Hands stretch from Michigan to Haiti
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Hands Across the Cities |
This fall two events are partnering in a whole new way. Hands Across the City in Grand Rapids, Michigan and International Peace Day in Mizak, Haiti will share in common celebration on Saturday, Sept. 22. These Communities of Shalom will join hands and hearts in practical acts of peace-making through art and friendship.
The Grand Rapids activities will take place under the tent at the United Methodist Conference Center, 11 Fuller SE (corner of Fuller and Baldwin, just south of Fuller). Free parking will be available at the Salvation Army Booth Services, 1215 Fulton. These Grand Rapids artisans and justice workers will be spotlighted, helping attendees create art that makes a difference:
- 10:30 am Forest Hill Girl Scouts Service Unit teaches how to weave personal mats from plastic grocery bags to be shared with local minsitries serving persons who live and sleep on the streets;
- 11:00 am Native American Beading will be demonstrated by a mother and daughter of the Seneca Tribe;
- 11:30 am Haitian Artisans for Peace International and Children's Peace Pals show how Haitian women are crafting their way to economic security.
- 12:00 pm Hear a story about a little girl from Hiroshima, Sadako Sasaki, and learn to fold your own peace crane.
- 12:30 pm Local justice ministries will share their work of Welcoming the Immigrant. Create a peace stick.
- 1:00 pm Erick Picardo, a local Caribbean artist, shares how art expresses the cultural uniqueness and color in the universe.
Crafts will be for sale 10 am to 2 pm. There's an opportunity to create a "Piece of Peace" that will be added to a Giant Peace of Art.
Meanwhile, in Mizaki, Haitians and friends from West Michigan will be celebrating International Peace Day on Sunday, Sept. 23, part of a larger United Nations initiative. Their theme is, “economics, equality, and spirituality for achieving Shalom.” A delegation from Grand Rapids, led by Valerie Mossman-Celestin, will be on hand Sept. 20-28. The focus of Peace Day is to build cross-cultural relationships that lead to peace.