Opportunity Knocks
Dear Friends,
 
Recently in Jerusalem, JPB co-founder Stuart Kensinger and I found ourselves pausing before the historic Damascus Gate of the Old City. Dare we enter or not? Months of random street violence perpetrated by teenagers caused us to wonder. Would we be safe?
 
The suspicious faces and anxious security personnel around us were less than reassuring. But we agreed that the imperative of JPB's mission left us no option. So we stepped through into the Old City, the Holy City, and...shazam! Thus began ten of the most remarkable, grace-filled days of our lives.  
Fr. Nicholas, Stuart and local JPB Director Ibrahim touring Nabatean ruins with Jerusalem youth and families
What we witnessed was the near miraculous convergence of preparation, opportunity and partnership to accomplish every major goal of the last year.
  • Do you remember our goal of placing a program coordinator in Jerusalem? In January, Jack Karn arrived in Jerusalem to assist in advancing local JPB programming.
  • Do you remember our goal of launching a leadership and peacebuilding course at a high school in Jerusalem? In January, SS. Tarkmanchatz High School inside the Old City invited JPB to pilot such a course with its 11th and 12th graders.
  • Do you remember our goal of creating a program for professional adult peacebuilders? In January, Kids4Peace Int. engaged JPB to design and operate a "training of trainers" program for its Israeli, Palestinian and American staff.
  • Do you remember our goal of including Israeli and Palestinian insights into our programming? In January, the 27 interviews that we conducted with local experts last summer opened doors and won respect.
Thank you. Without you, none of these goals could have been achieved.  You have stood beside this pioneering work. You volunteer, pray and give generously. You inspire us to move beyond doubt and to step through into a place of possibility and grace. Because of you, we believe 2016 will be JPB's year of opportunity. Thank you.
 
(The Rev. Canon) Nicholas Porter & Stuart Kensinger
JPB Co-Founders

Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
2015 Holiday peace appeal
 
You made JPB's first annual Holiday Peace Appeal an overwhelming success.  
 
63 families, communities and foundations generously responded with $41,460 of gifts. These donations will support JPB's summer programs in Brattleboro, Houston and New Haven.  Thank you!  
 
We also wish to thank Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas for collecting these donations on our behalf. We are grateful for their help.  Because Jerusalem Peacebuilders is now a tax-exempt, 501 (c) 3 organization (see below), such arrangements are no longer necessary.
 
All future donations should be made directly to Jerusalem Peacebuilders (i.e. not to Camp Allen nor to Kids4Peace). They are tax-deductible under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
501 (c) 3 Tax-exempt status
 
Jerusalem Peacebuilders now a tax-exempt organization per Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code and is further classified as a public charity.

Donations may be made directly to Jerusalem Peacebuilders and deducted under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. Jerusalem Peacebuilders' federal tax identification number (EIN) is 45-2233148.
 
Now tax-deductible gifts can be payable to:  Jerusalem Peacebuilders (JPB)  and sent to: 3300 Chimney Rock, Suite #301, Houston, TX 77056 USA
Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
New era in JPB-K4P relations
         
 
At the end of January, Jerusalem Peacebuilders concluded our exclusive partnership with Kids4Peace International.  
 
Over the last five years, Jerusalem Peacebuilders and Kids4Peace have worked together to create many dynamic, innovative youth programs, including the first Leadership Camp in Brattleboro and the first second-summer program in Houston. Both organizations believe our common work for peace can be best accomplished as fully separate organizations. JPB and K4P will continue to work together on specific projects, including operating a special professional development course for K4P staff this summer.  
Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
Upcoming speaking series in Charlotte and Houston
On Sunday, February 28, JPB Executive Director Nicholas Porter will participate in the nationally recognized Faith Forum  series at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. This year's topic is forgiveness, and drawing from JPB's ministry, Nicholas will be speaking on teens and forgiveness.
 
Nicholas will draw again on his years of experience with the Middle East to speak about peace and reconciliation between nations as part of the Robert C. Stuart Lenten Series at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, Texas on Sunday, March 13, 2015.
 
Each year both series invite global thought-leaders to share vision and insights into crucial areas where culture and faith intersect. Both forum series regularly attract hundreds of attendees to their Sunday sessions.
Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
JPB to welcome Berkley/Yale interns
St. George's College in Jerusalem
and the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University  are pleased to announce a new partnership supported by a generous grant from the H. Boone and Violet M. Porter Foundation. The grant will support a recent graduate of Berkeley Divinity School to serve an extended period (typically 9 months) in residence at the College. St George's College is a center for education, hospitality, pilgrimage, and reconciliation located in Jerusalem. 
  
