SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th      

indica programa bilingua

8:45 am   ANNUAL COASTAL CLEAN-UP. Make Peace with the earth. Join the Green Coalition and California Coastal Commission. Meet at Rotary Community Park parking lot. For more info.

9:00 am   YOGA for PEACE  - Sacred Space and LuluBandha’s Yoga are both offering their 9am Yoga class for NO CHARGE in honor of Peace Day. Sacred Space    Lulubandhas

10:00 am    Studio Artists Begin CHALK 4 PEACE at the Libbey Fountain

At Libbey Park -  In the Big Tent

9am -10:30 am    Introduction to Council - Peacemaking Tools for Family, School and Work. Presented by The Ojai Foundation.   Council is a simple  practice of sitting in a circle and sharing the stories of our lives. We listen actively, without interrupting and we speak authentically without rehearsing.  Used  across cultures as a process for peacemaking, governance and community building, council can enhance any family, school or work environment. Council creates a safe container for expressing appreciation, care and concern and encourages nonviolent and compassionate communication and nonviolent conflict resolution. Excellent for families but no children under 10 please.  Taught by Council facilitators from The Ojai Foundation. Space is limited. Please arrive early.  For more info. 

10:30 - 12:00 Noon  Compassionate Communication Tune-up  A nonviolent communication (NVC) workshop by Rick Goodfriend.  In this workshop you will gain simple tips and tools for communicating without blame, judgment. Space is limited.  Please arrive early. For more information see Rick's website at www.walkyourtalk.org

12:00 pm THE VOICE OF COMMUNITY Listening Circles on “Diversity, Conflict and Community.”   FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF OJAI - all ages, all cultures, all colors, all faiths- Can we sit together as one human family?   Let us create true community together by giving everyone the power of their voice. No one is required to speak, but everyone is invited to listen deeply with the intention to bring their best forward and to practice peace in action. Sit with youth, elders, whites, Hispanics, leaders and others to hear their stories.  Please join this timely dialogue for co-creating a socially just,  inclusive and peaceful community. Everyone welcome. Space is limited. Please arrive on time. We will sit in small circles for one hour and then move into the big tent to speak what we heard and what we learned.  Co-facilitated by Roberto Garcia & Laura Whitney.  Spanish translation available.

 3:30 pm   ALL BEINGS PEACE SUMMIT   Participatory theatre for all ages. Come as your favorite animal or plant to speak to the humans about your concerns. Make  a mask and come to the Peace Summit in character.   This is a lively, family-friendly celebration of improvisational play filled with hope and meaning.

At Libbey Fountain - FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

12:00 -  4:30 (ongoing)

CHALK 4 PEACE - A Worldwide ChalkArt Festival for Young Artists of All Ages.  Come join your neighbors around the Libbey Fountain and draw your vision of peace. CHALK 4 PEACE Founder John Aaron will be on hand to help out. Read more... 

On-going Live Music   

The Love Choir   

Dr. Seuss's story of The Lorax  

The Aztec Dancers of Ojai

“The Peacemaker's Challenge”  This is a wonderful opportunity to challenge yourself by performing acts of peace throughout the afternoon. Meet 3 new people. Pick up three pieces of trash.  Tell someone what you love about them. Those who fulfill the challenge will be given a coupon for ice cream!

Flutes Across the World – Children 4 Peace.  Creating partner flutes for children around the world by John Zeretske.Flutes Across the World connects children across America to children in need around the world.  A child learns about a culture, a country and a people’s  history through music and the arts. A child makes two ‘friendship flutes’ – one to keep and one to give away.  We learn to give, to share and to become a whole human being capable of compassion and cultural understanding. Founder/Director John Zeretzke will be on hand at a flutemaking booth and will do several presentations at the Fountain Stage throughout the day.    Read more...

All Beings Mask-making.  Make a mask and simple costume and become a being from the natural world that you love. Be a rabbit. Be the wind. Be a flower. And be ready go to the Peace Summit to speak to the humans about peace with the earth.

TENT OF RECONCILIATION 

12:00 - 4:00   Inspired by the ancient Arabic practice called “the sulha” – a place of meeting for mediation and restoration of trust –  there will be a small tent set up among the trees in the park. This is a place to enter solo or with a friend or foe to practice forgiveness and reconciliation.  You may just sit quietly and write a message of forgiveness to yourself, a friend or relative. Or you may invite a friend who you have long wanted to apologize to into the tent. There will be several coaches in nonviolent communication and mediation available for support and guidance if  desired. 

4:30 pm   THE DAY AFTER PEACE    Film Screening  at The Ojai Playhouse  

"The Day After Peace" charts the remarkable 10-year journey of award-winning filmmaker Jeremy Gilley to establish an annual Peace Day on 21 September. The camera follows Jeremy as he galvanises the countries of the world to recognise an official day of ceasefire and non-violence. But even after the member states of the UN unanimously adopt Peace Day, the struggle isn’t over. As the years pass, there’s not a single ceasefire. The voices of the cynics are growing louder – and now Gilley’s non-profit organisation, Peace One Day, is in dire financial straits. But he can’t let it fail.  The film’s breathtaking conclusion finds Gilley joined by Jude Law in Afghanistan attempting to spearhead a massive vaccination against polio on Peace Day. Will peace prevail? Will lives be saved? Or were the cynics right?  The Day After Peace is a moving testament to the power of the individual and the perseverance of the human spirit. Read more...

8:00 pm   DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE  at The Ojai Art Center  Facilitated by Tasmin Fernandez  

Our experienced and inspiring guide, Tasnim Fernandez, will lead us in the Dances of Universal Peace, part of the timeless and universal tradition of Sacred Dance. These Dances use simple music, lyrics, and movements to touch the spiritual essence within ourselves and others. No musical or dance experience of any kind is required and everyone is welcomed to join in. Participation, not presentation, is the focus. No special attire is required, although comfortable, loose-fitting clothing is best. Participants join hands forming a circle with the Dance leader and other musicians in the center. Throughout the evening, Tasnim will teach the words, melody, and movements for the next Dance and sometimes provide background about that particular Dance. The teaching is always done from a compassionate heart in a comfortable, quiet, and often sacred setting.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20th

11am   Universal Worship Service on Peace with Tasnim Fernandez.     Also: Chumash Songs by Julie Tumamait and Gospel Singers.

The Universal Worship seeks to exemplify the underlying unity of all religious ideals. At one altar we read from the Holy Book of each religion presented on the altar. We light candles symbolically representing the wisdom brought to the world by each religion. One by one, the candles literally increase the light and figuratively bring the light of the only Wisdom, Truth, Love, Beauty, etc. to those attending. We have arrived at a new level of understanding and the message of unity is ringing loudly in many places and in many hearts. The dogmatic limitations that sufficed for former times are no longer satisfactory for those people whose hearts and minds are now embracing a more inclusive and expansive realization of Unity.

Tasnim Hermila Fernandez is the spiritual director of the Church of All in Burbank California.  She is recognized and acclaimed as one of the foremost leaders and mentors of the Dances of Universal Peace.  She has trained and ordained cherags (ministers of the Universal Worship service) around the world.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (official Peace Day)

7 pm  THE DAY AFTER PEACE film screening at  Matilija Auditorium 

City Proclamation for Ojai to join U.N. International Day of Peace
Ojai Noble Peace Prize
Screening of “The Day After Peace.”