Peace On Podcast by The Peace Alliance

Christine Elliot, a long-time friend and supporter of the Peace Alliance, shared a story about her personal journey of waking up to her whiteness. Growing up in Canada where everyone was white, she was taught to be color-blind, to live by the golden rule and treat others as she would like to be treated. Moving to the United States and meeting her husband, who had been an activist focused on social justice and world events, she began a learning journey. Campaigning for Obama in 2008, they went to five states to go door to door, and met a beautiful black woman who, seeing their Obama t-shirts and buttons, came out of her home to hug Christine, saying ‘if he wins, we won’t have to be separated anymore.’ This was the beginning of a deeper path led by the minister at her church in San Diego first with black congregants, and then with white ones of which Christine was one, of education about the truth about racism in America. The Anti-Racism Institute that was born out of that exploration, and Christine is fully engaged as a member of the Board, sharing this education with others who want to understand, and who want to help make the changes needed. How can we begin to be comfortable being uncomfortable, as we learn and grow together? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!

James Darrah lives in New York City, and was living in New York City on 9/11/01, when the planes hit the two towers and changed the world. His story was about that day, and also the days and months that followed. His personal experience involved going into a dark place for many months — as was true for so many. Then, because of the beloved community, opportunities began to present themselves. James began saying yes, and yes, and yes again, and ended up discovering new paths that would not have happened prior to this event. When things are so low, and you feel so badly, and the whole world collapses — quite literally — you aren’t able to plot your own course. Has there been a time when you felt this way, and found a way to trust, to be open, and find your way to yes? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!

 

Patricia Tallman has been a professional actor since she was 15, and became a stunt woman in her 30’s. In her 50’s, after doing everything she could think of to make a life for herself and her son, she finally had to admit that she was lost. In the recovery from a breakdown, she learned to listen to her own inner guidance system and now, in addition to her experience as a performer, she leads other people on the adventures of their dreams. She shared a story about a particularly frightening stunt, how she learned to often block off fear in order to do her work, and how she paid for that later in life. In her breakdown also known as breakthrough, she realized that everything she had done before had led her to this place, and she became completely teachable and open, in order to rebuild. What do we all have to let go of in order to become teachable? How can we learn, even from frightening experiences, so that we might rebuild? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!

Paul Chepikian is a Greek Armenian immigrant, born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and growing up in Cairo, Egypt and Beirut, Lebanon until his family came to the United States when he was eight years old — and he grew up in New Jersey. When he was ten years old, his parents were arguing and he became concerned and afraid. He dialed the Operator on the phone (there was no 911 in 1965), and asked for the Police to come to his house. Two Police Officers came, and they calmed everything down, made things better, and were sure that Paul was okay before they left in the snowy night. That experience of the officers making things better stuck, and Paul wanted to be a police officer. His life took different directions, but he has always had experiences with making things better, partly with the Los Angeles Crisis Response Team as a volunteer, supporting the LAPD and LAFD in traumatic situations to support family, neighbors and friends immediately following an event. The inquiry was about coming to this as peace builders, and wanting every child to feel safe when there is a crisis. For everyone, especially children, when people are frightened, how do we help them feel safe again? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at our next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!