Those awarded this fellowship will work with JPB in the United States prior to departing for the Holy City. Once in Jerusalem, the fellow will volunteer weekly with JPB programs there. We are already preparing to welcome the first fellow in July.
Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
Leadership classes begin at Jerusalem high school
JPB's 12-week leadership pilot program at the Sts. Tarkmenchatz Armenian School in the Old City engages 11th and 12th grade students in an exciting experiential program on identity, communication, history, moral and ethical foundations, conflict transformation, interfaith understanding, and peacebuilding. Students enjoy field trips, leadership activities, facilitated dialogues, and guest speakers leading efforts to create a more peaceful and just society in Jerusalem and beyond. Participants of the program are invited to apply to JPB's new Service-Leadership Program this summer to develop further their leadership and peacemaking skills.
JPB believes that the Armenian people represent a unique and important part of the Holy Land's cultural mosaic. By investing in young Armenian leaders we will further our mission of realizing God's promise for Jerusalem. 
Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
Jerusalem YMCA Program builds momentum
Now four months into JPB's after-school program in Jerusalem, our two age groups of youth have been steadily building upon their friendships and challenging each other in their perspectives and learning. In January, we had an impressive series of events, visiting religious sites in and around Emmaus and Abu Gosh, journeying to Be'er Sheba for learning about ancient civilizations and the environment, enjoying a Bedouin lunch, and holding communication and leadership workshops at the Jerusalem International YMCA.  At the heart of this work is local JPB director, Ibrahim Abu Dalo.

Our spring schedule includes several great workshops on identity, intercultural communication, conflict and nonviolence, an overnight field trip to the Arava Institute to learn about environmental peacemaking, visiting the Old City's Holy Sites, and engagement with other local youth groups. The programming this spring will play an integral role in preparing older teens in the program for JPB's Service-Leadership Program in New Haven.
Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
New Professional Training Program at Acer Farm

Last autumn K4P approached JPB to develop a professional training in conflict transformation for its working professionals and dedicated volunteers. The result was Ready to Excel  which will be held July 11 - 21, 2016 on Acer Farm in Brattleboro, Vermont. We expect 22 American, Israeli, and Palestinian adult educators to participate. The program is designed specially to serve the needs of professionals, furthering their capacities and confidence in peacebuilding, educational program design, facilitation, and youth community development.
 
Ready to Excel  is inspired by the internationally famous  Conflict Transformation Across Cultures program (CONTACT). Co-directing the program with JPB Executive Director Nicholas Porter is CONTACT's founder and globally recognized educator, Dr. Paula Green of the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding.  We are grateful for Paula's participation in this project, and together we plan eventually to bring it to professionals in Jerusalem.
Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
New summer program includes Syrian refugee teens
In late-July, teens from America and the Middle East will have an exciting opportunity to explore interfaith citizenship, identity, communication, leadership, and peace by participating in a nine-day service-learning program near the Yale University Campus in New Haven, CT. The group will be housed inside historic Christ Church, New Haven .   
 
Each day, teens will work with refugee families and with a local feeding program. Other activities include: dialogue, sports, experiential workshops, presentations and visits to local faith communities, and field trips to East Rock Park, historic Mystic Seaport and Aquarium, Yale Art Gallery, and New York City to visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and United Nations Headquarters.
 
Essential to this program is cooperation with Integrated Refugee and Immigration Services (IRIS) , the leading refugee resettlement agency in southern New England. Not only is IRIS offering the group its daily service-learning opportunity but Syrian refugee teens will join the program each afternoon for friendship, dialogue, sports and interfaith citizenship learning.
 
Please let us know if you would like to visit or volunteer at this program. Extra hands in the kitchen are always most welcome!
Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
January educational initiative at Bement School
During late January, JPB Executive Director Nicholas Porter introduced the Sixth Grade Class at the Bement School in Deerfield, Massachusetts to the peoples, places and religions of the Middle East.
 
For one week, 17 sixth-graders  explored how geography, poverty, and war shape the social, political, economic, ethnic and religious character of the region.  To do this, students worked in teams to create 3-D maps of the region, researched the different countries and examined artifacts. 
 
Rare 19th Century, Damascene Koran box used to lead a discussion on diversity and values in the Middle East.
JPB is grateful for this opportunity to educate Bement students about the Middle East and hopes that educational links with this renowned school will continue to develop.
 
 
 
Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
     
The Greatest Investment is Peace

Donation checks should be payable to 
 
"Jerusalem Peacebuilders" 
and sent to:

Jerusalem Peacebuilders (JPB)
3300 Chimney Rock, Suite 301
Houston, TX 77056 USA

Easy Online Giving

Jerusalem Peacebuilders now a tax-exempt organization per Section 501 (c) (3) of Internal Revenue Code and is further classified as a public charity. Donations may be made directly to Jerusalem Peacebuilders and deducted under Section 170 of the Code. Jerusalem Peacebuilders' federal tax identification number (EIN) is 45-2233148.
 
Thank you for supporting the 
pioneering work of peace


Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World
Because the Future of Jerusalem is the Future of the World