MEDIA NEWS

Home for the Holidays (Special Art Exhibition and Fundraiser Event)

Asher Neiman Gallery, contemporary fine art, will host a special two week event called Home for the Holidays, starting December 15th through December January 1st. See the newest works of your favorite artists: Christie Scheele, Jill Ricci, Kathy Buist and introducing the stunning encaustics of Lorraine Glessner. 

This is a never before collaboration with the non-profit, Where Peace Lives. Murals made by children from Uganda and Peru will be on display opening reception evening only. 

ANNOUNCEMENT!

10% of all sales at the December 17th opening reception will go to the Where Peace Lives organization. Don't miss this opportunity to view wonderful art, purchase a memorable gift for the holidays for family or friends, and make a difference. Opening reception will be from 6 - 9 pm, December 17, 2009. 732-945-5412 for gallery information only please.

LIMITED TIME OFFER!

For a limited time we will be selling limited edition canvas prints of several of our Peace Murals. Click here to purchase your beautiful print now.

LOCATION

21 East Front St, Red Bank, NJ 07701

2nd annual Pampering for Peace - a wellness fair fundraiser

Where Peace Lives will hold its second annual sponsored fundraising* event on September 26th at the United Methodist Church in Red Bank, NJ. The wellness fair which runs from 10 am until 4 pm encourages guests to treat themselves to massage therapy, reflexology, reiki, try raw foods, visit wellness vendors, enjoy great music, win incredible $$$ raffle prizes, view peace murals created by children around thew world, all while helping raise money to teach our kids to make the world a better place though the Where Peace Lives programs. Please visit the Pampering for Peace web site for information on this event.

Over a $1,000 in raffle tickets were purchased by guests who had a chance of winning from over 25 beautiful gift baskets that included health and wellness items, theatre and concert tickets, books, dvds, cds, gift certificates to local vendors, and much, much more. The success of the event was so palpable that many asked when the next event would be. The event will be hosted as an annual fundrasing event in the Red Bank area and the group is investigating hosting an event in northern N.J. in the future.

The poster for the event.	Ivone and Pat set up the registration table.
Amy and Pat put together bags for the guests.	Work begins on setting up the space for the event.
Vendor Shaklee sets up their booth
Diana and Lou DaCosta set up their Quickstar booth.	A table was donated to CROP walk for the event.
Donna Clapp, Executive Director for Where Peace Lives hugs event coordinator, Ivone Treacy who created the idea for the wellness fair.	Volunteer, Billy takes a break and enjoys the beautiful day we had for the event.
The flow of traffic was steady all day with guests being able to choose two modalities to try out.	People patiently wait their turn for their massage or reflexology appointment.
Massage therapist, Walt Campbell works on a volunteer prior to the doors opening for the event.	Susie, Amy, Ivone, and Billy greet people at ehe registration booth.
Where Peace Lives showed a running video of its programs results at their booth.	Development Director, Jeff Rudy mans the Where Peace Lives booth with a smile.
Connie and Tamy came all the way from Warren County to share their expertise.
Pat Levy and Donna Clapp greet people at the registration desk.	Mark from Isagenix shares with guests the powerful nutritional cleanse his company offers.
Guests anxiously browsed all the wonderful raffle baskets to see where they would play their luck.	Pat sells raffle tickets with a smile, over a thousand tickets were sold at the event.
Michelle offered her expertise in reflexology that day,	Joga Rao performs a reiki session on his wife, Alice.
Ivone and Amy, two of the event committee team members show off their Where Peace Lives t-shirts.	Tammy offered steam facial massage which was a hit with guests.
A guest patiently scans the baskets as she decides which ones to take a chance on.	Bill McDonald, Life Coach, shares his information with enthusiastic guests.
Jeff Rudy, Development Director for Where Peace Lives enjoys a little r and r at the event.	Colleen works on a guests feet. Poeple really felt pampered that day which was the goal.
Sharon does some back work on a very happy guest.	Dr. Henry Roth, a local Red Bank area chiro, joined in to support guests with some fabulous massage.
Walt Campbell works on guests in his massage chair.	Even the young people got to enjoy a little pampering.
Donna Clapp and Jeff Rudy from Where Peace Lives talk with guidance counselor, Virginia Abu Bakr, from Conerly Road School in Somerset, NJ.	The Where Peace Lives panels tell the story of the impact the program is having on kids around the world.
Guests move about the room gettimng services or enjoying a conversation with the vendors.	Guests move about the room gettimng services or enjoying a conversation with the vendors.

