Mahatma Gandhi, the great prophet of peace of the former century, tells us that if we are to make a difference in the world, we must become the change we wish to see. The fact is that many of us find ourselves walking a path that is increasingly resistant to the dominant culture. Whether motivated by religious faith or a secular moral commitment to the development of humanity and the life of the planet, we find ourselves etching out new ways of living and working that give expression to a worldview that reflects a culture of peace.

Some of us are teachers who strive to model these attitudes and behaviors in the classroom. Some of us are health and human service providers, and these values shape our practice as caregivers. Some of us are farmers, factory workers, retail workers, truck drivers, dock loaders, and countless others whose labor contributes to the commerce that impacts a culture of peace. Through our labors we strive to make possible the just and equitable production and distribution of material goods that meet genuine human needs. Some of us are business leaders who have come to believe that people are more important than profit and practice that in their dealings within the marketplace. Whether we work in the private or public sector, we find ourselves looking for ways to emulate a culture of peace. Some of us may even be elected or appointed community leaders who bring these concerns forward into the political discourse of the public square. And there are those of us who are poets, writers, and artists who portray a culture of peace in our work and art forms.

Regardless of how one expresses these dispositions , we know that we are not alone. As the Hopi Elders beckon us, we have entered into this “river flowing fast,” trusting in the power of our collective actions in community to keep our head above water. Indeed, we have come to believe that truly, “we are the one’s we’ve been waiting for.” We invite you to join with others in your own community who have entered these waters. In the coming months, the Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice (FCPJ) will convene a series of regional gatherings around the state. We begin in the Spring of 2005 with community dialogues and focus groups planned for Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Orlando and Tampa. Similar gatherings will take place in the Fall for communities in Southwest Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami. Within each community, we hope to gather a diverse composite of groups and individuals whose work and values emulate dimensions of a culture of peace;

Each gathering will take the form of a 3-hour session, open to all interested parties, concluding with a shared meal. There is no registration fee, though donations will be accepted to defray costs of the meal. A smaller sub-set of participants in each community may be invited to participate in related focus groups.