Once again, we mourn the deaths of all whose lives have been cut short by violence and hatred. For all who survive to carry the wounds, we pray for healing and recovery.

The traumas are relentless and overwhelming. We need to grieve; yet we can't afford to be paralyzed by rage, numbness or despair. No matter how heartbreaking the situation, there are always real, practical options for sharing our time and money, for bringing people together across differences to affirm our shared humanity.

As we struggle to find words that can bring us together, there is power in compassionate presence and tangible actions like these:

• Join our renewed interfaith vigil to honor the dead and bear witness to the suffering of the living.

• The life-saving practices of just-giving — simple, flexible, and fair — have never been more urgent. Join us as we put just-giving into action!

In our commitment to just-giving, WAYS OF PEACE contributes at least 10 percent of net staff compensation forward to other organizations that renew justice and kindness across lines of diversity.

Reserve Your Online Spot by Wednesday 10/11!

HOW TO MOVE OUR MONEY: Practicing Reparations as Spiritual Release

Six Thursdays Beginning October 12th

7PM EASTERN • 6PM CENTRAL • 5PM MOUNTAIN • 4PM PACIFIC

"It’s rare to find a space where social justice and money management converge....The workshop is supportive, insightful and inspirational, and it’s empowering to have the tools to move 'just giving' forward. I couldn’t recommend it more highly."

Join the next cohort of this unique nonsectarian course! The powerful practices of HOW TO MOVE OUR MONEY are equally applicable to our crises of wartime violence and displacement, homelessness, environmental justice, immigrant solidarity, gun violence, mental illness, reproductive freedom, and more — regardless of personal income or affluence levels.

For more information or to register, please REVIEW THIS LINK AND REPLY NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11TH.

UNITY WALK ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15TH *

 

"In cities of diversity...we organize ourselves and our money...

to sustain and empower the poor...for these are ways of peace."

Although I am a Manhattan-born New Yorker, my parents raised us north of the city in Rockland County — in part because of the East Ramapo Central School District, then considered one of the best public school systems in New York State. Today the East Ramapo CSD is considered among the worst, due to heartbreaking causes and conditions that make periodic news headlines.

"East Ramapo exemplifies holistic failure. Neither the public school nor the nonpublic school children receive the education they need and deserve; it literally embodies the worst of both educational worlds. The local public schools don't have the resources to provide equivalent education to that of other districts in the county, while many yeshivas in East Ramapo don't teach English, math, science and social studies. Tragically, the public schools and yeshivas are pitted against one another for resources." — We must stop failing East Ramapo's children (Lohud.com)

Many parents of East Rampo public school children are undocumented immigrants. Proyecto Faro / Project Lighthouse is an immigrant-led organizing effort for East Ramapo educational justice and more:

"We are committed to acting as a lighthouse in the midst of the storm, walking hand in hand with all refugees and undocumented neighbors who are navigating hostile waters with the goal of helping all to find solid ground. We are motivated in part by the spirit shared across religious boundaries, that our God commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves."

I will be representing WAYS OF PEACE in the Proyecto Faro Unity Walk on Sunday, October 15th to raise funds for their vital programs. If you are willing to support the walk with a flat donation or per-mile, please visit this link: 

* Proyecto Faro Unity Walk | Regina's Fundraising Page