Danny Garcia of the GlobalWalk Foundation Completes 25,000 Miles for Peace
With a Trek from D.C. to NYC on Oct. 17-26

Where Peace Lives Supports the Final Leg of Garcia’s Round the World Odyssey

Leesburg, VA – When Danny Garcia, founder of the Global Walk Foundation, took his first steps toward a global commitment to peace 12 years ago, he had no idea how far the road would take him. On Oct. 17-26, the final leg of his journey will lead Garcia home to New York City, where he will culminate a trek the length of the circumference of the globe that has shined a beacon on the cause of peacebuilding and the issues of providing for children.

For this final leg, Garcia will walk with support from and on behalf of the nonprofit group Where Peace Lives.  He will begin his walk for peace in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Oct. 17, by joining his close friend Tim Miner, along with hundreds of people from around the world at the U.S. Freedom Walk Festival. Miner created this walk to foster fun, fitness, and international friendships. What’s great about it is that embassies from around the world are opening their doors to the walkers who will then be stepping on “foreign soil” each time they cross the threshold of a different embassy. The walkers will be completing a symbolic trek around the world along with Garcia! As he concludes that walk around the world, Garcia will then begin his walk to New York City to complete his own trek.

“This walk is a celebration of all the people and organizations who have helped me during this 25,000 mile walk,” says Garcia who is an ex-marine and an ordained minister. “I could not have done it alone. I’m grateful to God and to each and every person who has been with me along the way. My message has always been ‘love one another.’”

Garcia’s walk concludes at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 2pm to 4pm. A celebration of peace will welcome Garcia, 63, and those who accompany him to St. Paul the Apostle, at the corner of 59th Street and Columbus Avenue.

“We want to invite children and adults in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Trenton, Newark and all the other towns along Danny’s route to join in this walk for peace,” says Donna Clapp, executive director of Where Peace Lives, which trains children and teens in conflict resolution and peace-building through art and media.

“We would also love everyone to come to the event at St. Paul the Apostle, which is celebrating its 150th jubilee year this year. We envision an event at St. Paul the Apostle that captures the love, spirituality, and joy that comes from creating a culture of peace,” says Clapp. “It will be a day filled with song and celebration for adults and children alike. Singer/songwriter, Bruce Foster is coming to sing songs of peace with the choir at St. Paul the Apostle. Last but not least, this is a celebration of Danny’s completing walking the circumference of the earth—25,000 miles for peace!”

Garcia, who began his trek in San Francisco in 1996, has been sharing stories of faith, redemption, and peaceful coexistence as he has walked his path of peace. The journey has taken him to Australia, where he walked from Perth to Sidney in celebration of the 2000 Summer Olympics; to Europe, where he has made walks through Ireland, Scotland, Belgium and Holland. His journey includes a 26-day journey through the Philippines to raise funds for the Red Cross, and a trek from Jordan to Jerusalem to aid the plight of an 11-year-old boy who needed heart surgery. After Hurricane Katrina devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005, Garcia walked to New Orleans, to raise money for relief and rebuilding efforts.

Along the way, Garcia has received extensive coverage from the print and electronic media, and presented gifts of peace to presidents and dignitaries such as Pope John Paul II, but he says he is mainly inspired by the many ordinary people who join him and support him during his walks.

“For me, this whole journey has all been a miracle,” says Garcia, a native of New York’s Spanish Harlem community. “At 63, after walking all these miles, to be able to celebrate at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, it’s the perfect way to end this chapter in my life. I will thank God and thank everyone for all of the help I have received, because there’s no way I could have done this by myself.”

The Global Walk Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Leesburg, VA. Global Walk Foundation is a non-sectarian, non-political organization. The work of the Global Walk Foundation encompasses the globe in ways that support peace. Founder, Danny Garcia, has been walking for over 10 years and traveled over 25,000 miles to raise awareness for children's rights and world peace. To learn more visit www.globalwalk.cc

