Join La‘Ron Williams for engaging community discussions on race and racial justice. La‘Ron is a member of the Racial and Economic Task Force of the Ann Arbor Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, a workshop facilitator and a professional storyteller. 

Watch the film Every Mother’s Son followed by a moderated discussion in a safe, welcoming setting. Every Mother’s Son tells the story of three mothers that have lost their sons because of unjustified or questionable tactics by police. These mothers have come together to question the necessity of aggressive and militarized police tactics. This film describes how aggressive police tactics coupled with high stakes public policy creates dangerous conditions for low-    income communities.

Date/time: Sunday, August 20, 2017 – 2:00 to 4:45 pm

Location: Ypsilanti District Library – 5577 Whittaker Rd, Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Cost: Free, all adults and mature teens are welcome

For more information: Email info@icpj.org or call 734-663-1870 for details.

The Education/Outreach team of Washtenaw Congregational Sanctuary (WCS) a new collaboration of Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice (ICPJ) and Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR) will offer a 90 minute workshop on Thursday, August 24th at the Ann Arbor District Library Downtown Branch. This is a free, public meeting open to all individuals, community groups or congregations looking to gain a better understanding of what providing support for sanctuary means in Washtenaw County. You do not need to be a member of a faith community to be involved or to learn more.
Date/time: Thursday, August 24, 2017 – 7:00 to 8:30 pm 

Location: Ann Arbor District Library Downtown Branch – 343 S Fifth Ave

Cost: Free, all are welcome

Co-sponsored by: Washtenaw Congregational Sanctuary (WCS), Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice (ICPJ), Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR)

For more information: Email info@icpj.org or call 734-663-1870 for details.

A flyer for this event can be downloaded HERE. Please post/share widely. Thanks! 

Would you like to spend a bit of social time with other ICPJ members and members-to-be…. (aka this could be everyone we all know!!!)

Join ICPJ members from throughout Washtenaw County for a One Human Family Picnic Potluck at the Ypsilanti Senior Center. This is a free, public event open to all individuals interested in meeting new people and enjoying yummy food! Bring a favorite dish from your original or adoptive culture as well as your family and friends for a fun evening! 

What do you think this event should look like? Would you like to help ICPJ plan this event? Are you good at connecting with new people or facilitating ice breakers? Would you be interested in providing entertainment or games for children? Contact jane@icpj.org if you’d like to help! Thanks! 

Cups, plates, and silverware will be provided. Hope to see you there – bring a few friends!

Date/time: Sunday, August 27, 2017 – 4:00 to 7:00 pm 

Location: Ypsilanti Senior Center – 1015 Congress Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 (Recreation Park)

Cost: Free, all are welcome

For more information: Email info@icpj.org or call 734-663-1870 for details. 

What can we do in the face of the growing anti-Muslim and anti-Refugee rhetoric in the US?  We can speak out for inclusion!

The Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice and Interfaith Round Table of Washtenaw County  launched the One Human Family campaign in 2016 to mobilize religious and community voices to say NO to hate and fear-mongering and YES to inclusion and welcoming.

Show your support by ordering your yard sign or banner here today!

This morning swastikas, racist, and anti-Semitic graffiti was found at Ann Arbor’s skate park.

We offer our support and concern to our Black and Jewish brothers and sisters who were explicitly targeted with this act, as well as to all the other people of color, religious groups, and LGBTQ individuals who have also been under assault by this kind of hate. We also recognize that this public hate is an indication of daily acts that perpetuate inequity.

We are consulting with our allies in the community to develop a response. We have heard calls for a rally or vigil and that might be part of the response, but we are also looking for ways to go deeper to help people:

1. Do their own work to understand how hate, prejudice, and structural inequity affect their own lives (and for those of us in the “dominant” groups, how we benefit from even as we decry this injustice).
2. Build understanding of and relationships with people of different identities and backgrounds.
3. Identify meaningful ongoing actions they can take to confront hate and build justice.

We will keep you informed here and on the ICPJ website, www.icpj.org. If you would like to be involved in planning please email info@icpj.org

In the meantime, here are 3 ways you can take action.

1. Learn about the issues: This Sunday, August 20, ICPJ will host the next in our ongoing Safely Learning and Safely Talking About Race and Racism film and discussion series. Join us at 2pm at the Ypsilanti District Library, Whitaker Road Branch for a discussion of Every Woman’s Son followed by a discussion facilitated by La’Ron Williams.
2. Build Community: We need to come together to celebrate as well as grieve, so join ICPJ for a One Human Family Summer Potluck on August 27, 4-7 pm at the Ypsilanti Senior Cente
3. Help create One Human Family 2.0: When the One Human Family campaign was launched, it was a response to specific attacks against Muslims and Refugees. The ongoing and visible attacks on various communities (people of color, religious minorities, immigrants, LGBTQ, etc.) shows the need to expand the message. Suggest your best ideas for a new message and get entered into a drawing for a $10 Roos Roast Gift Card.

