Laughter, art and music set the tone for the 2010 Lake Junaluska Peace Conference as approximately 200 youth, children and adults came together September 18-21 to explore "Peace for the World's Children."

During Saturday's session, almost 50 youth and children gathered to learn from Dr. Jeni Stepanek that each one of them can contribute to peace. Jeni Stepanek, who provided main leadership for youth and children, is a noted advocate for children's and families' needs in health and education, and a well-respected motivational speaker. Jeni is the parent of four children who have died to a rare neuromuscular disease. Her youngest child, Mattie, was a well-known international peace activist and three-term National Goodwill Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

"Mattie said that a heartsong is a person's unique gift - it is our unique reason for being," said Stepanek. "Whatever it is that you need - you want most in life, you understand why that matters -that's what you're called to offer to other people and in giving, you shall receive. He suggested we share our heartsongs- what we want and need, through hobbies, talents, passions...Heartsongs are realized as they are shared. Heartsongs are meant to be united - not forced, not in competition, not in comparison, simply offered to others and equally as important, accepted from others."

Participants were encouraged to express their heartsongs through art and word, designing signs for the first Lake Junaluska Peace Walk, creating friendship bracelets to exchange with others, expressing their feelings through pantoum poetry, and sharing pledges for peace. Read the full story at www.lakejunaluska.com/children-peace-2010.