev. William E. Swing, Founder and President of URI.  

• Learn more at URI.org/acceleratepeace.

Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Manny’s Named “Small Business of the Year”

San Francisco Community Space Recognized by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)

18 June 2019 – San Francisco, CA:  In a little over six months,  Manny’s (3092 16^th Street at Valencia, San Francisco – www.welcometomannys.com)has become an epicenter of community involvement, dialogue and civic engagement having served over 50,000 people, staged over 300 events, donated space to more than 150 area nonprofits and charities and become “the Iowa of California” (KCBS Radio) by hosting 11 presidential candidates. Now, Manny Yekutiel, 29, is being recognized for his above-and-beyond achievements by the California State Senate as “Small Business of the  Year.” A ceremony and luncheon at the State Capitol in Sacramento on June 19 will mark the occasion as of California Small Business Day.

“It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you of my selection of Manny’s as the 2019 Senate

District 11 Small Business of the Year,” wrote Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco).  “Since its opening, Manny’s has demonstrated a tremendous commitment to our community. As the owner, you have followed through on your promise of opening Manny’s doors to community groups at little to no cost, building a

programing schedule as diverse as our city partnering with Farming Hope to empower members

of our community, all while keeping the price of coffee at $1.75.”

California Small Business Day grew out of Assembly Resolution 57, which the Legislature unanimously passed in 2000. The purpose of the day is to “Recognize the Contributions Small Business makes to California.” 

“Receiving the Small Business of the Year award is an enormous honor that we all appreciate deeply here at Manny’s,” said Yekutiel who noted that he was “sharing the award” with the more than “1000 people” who had come together to make his dream a reality. “Creating Manny’s and realizing the vision of a central place for folks to go to become better informed and more involved citizens is at the core of our mission. 

My father came to North America with 23 dollars in his pocket and little English, originally from Afghanistan. He pumped gas and washed dishes and, eventually, did save up enough to open up a restaurant with his brother. My mother’s family, immigrants from Poland and Russia, owned a small grocery store in Brooklyn. I was raised in a small business household and I’m proud of it the hard work that both of my parents set as an example from a young age.”

“Because of the hard work of you and your team, Manny’s has greatly contributed to our community. I look forward to celebrating this achievement with you during the Small Business Day awards luncheon in Sacramento on June 19^th,” continued Senator Wiener who represents Senate District 11, which includes all of San Francisco and parts of Northern San Mateo County. He Chairs the Senate Housing Committee and the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. Senator Wiener has lived in San Francisco for over 21 years.