Annual peace conference ‘widening the circle’

photo by Sara Kirk

During the Church of the Brethren's annual dinner for Peace Week Saturday, Verdena Rotnem, an attendee, was asked to involve the audience in a song. The audience chanted while Verdena sang. The dinner was sponsored by the Peace with Justice Center of Pomona Valley for the third annual Organization for Peace Conference March 11-14.

by Beatriz Mendoza
Staff Writer

People from across the country joined the University of La Verne, the La Verne Church of the Brethren and On Earth Peace, a national peace organization, for the third annual Organization for Peace Conference last weekend.

“We don’t have peace studies on our campus,” said Jaymie Bickford, a student at McPherson College in Kansas. “So, I’m learning a lot.”

This year’s theme was “Widening the Circle: Peacemaking in the Midst of Diversity.”

“This conference looks at our boundaries and teaches us hands-on strategies on peace,” Campus Minister Debbie Roberts said.
Participants discussed issues of racism, prejudice, peace making, economic justice and homophobia in a series of talks and workshops.

“It reminds you why we have principals, and it’s a good place to grow,” said freshman Irene Beltran.

The conference kicked off Thursday at the Church of the Brethren with music, meditation and reflection.

Friday’s activity began at early with breakfast and was followed by bible study for those who chose to attend.

The theme of the day was “How can we widen the circle? And what does it mean to widen the circle?”

The peace conference had six different workshops on Friday, including how to incorporate peace in the workplace, economic justice issues, exploring sexuality and a workshop that used theatre games and exercises as forms of exploring issues of diversity and power.

“I attended the workshop involving peace in career,” Bickford said. “It may not pertain to me now, but it taught me how to work on peace.”

Steve Kinzie, Learning Enhancement Center coordinator, headed the songwriters and poet workshop, which explored how songs and poems can contribute to widening the circle of peace.

The last workshop discussed the challenges of race, class and gender while working towards both personal and political change.

“We chose exercises that deal with issues of diversity,” Kinzie said. “We want to reach out to other people.”

Following the workshops, Daniel Loera, interim director for the Institute for Multicultural Research and Diversity, gave a training course in diversity and cultural sensitivity training.

Saturday’s theme looked at “what the widened circle looks like.”

It introduced and explored religions, traditions and thinking.

Lesbian and Buddhist activist Lourdes Arguelles, professor of education at the Claremont Graduate School, shared her experiences with the audience.

That evening the Church of the Brethren, ULV and On Earth Peace shared a banquet with Peace with Justice of Pomona Valley, an organization that promotes religious justice.

The guest speaker was civil rights activist Rev. James Lawson.

He spoke about making peace in a diverse society, the future direction of the peace movement, staying informed and organizing to be effective.

“It is a real honor to have Reverend James Lawson speak,” Roberts said.

The conference concluded on Sunday. Church service was held at the Church of the Brethren.