Caring for Creation: Peace, Justice, and a Path to Planetary Care

RETREAT BY INVITED PRESENTER

Are you an educator, community organizer, or leader who feels that society is in desperate need of transformation? Spend a restorative weekend deepening your connection to creation, exploring ways to find personal peace, and developing the tools to sustain your work as a peace and justice builder. This program uses the three core values of Peace Education as a foundation—Global Citizenship, Planetary Stewardship, Humane Relationship—and will help you to embody them in your work.

Program leader Rev Dr. Leonisa Ardizzone is one of the very few people in the world with a doctorate in Peace Education.

“This program gave me a framework I could use in my personal and professional life, as well as a way to move forward on a global level.” ~ CC

“The kindness extended by all staff, peaceful surroundings and time to truly unplug have nourished my soul. Thank you.” ~ JG

STAY SAFE DURING COVID-19: In the interest of safety, enrollment will be limited; please read our COVID-19 Precautions & Preparations to understand our additional strategies.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Join Rev Dr. Leonisa Ardizzone for an immersive and dialogical weekend exploration into the values and practices of Peace Education.

Using multi-sensory play and nature explorations, we will dig into concepts of violence and peace, the core values of Peace Education, and ways we can explore these themes with our constituent populations. We will consider root causes: earth-centered, interfaith, intergenerational, and intersectional. Ultimately, we will examine how we can transform our current culture of violence—including injustice, unequal opportunity, racism, planetary exploitation, and poverty—into a culture of peace, a system that values justice, dignity and all life on Earth.

Friday kicks off with a relaxed evening program that allows us to get centered and share our expectations for the weekend. Overall, we will examine these questions: What is peace? What does peace look like to me? What issues do we need to address? How do we define violence and peace (and why)? As the weekend unfolds we will:

• Explore how we help ourselves and others see the manifestations and  “roots” of violence
• Examine the three core values of Peace Education—Global Citizenship, Planetary Stewardship, Humane Relationship—as well as other big ideas
• Imagine another world through storytelling, music-making, and creating art
• Discuss how to incorporate Peace Education into your setting

Leonisa was mentored by the founder of Peace Education, Dr. Betty Reardon. Through her work in K-12 schools, informal settings, undergraduate and graduate programs, and ministry, Leonisa has helped many people see the value in practices dedicated to peace.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
• Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
• Shamatha meditations
• Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
• Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat
• Extensive library of dharma books
• Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful flora and fauna

OPEN TO ALL

There are no prerequisites for this program; it is appropriate for all. It may be particularly useful for educators, administrators, community organizers, religious educators, local leaders, and activists.

SCHEDULE

(subject to change)

Friday, March 31

Saturday, April 1

Sunday, April 2