Liz Gannon Graydon and Jelena Popovic led us off inviting conversation about what wisdom we are activating. As a butterfly emerges from a cocoon to a chrysalis and then a butterfly, what can we activate in this moment? Liz shared that she learned that the goo that exists in the chrysalis is made up of imaginal discs, and although it’s only goo to the human eye, the imaginal discs carry all of the information to become a butterfly. What is the information that we all carry, and what are we becoming? What is being activated? Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!

Join us as Dot Maver and Heart Phoenix lead us in exploring the question: What is your new story? Dot and Heart are long-time friends of the Peace Alliance. Dot is now chiefly involved in the Global Silent Minute, and Heart in the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding. They each shared a song, and one of our guests also closed with a sing-along song. They encouraged us to merge with all beings at this time, and recognized the all systems breakdown is existing simultaneously with an all systems breakthrough. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org — join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!

Today, Marc Lesser joined as our guest, sharing a mindful meditation to begin, and then inviting everyone to consider the three leadership lessons from Churchill during World War II as England was being brutally attacked. Marc pulled these from an interview with Erik Larson, author of The Spendid and the Vile. The three lessons are 1. Don’t sugarcoat. 2. Practice cautious optimism. 3. Find purpose and meaning in everything. Once again, participants from an international community came to share ideas and thoughts about these lessons, how they relate to our circumstances today, and how to move in these uncertain times. Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your emerging stories!

As we begin our next four weekly Circles, we explored the Taoist story of the Farmer and his neighbor, and the theme of "Who knows what is good and what is bad?” Liz Gannon Graydon and Jelena Popovic, from the Peace Alliance, led the group in exploring the story in break-out groups. One participant responded, “be still and see what the experience can teach you to take forward with greater humility and compassion for others.” We were honored to have people from all around the country, as well as Mumbai, Berlin, British Columbia and a Palestinian from Haifa join us and share! Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org — join us at the next Hope Story Circle and share your stories!

How can Nonviolence Stretch from our Hearts Around the World?

Tuesday, April 14th, 2020

6 pm PDT, 9 pm EDT

Kit Miller, our special guest, is the Director of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Drawing on the work and lives of Gandhi and Dr. King, as well as the practice of Nonviolent Communication, Kit's personal practice, and worldwide teaching and facilitation, show the power of peacebuilding, from the individual to the global/political. Kit has taught and worked side-by-side with hundreds of groups around the world on restorative justice, sustainability, and anti-racism, and has addressed the UN multiple times. We are thrilled to have her as our guest this Tuesday!!

We were delighted to have James Baraz join us, and invite us to be the calm person in the boat! We have a choice — we can be afraid, or we can choose a more empowering path. James is a founding teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and co-author of “Awakening Joy: Ten Steps to Happiness,” also leading a popular online course by that name (www.awakeningjoy.info). Please join us during James’ opening meditation and continuing to share stories. We are continuing these weekly Hope Story Circles every Saturday for the next four weeks. Please check the calendar of events at peacealliance.org - join us the next time we meet, and share your emerging stories at this important time in our lives.

Once again, we were fortunate to have Sylvia Boorstein and Emily Wikman join us for our weekly Hope Story Circle, hosted by Jelena Popovic and Liz Gannon Graydon from the Peace Alliance. Come and hear how thoughts about a local Chinese restaurant shifted Sylvia’s outlook! Check the calendar of Events at www.peacealliance.org - join us at the next Hope Story Circle, and share your stories.

Sylvia Boorstein and Emily Wikman joined us for our weekly Hope Story Circle, hosted by Jelena Popovic and Liz Gannon Graydon from the Peace Alliance. This is an opportunity for us to come together during this uncertain time, and nourish each other with our stories. Come and join us - check the calendar of Events at www.thepeacealliance.com, and share your stories!

Welcome to the Peace Alliance Hope Story Circle. Especially during this time of uncertainty, this is a time to gather, pause, nourish ourselves and extend the gems of collective story to offer strength and wisdom into the world.

How are Canada's First Nations Reclaiming Restorative Justice?

Today - Tuesday, March 10th, 2020

Leslie de Muelles, our special guest, is an attorney consulting with Canadian tribal governments, and negotiating with the Canadian national government, to bring about the kind of systemic changes we have been dreaming about. More traditional, community-based forms of conflict resolution, prevention, and transformation are both on the horizon and under way, with thanks to her contributions!!