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Important Dates to Remember:
 Summer Program Dates are
July 13, 2016 -
August 1, 2016
Summer Program Farewell Receptions will be held in
San Diego and Chicago on
Sunday,
July 31, 2016
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Hands of Peace News and Updates
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Thank You Ashley Bates!
 It is difficult to imagine Hands of Peace without Ashley Bates. Ashley joined Hands of Peace as the Chicago Program Director in 2008, a role she filled for six summers. She had a deep understanding of the Conflict, having lived in the region and serving as a reporter/writer in Gaza. She even spoke Arabic, something the Hands were surprised to learn!
Ashley's role and contributions expanded as she took on responsibilities for Communications and Grant Writing. Ashley spread the word about Hands of Peace and was creative in finding new funding sources. She was San Diego Program Director for the inaugural program in 2014. In the fall of 2014 Ashley was promoted to Executive Director. Ashley's leadership and incredible dedication has led to ongoing growth and change for Hands of Peace.
Ashley has always been committed not only to the summer programs but also to ensuring that our Hands are supported and challenged after the summer ends. She has been a huge advocate for expanding our follow up seminars and for our new Leadership program.
Perhaps the best people to convey what Ashley has meant to HOP are our alumni. Palestinian alum Basel Arafat writes "Here's what I think about Ashley...She's always been there for us, guiding us and drawing the biggest smiles on our faces with her enthusiasm".
American alum Ruby Macsai-Goren writes "Ashley marks a perfect balance between charismatic and calm. As a leader, she is able to break down boundaries to unite those who are supposed to be enemies, all while managing the incredibly complex logistics of the program. She's a fantastic human being".
Ashley is in the process of moving with her husband Roi and daughter Dalia to Ann Arbor Michigan where Roi has accepted a teaching position at the University of Michigan. Fortunately, Ann Arbor is not far away so we look forward to the times when they will come back to visit. Meanwhile, we wish them well and thank Ashley for the multitude of contributions she has made to Hands of Peace.
Upcoming Israel/Palestine Trip
October 16 - 27, 2016
Customized for our supporters, the October, 2016 Hands of Peace Dual Narrative Tour will offer a combination of rich historical, cultural and spiritual experiences, along with experiences that help define the current political reality. As we travel together, we will engage with people whose personal stories bring both sides of the conflict to life. This trip will challenge us on many levels, but the result will be an increased knowledge of the conflict that will provide travelers with a deeper understanding of Hands of Peace and the work that we do.
To learn more about this incredible opportunity, please visit our Mejdi/Hands of Peace website.
Under the Middle Eastern Sky Benefit Update
The evening was pure magic, infused with the underlying purpose to ensure Hands of Peace continues to develop peace building and leadership skills in the next generation. As the inaugural San Diego benefit for Hands of Peace, it certainly exceeded our expectations.
Highlights of the evening were hearing from three San Diego alumni who were so passionate, driven and courageous, and Light of Peace Award winner, Fary Moini. From the rockin' inspirational music of the Luminaries, soulful acoustic sounds of Todo Mundo, delicious food, drinks, hookah lounge and dancer, our night was filled with fun, meaning and truly embodied the unique culture and spirit of Hands of Peace. The topper was dancing together to conscious hip-hop music!
Summer Program Updates
July 13th - August 1st
Both San Diego and Chicago are gearing up for the 2016 Summer Program. Participants
have been selected and are being prepared for an intensive experience that will allow
them the opportunity to re-think their assumptions, stereotypes and beliefs
. Anyone interested in sponsoring activities, donating meals, supplies or time to the Summer Program should contact
Julia Duerst
in Chicago or
Eileen Maurer
in San Diego.
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Chicago Updates and
Upcoming Events
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Come Say Goodbye to Ashley
Wednesday, May 25th 3:00 - 5:00pm
Glenview Community Church Founders Room
Chicago alumni, supporters, volunteers and friends: we will be gathering at Glenview Community Church Founders Room on Wednesday, May 25th for an open house from 3 until 5 pm to wish Ashley Bates, our outgoing Executive Director, a fond farewell. All are welcome!
HOPEducation Event
Encore Presentation of "The Promised Band"
Monday, June 6th 6:30 - 9:00pm
Join us for an encore presentation of the award winning film, "The Promised Band" on Monday, June 6th from 6:30-9:00. Filmmakers Jen Heck and Maria De la O were our keynote speakers at this year's Chicago Benefit. The movie features the mother of an HOP alumna. Founders Room at Glenview Community Church. Open and free to the public. Dialogue will follow the screening.
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San Diego Updates and
Upcoming Events
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HOPEducation Event
Camp David at the Old Globe
Saturday, May 21st at 2:00pm
Join San Diego supporters for an afternoon at the Old Globe to watch the new play "
Camp David"
.
During 13 extraordinary days in 1978, two world leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, under the watchful and sometimes exasperated eyes of U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, hammered out an agreement that inspired the entire world. Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright
brings us a riveting and moving story filled with humor, insight, and surprises as three very different men, each devoutly committed to his people and also to his faith, find that peace is possible and that hope is always the better choice.
To purchase tickets, go to the
Hands of Peace website, click on our "Donate Online" button, and select the "Camp David Tickets" option.
San Diego Book Club
Thursday, June 9th 7:00pm
"Walk
Out Walk On: A Learning Journey into Communities Daring to Live the Future Now"
The next San Diego book club will be on Thursday, June 9th. We will share our thoughts on the book "Walk Out Walk On: A Learning Journey into Communities Daring to Live the Future Now".
This book is filled with intimate stories and portraits of the people and places the authors came to know through years of working together to transform their communities. The journey begins in Mexico, then moves to Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Greece and the U.S. The authors' lives and ways of thinking have been transformed by these experiences and relationships - an experience they hope to recreate for the reader through vivid prose and photos.
To learn more visit their website. If you are interested in participating in the San Diego Book Club, please contact
Eileen Maurer.
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Communication Update
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As Hands of Peace moves
into
the world of electronic communication, we will be consolidating our emails into this newsletter format that will include all of our upcoming events for the month. This will take the place of some of the emails that have been going out about specific events.
Like our Facebook page a
nd spread the word among our HOP community that everyone should join our mailing list to stay informed!
Please add
to your address book to ensure that our emails don't get lost in cyberspace and you don't miss anything!
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