Media Contacts:

Gaea Denker (415) 561-2300 ext. 2022 / gdenker@uri.org 

David Perry (415) 676-7007 / news@davidpery.com (onsite at conference)

Erin Saberi (916) 952-5080 / erin@davidperry.com (onsite at conference)

URI – World’s Largest Grassroots Interfaith Peacebuilding Network – Sponsors Unprecedented Int’l Conference June 26 & 27

H.E. Adama Dieng and Valarie Kaur among note keynotes

3 June 2019, Stanford, CA, USA – Our world is experiencing unprecedented levels of pollution, depletion of natural resources, and scarcity of clean drinking water. Hate crimes are on the rise and houses of worship go up in flames. Women’s rights are under attack. Communities are in turmoil, with neighbors living in fear of neighbors. There’s no denying the world is at a turning point. But an interfaith peacebuilding community is pushing to turn it in the right direction.

Responding to the increased fear and stress generated by current events, The United Religions Initiative (URI), the world’s largest grassroots interfaith peacebuilding network, is hosting an international conference at the Hoover Institution on theStanford University campus on June 26-27. Accelerate Peace: Interfaith Action in Global Peacebuilding, which is open to the public, will gather representatives of the world’s religious, spiritual, and Indigenous traditions to explore interfaith strategies for addressing humanity’s most pressing issues and find actionable solutions.

Key speakers will include:

• H.E. Adama Dieng, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the Prevention of Genocide; and Azza M. Karam, Senior Adviser at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Coordinator of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Development; addressing ending religiously-motivated violence

• Valarie Kaur, Founder of the Revolutionary Love Project, delivering the Call to Action Keynote to combat the rising fear, Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism, hate speech, and violent crimes that divide communities

• Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, addressing Women’s Empowerment and Environmental Sustainability in a time of global crisis for both

• Young leaders from around the world addressing the immediacy of youth impact on international events in “From NextGen to GenNOW: Young Leaders Bringing Interfaith Action to the World”

See a full list of conference speakers here.

For ticket information, sponsorship opportunities, and more details, visit the Accelerate Peace conference webpage: https://uri.org/acceleratepeace 

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ABOUT THE UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE

The United Religions Initiative 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. We implement our mission in 109 countries through local and global initiatives that build the capacity of over 1000 member groups and organizations, called Cooperation Circles, to engage in community action such as conflict resolution and reconciliation, environmental sustainability, education, women’s and youth programs, and advocacy for human rights. 

URI holds the prestigious distinction of being a non-governmental organization (NGO) with consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and has long-standing partnerships with several other UN agencies.

Learn more at URI.org.

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

MEDIA ADVISORY / REQUEST FOR ONSITE COVERAGE: May 30 – June 4

WHERE Manny’s  / 3092 16^th Street @ Valencia, San Francisco

WHAT: Hosts Five Presidential Candidates in Less than One Week

WHEN Senator Amy Klobuchar
Thursday, May 30 — 7:30pm-9:30pm

Congressman Beto O’Rourke
Friday, May 31 — 5pm -7pm

Congressman Eric Swalwell
Saturday, June 1 — 10am-11:30am

Senator Cory Booker
Sunday, June 2 — 10am-11:30am

Governor Steve Bullock
Tuesday, June 4 — 5pm -6:30pm

WEB: www.welcometomannys.com   

WHY: Having already hosted Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Secretary Julian Castro, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand,  Governor John Hickenlooper, Governor Jay Inslee, and Congressman Seth Moulton Manny’s Mission District café and community space is hosting five Presidential candidates in almost as many days this coming week.

“I couldn’t be more proud to have so many Democratic Presidential Candidates visit us,” said Manny Yekutiel, founder and owner of Manny’s. “Manny’s is located in an area of San Francisco with a deep history of political and civic involvement so it’s an honor to continue that history here at the corner of 16^th and Valencia.” 

Although it has not yet been scheduled, Yekutiel confirms that he is “in conversation” with the campaign of Vice President Joe Biden and hopes to secure his appearance in the coming weeks. In addition, Senator Kamala Harris is slated to appear at Manny’s later in June.

Manny’s is a people powered and community focused meeting and learning place in the heart of San Francisco that combines a restaurant, political bookshop, and civic events space. The goal of Manny’s is to create a central and affordable place to become a better informed and more involved citizen. We do this by offering our events space to nonprofits, activists, and civic organizations to spread their message and do their work as well as hosting our own civic and arts related programming. Our kitchen is run by the non-profit, Farming Hope, which hires formerly homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals and trains them in the food skills needed to work in the restaurant industry.

