Global Education and Peace Network launches new season

The Global Education and Peace Network will begin its 17th season with the theme “Practicing Kindness in Changing Times” as its speaker series returns on Thursday, Sept. 13.

The opening program is “Beyond Tolerance – Celebrating Kindness in Springfield Across Cultural and Religious Divides: Practicing Civil Conversation.” It will include a showing of the CBS News documentary “Beyond Tolerance” that tells the story of religion in American and the friendship formed among members of the Miami Valley Islamic Association and Central Christian Church in Springfield.

Carl Ruby of Central Christian and Samina Ahmed of Masjid Al-Madina Mosque will be featured speakers at 6:30 p.m. in Room 105 of Wittenberg University’s Shouvlin Center.

The event is free.

The group was formed after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to build bridges of understanding across cultural divides.

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“They say you should talk about solutions and this is what people are doing locally as we try to build friendships,” said series leader Nancy Finchbaugh. “This first program is the culmination of relationships that have been forming for a while and a good example of our 17 years.”

The program will include Civil Conversation after the documentary, a dialogue meant to break down barriers, talk beyond differences and respectfully have a conversation according to Flinchbaugh.

“We invite the community to feel different and have differences to opinion but to listen to all sides,” she said.

Future series topics will cover the opioid crisis and programs highlighting cultures including Latino, Hindu and Sikh and African American.

Peace Network organizer Cheryl DeGroat Dover would like to see a diversity of cultures represented at discussions.

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“It’s not just about kindness but what is affecting us in our lives,” she said. “There is a definite divide on feelings. It should feel personal to everyone.”

DeGroat Dover said current topics like former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protests to raise awareness of racial inequality and police brutality again minorities can be points for discussions.

For more information on the Global Education and Peace Network and the schedule for upcoming events, go to https://springfieldohio.gov/global-education/.

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