Sedona AZ (February 4, 2014) – As the first World Peace Dance Celebration Week begins, the Sedona International Cities of Peace (SCOP) Team (12 Partners in Peace) announced they are awarding Barbara Litrell and Elaine Hanson with the First Sedona: International Cities of Peace PeaceMaker Award. This award will be presented on Friday, February 7, 2014 during the intermission the World Peace Dance Celebration at the Sedona Performing Arts Center.
Sedona, Arizona was designated the 34th International City of Peace in June, 2012. Since that time there are 75 international cities of peace around the world including Bakuvu, Democratic Republic of Congo; Pathuthni, Thailand; Nagpur, India; Nyala, Darfur, Sudan; Nakuru, Kenya; Detroit, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia; Kibuye, Rwanda; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Nicosia, Cyprus; Monrovia, Liberia; and Santa Ana, Costa Rica. A city of Peace is a community that endeavors to make progress against violence and foster a culture of peace. A Culture of Peace is determined by the citizens of each community. Following Costa Rica’s goal to be the first International Country of Peace, SCOP aim is to have at least 25 International Cities of Peace in Arizona and have us become the first State of Peace.
The mission of the Sedona International City of Peace Team is that our community flourishes, by consciously nurturing and contributing ways for individuals, families, organizations, communities and nations to thrive through fostering a culture of peace.
SCOP’s major principle is that a culture of peace is one that respects our shared humanity. It ignites a social spark to form new and inspired traditions and ideas that uphold the highest value of the human heart. So we imagine Sedona – a city where people listen to each other, respect and honor our differences in backgrounds, opinions and expressions, and choose to come together to create dialogues, activities, opportunities and new institutions that together create a strong foundation for the establishment of an inclusive, sustainable, and enduring culture of peace. These actions enable our community to flourish physically, economically, socially, spiritually, and joyfully.
We have partnered with the Sedona International Film Festival, the Veterans Associations, National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), Girl Scouts, Yavapai Food Council, Amithaba Stupa and Peace Park, Mitzvah Day, LBGT and PFLAG to catalyze activities that will foster a culture of peace.
One of SCOP’s goals is to offer Sedona International Cities of Peace PeaceMaker awards for individuals, groups and organizations that are fostering a culture of peace.
The Sedona World Peace Dance Celebration Week consists of 22 workshops and community gatherings to help individuals find new paths to peace in their lives, families, communities and the world. The signature event of the week is the Sedona World Peace Dance and Concert on Friday, February 7 which is a performance to inspire and enable the audience to create peace on earth by embodying and living daily expressions of love, forgiveness and compassion. The goal of the week is to move people into concrete action for peace in their lives.
For further information, to schedule an interview or request photos, please contact Judy Maloney 928-301-4754 or email: judy@cityofpeacesedona.org or Jane Perini 928-203-0254 or email: jane@cityofpeacesedona.org