Manny’s opened on Election Night, 2018 where over 500 people came together to watch the results of that moment in our civic life together and since then the venue has hosted hundreds of gatherings. Manny’s is a community space and is proudly located in the Mission District – a historic hub of activism and progressive action. 

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

Dezart Performs Chalks up Record Breaking and Critically Acclaimed 11^th Season

New Four-Play Series for 2019 / 2020 To Be Announced in June
Subscriptions Go on Sale July 1

www.dezartperforms.org

7 May 2019 – Palm Springs, CA:  It was the best of times, it was – yeah: that. For Dezart Performs, their 11^th Season was a record-breaking, critically-acclaimed combination of laughter, drama, poignancy and social commentary at Palm Springs’Pearl McManus Theater at the historic Palm Springs Woman’s Club. Add to that Dezart’s new designation as a Small Professional Theatre, and it was an historic season indeed.

“It doesn’t get much more gratifying than that,” said Michael Shaw, founding artistic director for Dezart Performs, noting that attendance was up over 60 % from the previous season and 126% from three years ago. “Now fully into our second decade, we’ve staked a claim here in the Valley for theatre that is innovative, entertaining and inspiring. All I can say is ‘thank you’ to all our loyal supporters, volunteers, patrons and sponsors.”

Opening the season was the “very, very powerful” (BroadwayWorld.com) politically-timely comedy/drama Church & State by Jason Odell Williams “intelligently and sensitively directed by Michael Shaw” (Desert Local News) and “beyond special– spectacular” (CV Independent). Next, the poignantly painful look back at hidden gay lives in the 1950s Perfect Arrangementby Topher Payne sold out its entire run from opening night: audiences delighted by its McCarthy Era meets I Love Lucy casserole of  “lies, shame, suspicion, security risks, fear, irony, hate, stereotypes, furniture polish, girl talk and sex” (CV Independent), a “pretty production that is pretty near perfect (Palm Springs Life). Timed to coincide with the similarly-themed play, the acclaimed documentary Lavender Scare was presented by Dezart Performs at the Palm Springs Cultural Center for one night: an almost sold-out screening followed by a panel discussion benefiting The LGBTQ Center of the Desert, Cinema Diverse.

After two plays that combined hilarity with headlines, the third offering was a decidedly “raw and powerful play that addresses America’s racial divide” (Desert Local News), White Guy On The Bus by Bruce Graham. It’s “a powerhouse of a play…and a production so good it will you keep you thinking long after the curtain call” (BroadwayWorld.com). Like its two season predecessors, the play sold out its run almost from the get-go.

“The success of White Guy On The Buswas, to me, proof that people will pay for hard-hitting, thought-provoking theatre,” said Shaw, who directed the first three shows of the season, “even if sometimes they’re made to squirm a bit in their seats. This season, and this play, cemented my deeply held conviction that Desert audiences are among the most curious and intelligent anywhere.”

Ending the season was the loving and lovable two-person romantic comedy Maytag Virgin by Audrey Cefaly and directed by Valley veteran Deborah Harmon. “Asdelightful as a spring day. It’s a wonderful, feel-good play…superb acting and well-crafted, intelligent characters with a great deal of heart” (BroadwayWorld.com), “an impressive and entertaining evening in the theatre” (Desert Local News). Dezart Performs ended its11th season “on a perfect note…a magical time at the theater” (CV Independent).

“My greatest joy and my greatest challenge is picking the plays for our next season,” said Shaw, currently deep in negotiations and planning for the new season. “In the next few weeks, we’ll be announcing our 12^th season. I can only hope its up to the expectations we set with this last year!”

The 12^th Season for Dezart Performs will be announced next month, with subscriptions going on sale July 1.

Dezart Performs, one of the Coachella Valley’s preeminent theatre companies, recognizes that the performing arts enrich the life and culture of a community, promote greater understanding and provoke insightful discussion. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatre company, its mission is to provide an artistic home for bold and cutting–edge plays, creating an atmosphere of artistic growth for actors, writers, and directors who uniquely contribute to the diverse theatrical environment in the Coachella Valley.

Sponsors of Dezart Performs’ 2018/19 Season included The Riviera Palm Springs, Desert Care Network, Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge, Acqua California Bistro at the River, Lulu California Bistro, TRIO Restaurant, Hotel Zoso and the Desert Sun.

