April 2014-
Inspired by the Interfaith Council of Western Massachusetts’s “Imagine a Peace-Full City” prayer flag project, from October 29–November 20, 2014, the Springfield City Library offered residents a number of opportunities to come together and discuss ways that Springfield could become a safer, more peaceful place to live and raise a family. Cooperative craft-making, a creative open mic opportunity for teens and young adults, informative workshops focusing on public safety, fun family activities, and informal brown-bag lunches offered perspectives on solutions for safer neighborhoods and peace-making gave participants ways to make their homes, schools, and workplaces a better place.
Firearms Safety Workshop
Forest Park Branch
Saturday, November 2, 2014 | 1 pm
Central Library Community Room
Monday, November 4, 2014 | 6 pm
Certified firearms instructors will lead a workshop for parents and other interested adults on how to keep children safe when they live in or visit homes where the adults own firearms. Learn how to safely store firearms at home and how to discuss gun safety with children. Practical safety tips will be offered, and questions will be answered. Part of the “Imagine a Peace-Full City” series.
Strangers Become Friends Photography Project
Indian Orchard Branch
Wednesday, November 6, 2014 | 6 pm
Brightwood Branch
Thursday, November 14, 2014 | 6 pm
Imagine a City of Springfield where strangers become friends. In this innovative photography project inspired by Richard Renaldi’s Touching Strangers project, Leonard Underwood of Underwood Photography Services will photograph strangers together. We will create a digital album of the results. Come take a chance, meet your neighbors, and maybe make a new friend. Part of the “Imagine a Peace-Full City” series. More information on Touching Strangers.
Open Mic & Arts Night
Mason Square Branch
Thursday, November 7, 2014 | 6 pm
Imagine a PEACE-full Springfield. Youth: share poems, spoken word, music, digital works, and other artistic creations that imagine how our city can be more peaceful, or reflect how violence has affected you. Featuring a scene from JELUPA Productions play, Rising Waters, by Wilma Pruitt.
Sign-ups start at 5:30 pm, mic opens at 6 pm. For youth 15-25 years old.
Part of the “Imagine a Peace-Full City” series.
Getting Started with Neighborhood Watch
Mason Square Branch
Friday, November 8, 2014 | 1 pm
East Forest Park Branch
Friday, November 15, 2014 | 12 pm
Are you interested in a safer community? Join us to learn how you can work together with your neighbors to start a Neighborhood Watch organization. Feel free to bring a lunch; we’ll provide beverages. Part of the “Imagine a Peace-Full City” series.
Securing Peace in a Troubled Neighborhood: A Community Based Approach
Sixteen Acres Branch
Tuesday, November 12, 2014 | 1 pm
We all strive to stay out of trouble and to keep our houses safe. The problem is, you can choose a neighborhood but you cannot choose your neighbors. What do we do when we become aware of violence in our neighborhood? The police can’t be everywhere, so how do we bridge the security gap? Join your neighbors for this informative talk and discussion when we’ll explore with you viable ways to secure peace in troubled neighborhoods. Feel free to bring a lunch; we’ll provide beverages.
Our presenter is Sera Mukankubito, who holds a dual Master of Arts in Sustainable Development and Coexistence and Conflict Management from Brandeis University. Part of the “Imagine a Peace-Full City” series.
Brown Bag Discussion: Peacemaking from a Veteran’s Perspective
East Springfield Branch
Wednesday, November 13, 2014 1 pm
Join our guest Colonel Stephen White as we discuss Peacemaking from a Veteran’s Perspective. Col. White retired in 2011 after 30 years in the military as a Marine and as an Army Reservist. Bring your own lunch (we’ll provide beverages) and we’ll talk about possible solutions to violence and conflict in our city.
Col. White has deployed to Japan, Korea, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Iraq, and spent 18 months in Afghanistan, where he served in 2002 as the Deputy Chief of Operations in Bagram, and then in 2009 and 2011 as the Army Operations Center liaison to US Forces-Afghanistan in Kabul. He also served three years as Team Chief in the Army Operations Center at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Col. White has a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Wesleyan University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
Can We Have a Peace-Full City? Panel Discussion
Mason Square Branch
Saturday, November 16, 2014 | 1 pm
Join us for a panel discussion addressing whether we can have a peace-full city, with less gun violence and greater public safety. Jim Madigan will moderate the discussion and the panel will include Rev. James Atwood, Springfield Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet, Luz Lopez, Central & Western Massachusetts Organizing Manager of Stand for Children, and other community representatives. After prepared questions, there will be time for audience members to address the panel. Part of the “Imagine a Peace-Full City” series.