If you have other ideas or are looking for more hands-on ways to get involved, please contact us at info@icpj.org or 734-663-1870.

update: there is also an impromptu “peace in the park” event planned for tonight. See the Facebook event for details.

CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS – Often called  “one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced,” John Lewis has dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls “The Beloved Community” in America.   

MARCH is the award-winning, #1 bestselling graphic novel trilogy recounting Congressman Lewis’ life in the movement, co-written with Andrew Aydin and drawn by Nate Powell AND they are all coming to Ann Arbor on September 21, 2017!  Participants in the ICPJ led programming will have an opportunity to see the event with reserved seats.

Ann Arbor 8/30 – FUN with Social Justice Comics 

Bring the kids (or not) and join the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice for a fun midday break and intro to graphic novels and comic books featuring social justice themes! This free, public event is open to kids of all ages interested in having some end-of-summer fun before back-to-school is here.  Facilitated by La’Ron Williams: professional storyteller, artist, workshop facilitator, and a member of the Racial and Economic Task Force of the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice.  Don’t miss this fun afternoon event! 

Date/time: Wednesday, August 30, 2017 – 12:00 to 1:30 pm

Location: ICPJ – 1414 Hill Street, Ann Arbor (parking off alley behind Friends Meeting House) 

Other: No drop-off, please plan to stay with kids. Pizza provided!  

Visit ICPJ Facebook events for more information and to share the fun with your friends!  

Ann Arbor/Chelsea 9/13-14: Facilitated Discussions of MARCH

Join the Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice for a facilitated book discussion on the graphic novel trilogy March. March is authored by Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell. This powerful series describes Congressman John Lewis’s experiences as one of the key leaders in the civil rights movement.

La’Ron Williams will be facilitating the Ann Arbor book discussion. La’Ron is a member of the Racial and Economic Task Force of the Ann Arbor Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, workshop facilitator, artist and a professional storyteller. 

Angela Berent and Jane Pacheco will be facilitating the Chelsea ICPJ book discussion.  Angela is a teacher, writer, and social justice champion with a Master of Education degree. Jane is on staff at ICPJ and serves on Chelsea City Council as well as a variety of boards and community/school groups.

Ann Arbor Date/Location:  Wednesday, September 13, 2017 – 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice – 1414 Hill St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Chelsea Date/Location:  Thursday, September 14, 2017 – 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Zou Zou’s Cafe – 101 North Main St, Chelsea, MI 48118 

These events are a part of a larger series of events that the University of Michigan and other local groups are hosting leading up to Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell’s visit to the University of Michigan on September 21, 2017. Participants in ICPJ led programming will have an opportunity to attend the 9/21 event with reserved seats.

Ann Arbor 9/21 – Lewis, Aydin, & Powell at Michigan Theater

Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell will visit the University of Michigan on September 21, 2017. An ongoing series of Fall 2017 events will bring the Civil Rights Movement to life, inspire critical reflection on social justice advocacy, and spark initiatives that catalyze change.

This event series—a kickoff to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium—is co-presented by the International Institute’s Conflict and Peace Initiative and the King-Chavez-Parks Visiting Professors Program as part of the regular Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series. Additional support is provided by the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; Department of Political Science; Institute for the Humanities; Office of Community-Engaged Academic Learning (CEAL); Rackham Graduate School; and Office of Research.

Date/time: Thursday, September 21, 2017 – 5:00 to 6:30 pm

Location:  Michigan Theater 606 East Liberty St, Ann Arbor

More info:  For more information about events leading up to the UM sponsored visit on September 21 – visit the official UM website. For more information on Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice events contact info@icpj.org

Creating Cultures of Peace: An Interactive Intergenerational FREE Event!

For people of love and conscience to:

• Meet people creating cultures of peace in our private and public lives.
• Enjoy an evening of stories, activities, insights and art.
• Learn an ecology of activities that universally preserve peace.
•Create peace with the Earth and with each other.

Featuring Trainers:

Nadine Hoover coaches citizens to create cultures of peace in the most unlikely places, refugee to extremist to professional to farming communities. She offers training
and materials through Conscience Studio, maintains the Power of Goodness Global Story Pool, and
coordinates Friends Peace Teams in Asia West Pacific.

Autumn Star serves as a postpartum doula for families with new infants and a mentor
for teens. They facilitate retreats, learning events and non-violence training. Autumn is a grown unschooler, dancer and peopleperson who honors the joy and pain that is living and learning in the world today.

Su Hansen leads non-violence workshops including Bystander Intervention trainings for Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice (ICPJ) and Meta Peace Team. She is a psychotherapist and personal and spiritual guide and helps clients create peaceful lives and families.

WHEN: Saturday, August 5, 7:00-9:00pm
WHERE: Ann Arbor Friends Meetinghouse, 1420 Hill St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Free and open to the public.
Bring snacks to share, drinks provided.

Download the flyer or poster.

*Co-Sponsored by ICPJ, Conscience Studio, Power of Goodness, and AVP