Contact For Press Inquiries: Alison Healy 415-203-6305

MEDIA ALERT     

DATE: April 26, 2019

WHAT: Peruvian Navy Tall Ship “Union” arriving for its first visit to the Port of San Francisco

WHEN: Crossing under the Golden Gate Bridge at 7:00 am and docking by 8:00am

WHERE: Pier 15-17 on Embarcadero

WHY: Sailing School Ship Union carries 106 Cadets in their final year of Naval Academy. Union is a tall ship Ambassador to Peru, sailing to expose cadets to other countries and cultures while giving them hands-on exposure to traditional sailing. 

PHOTO & VIEWING OPPORTUNTITES:  Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Point, Crissy Field, St. Francis Yacht Club, Pier 39, and Pier 15-17

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Saturday and Sunday, April 27 & 28, the ship will be open for tours from 10:00 am to 6:00pm, Free of charge at Pier 15-17

SHIP DATA:

• 4 masts, 34 sails, 36,620 sq.ft of sail area, speed 12 knots
• LOA 115.5meters, Beam 13.5 meters, draft 6.5 meters
• Build in Callao, Peru, commissioned in 2014, launched in 2016
• Largest Class A Tall Ship in Latin and South America
• Total Aboard: 257 persons including officers, cadets and crew members
• Commander: Captain Kurt Ludwig Bottger Garfias

2019 VOYAGE FACTS:  From March to July, Union will sail to Mexico, United States, Canada and various ports in Peru totaling 12 ports of call and sailing 14,500 nautical miles. Union will be arriving from San Diego, California and will be sailing on to Vancouver, Canada. 

THE MISSION: Sailing Ship Union was built to teach cadets how to sail without electronics, how to work as a team and how to appreciate original meaning of life at sea. Cadets embark on this sail a one of their final rights of passage before graduating to junior officer status.  More, Union was designed as a Floating Ambassador to the Country of Peru. Union sails around the world approximately five months a year, often participating in international sailing events and races with other class A naval, merchant marine and sailing vessels of the world.  Each year, Union’s itinerary is determined by the Commander General of the Navy and approved by the President of Peru. 

UNION, THE NAME: The name Union was chosen for several reasons; the most noteworthy is the international message that the word Union brings to each person, regardless of their native language. Union transmits a message of goodwill, cooperation, and international friendship among all people which is fitting for the tall ship ambassador to Peru.

FUN FACT: All Peruvian Naval Academy cadets are required to be fluent in English before they graduate the academy, so you won’t have any language problems if you don’t speak Spanish. 

DEPARTURE: Union will depart San Francisco on Monday, April 29, leaving her berth at 8am.The same viewing spots are recommended for photographs and general viewing.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, April 19, 2019

Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, 415-554-6131

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, FRENCH CONSULATE & GRACE CATHEDRAL ANNOUNCE PUBLIC SOLIDARTY CONCERT FOR THE NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS

SF Symphony, SF Opera, American Bach Soloists, and Johann Vexo, the organist from the Notre-Dame de Paris, will all perform at Grace Cathedral on Monday, April 29th in a concert that is free and open to the public

San Francisco, CA — Today Mayor London N. Breed, the French Consulate and Grace Cathedral announced a solidarity concert for the Notre-Dame de Paris will be held on Monday, April 29^th at 6 pm that is free and open to the public. The concert will take place at Grace Cathedral and will include performances by the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera, American Bach Soloists, Johann Vexo, the organist from the Notre-Dame de Paris, and others.

“San Francisco is proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Paris, our sister city, and the world to celebrate the beauty, spirit and resilience of Notre Dame de Paris,” said Mayor Breed. “Watching Notre Dame burn was devastating, just as it was also horrible to witness a series of historic Louisiana churches burnt in recent arson attacks. Our houses of worship hold a special place for our cities and our people, and we are proud to support the people of Paris as they begin the work to rebuild the iconic monument in the heart of their city.”

“Watching Notre Dame de Paris engulfed in flames was a shock for all Paris lovers,” said Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens, Consul General of France. “Beyond a monument and an architectural masterpiece, it is a part of the world history of art and our common identity that was being damaged. I am very grateful to San Francisco Mayor London Breed for the organization of this concert at Grace Cathedral and would like to acknowledge all the many ways of support that we have received during the past week. This concert will allow all of us to find comfort in the beauty of music, and the strength to move on to the phase of reconstruction of our beloved cathedral.”

Grace Cathedral is French Gothic in design and while its influences include the French cathedrals of Amiens, Beauvais and Chartres in addition to Notre Dame, its facade most reminds visitors of the beloved Parisian cathedral. The event will be coordinated by Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, the Chief of Protocol of the City and County of San Francisco. More details will be released next week.

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