1. Establish a dialogue about respect and acceptance in society
2. Provide a voice for youth to identify commonalities amongst the diverse traditions in the community
3. Identify real world solutions to this global challenge

The initiative is focused on building bridges of understanding amongst the diverse elements in our community through collaboration, communication and commitment.  The challenges related to hate, intolerance and violence in society are too severe to be resolved by one group or party.  It will take all of us coming together from different backgrounds and fields of society to make a true difference in our world.  We extend to you this opportunity to work with us for a true and lasting peace in our communities and eventually the rest of the world. 

Themes of the Event:

• Respect: Living the Golden Rule
• Hope: Believing that positive sustained change is possible when we come together for purpose of peace
  
• Empowerment: Empowering individuals that include youth, educators and people of consciousness to be part of the change

As part of the United We Stand for Peace initiative we have joined the effort by the United Nations in recognition of Peace One Day that was held on Friday, September 21st 2012.  As part of this effort we encourage partner schools to engage their students and schools by choosing any of the following activities that would represent your commitment to peace in our communities and around the world.

Below is information from the 2012 Peace Day:

Event Poster

Event Flyer

We look forward to the next event on Saturday, September 21st 2013.

Please fillout the form below to start your journey for Peace.....

Commitment Form

Register Here

Contact us if you are interested to get involved or participate in the initiative.

Peace One Day School Activity Descriptions:

Perform a song for peace:

-       Have your class, choir, or glee club join in singing and performing Steve Wonder’s, “We Are The World”, or a peace song of your choice. You can perform this for your school during announcements or make a video recording of students singing to be presented on Peace Day.

Human peace sign formation:

-       Assemble a class, a grade level or the entire school in the formation of a human peace sign or the word Peace, and capture the moment on camera.

Post a cultural globe:

-       Survey the student body to identify the ancestral roots of your campus. Showcase the diversity in your school by displaying a picture of the Earth and pinning Orlando, FL as your central mark and where your students come from stretching out around the world.

Create a mural:

-       Create an artist mural displaying symbols or actions of peace and kindness.

Plant a peace tree:

-       Have a tree planting dedicated to peace, kindness, compassion, and respect.

Bake sale:

-       Hold a bake sale on campus and donate the proceeds to a non-profit organization.

Peace video:

-       Produce a video showcasing random acts of kindness and celebrating your school’s diversity and unity.

Beautification project:

-       Select an area of your school that’s in need some tender love and care and spruce it up.

“Mixed it up” Friday:

-       Students are encouraged to eat breakfast or lunch with someone they don’t eat with on a regular basis or invite someone new to their group.

Food Drive:

-       Coordinate a canned food drive to donate to a local agency.

Coat Drive:

-       With fall and winter fast approaching, organizing a coat drive would give those in need of warm clothing a head start for the season.

Clean Water Drive:

-       Have your school community donate water bottles or coolers to help those in need.

Peace Talk:

-       Spend sometime today to talking about the international issues that threaten peace in the world and what impact it has on kids their age. Discuss some possible solutions and how we can all strive for peace within ourselves, with our peers, and within the community.

Peace Garden:

-       Create a space outside where students can go and feel relaxed and at peace with nature and their surroundings.

Peace Word Challenge:

-       In how many languages can you say hello and peace? Encourage your students and staff to use another language to greet someone this day.

Peace in Action Collage:

-       Create and post a bulletin board demonstrating peace in action at your school.

International Flag Board:

-       Display the diversity of your school by posting flags from all the countries in which your students and staff are from.

Students, faculty and community members are invited to view an inspiring film about the possibility of peace and the potential that exists in our world once we learn not to fear the other.

Scheduled for Friday, September 20th 2013.

Register Here!

The conference will include discussions from a panel of experts on different issues pertaining to identifying the sources of disrespect, intolerance and hatred that exist in our society and presenting solutions to these vices. 

o   Includes panelists from the following organizations and industries:

§  Valencia College

§  Rollins College

§  Department of Justice

§  Security Industry

§  Holocaust Center   

§  Faith Based Community

o   Includes take home educational material from the Department of Justice and the Southern Poverty Center

Date: Saturday, September 21st 2013

Register Here

The Center for Peace will be organizing a fun 5k run as a symbol of peace and compassion in the community and help raise funds for the work of peace in the Central Florida area.

More details coming soon.

Throughout the year at least once a month, we will be organizing cultural and civic center tours around Central Florida to get engaged with the diversity in our area and get to know our neighbors and community leaders.

Tours include:

Orlando City Hall
Hindu Temple Tour
Buddhist Temple Tour
Sikh Temple Tour
Synagogue Tour
Church Tour
Mosque Tour
Holocaust Center Tour

Sponsors:

The Center for Peace:
The Center for Peace is the outreach initiative of the Islamic Society of Central Florida (ISCF). The Center for Peace was founded to respond to the need for accurate information about Islam and Muslims after the tragedies of 9/11, and works to promote understanding and acceptance amongst people of all
faiths and backgrounds.

Seminole State College-World Religions Club

The objective of the World Religions Club is to serve the educational needs of Seminole State College of Florida students, faculty and build bridges of understanding by promoting tolerance, respect and interfaith dialogue to celebrate our religious diversity on campus.

Supporters:

The Holocaust Center:

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida is an organization dedicated to combating anti-Semitism, racism and prejudice with the ultimate goal of developing a moral and just community through its extensive outreach of educational and cultural programs. Using the lessons of the Holocaust as a tool, the Center teaches the principles of good citizenship to thousands of people of all ages, religions and backgrounds each year.

Our Center is one of the oldest facilities of its kind in the nation. It houses permanent and temporary exhibit space, archives, and a research library. It is a nonprofit organization supported by tax-exempt donations, and is open to the public free of charge.

Interfaith Council of Central Florida:

The mission of the Interfaith Council of Central Florida is to create a better, more peaceful, more harmonious community by encouraging and facilitating greater interest in, understanding of, respect for and cooperation among our region’s many faith traditions.

The President's White House Interfaith Campus Challenge:

In the fall of 2011 the White House launched the President's Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge, an initiative inviting institutions of higher education to commit to a year of interfaith and community service programming on campus. In this program diverse campus groups work together to implement a specific year-long service project. On some campuses student organizations partner with local religious groups to tackle a specific community challenge together.

Academic Supporters:

Valencia College - Peace and Justice Initiative
Rollins College - Office of Community Engagement

Government Supporter:

City of Orlando

Arts & Culture Supporter:

Global Peace Festival - www.peacefilmfest.org

This is your opportunity to "be the change you want to see in the world."

Look forward to seeing you soon.   

Contact us if you are interested to volunteer at the next series of events in 2013 that includes:

• Tours at different community centers
• Peace Film Screening
• Peace conference
• 5k Fun Run
  

Don't sit back and be a spectator, get involved and make a change.  

Register Here