Monday, October 20, Washington, D.C. Danny stands in front of the Iwo Jima memorial to kick off his final leg of the walk to New York City.	Danny kicks off the walk in Washington, D.C by starting from two points. The first is the monument of Iwo Jima and the second is here on Constitution Avenue. The future site of the first United States Institute of Peace to be opened in 2010.
Saturday, October 18 - Arlington, VA. Danny Garcia and Donna Clapp, Executive Director of Where Peace Lives enjoy dinner at the Holiday Inn in Arlington, VA where the U.S. Freedom walk held its annual dinner to honor the walkers from around the world.	Saturday, October 18, Arlington, VA. U.S. Freedom Walk dinner held at the Holiday Inn. Pictured are (right to left) George E. Moose, Adjunct Professor of International Affairs and Board member of the United States Institute of Peace; Jeff Clapp, Program Director, Where Peace Lives; Donna Clapp, Executive Director, Where Peace Lives; Tim Minor, Founder of the U.S. Freedom Walk, Melissa Johnson,MS, Executive Director, Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; Danny Garcia, GlobalWalk Foundation; Nancy Minor, and Mrs. George Moose.
Monday, October 20, Washington, D.C. Donna Clapp, Executive Director of Where Peace Lives and Danny Garcia at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington, D.C. where Danny will begin his final leg to New York City completing 25,000 miles of walking for peace around the world.	Monday, October 20, Washington, D.C. Parked above the Iwo Jima Memorial the "Peace Mobile", driven by Jeff and Donna Clapp of Where Peace Lives. The Clapps supported Danny by arranging all the logisitics and drivers for Danny's route.
Monday, October 20, Washington, D.C. Danny walking through Washington, D.C. on his way to Baltimore.	Sunday, October 19, Washington, D.C. Donna Clapp, Executive Director of Where Peace Lives, Monica Willard of the World Peace Prayer Society and Danny Garcia of GlobalWalk Foundation stand with the Peace Pole in Washington, D.C.
Saturday, October 18, Washington, D.C. Embassy of El Salvador. On day one of the U.S. Freedom Walk in D.C. walkers walking the 24km and 44km stop off at several international embassy's as check points along the route. Danny and the Where Peace Lives team stop at the El Salvadorian Embassy and meet Rodrigo Mayen and others from the Embassy. They all hold up the Peace Flag created by the Where Peace Lives team. These flags will be given as gifts to Mayors and other select people along Danny's walk to New York City.	Saturday, October 18, Washington, D.C.. Danny stops at the check point on the mall in Washington, D.C. and is greeted by troops from the National Public Health Service division. They hold up the Peace Flag created by Where Peace Lives.
Monday, October 20 - Holiday Inn, Baltimore, MD. Danny greets John Gilbert, Manager of the Baltimore Holiday Inn Express and several hotel guests as he arrives after walking from Washington, D.C. earlier that day.	Monday, October 20 - Holiday Inn, Baltimore, MD. Danny is greeted at the Holiday Inn in Baltimore, MD by ten year old Ally who is with her family. Ally holds a Where Peace Lives magnet. Where Peace LIves (www.WherePeaceLives.org) has been supporting Danny in completing the last leg of his 25,000 walk around the world.
Tuesday, October 21, Holiday Inn Express, Baltimore, MD. Danny and Donna Clapp stand in frot of the "Peace Mobile" before starting out on their day long walk toward North East Maryland.	Monday, October 20 - Holiday Inn, Baltimore, MD. Ally, who is just 10 years old, represents children all over the world as she hold in her hands a Peace Pole created by the World Peace Prayer Society. Danny has carried these poles all over the world helping to spread the words, "May Peace Prevail on Earth".
Tuesday, October 21, Holiday Inn Express, Baltimore, MD. Danny stands with Hotel manager, John Gilbert and Where Peace Lives Executive Director, Donna Clapp at the Holiday Inn Express in Baltimore, MD.	Monday, October 20, Holiday Inn Express, Baltimore, MD. Danny and Ally hold up the shirt she just had Danny sign for her. Allyseems excited by the shirt signed by the "Walking Man".
Monday, October 20. Danny walking on his way to Baltimore.	Monday, October 20, outside Baltimore, MD. Donna Clapp, Executive Director of Where Peace Lives grabs a drink for Danny out of their "Peace Mobile".
Monday, October 20. Danny walking on his way to Baltimore.	The man rarely rests.
Tuesday, October 21, Maryland. Jeff Clapp, Program Director for Where Peace LIves and Danny Garcia stop for a quick picture as they walk through Baltimore in Maryland.	Tuesday, October 21 - University of Maryland. Danny receives an important phone call regarding a future walk and sits to reflect under the University sign.
Monday, October 20, Maryland. Jeff Clapp takes a picture of Donna and Danny along the walking route.	Monday, October 20 - Holiday Inn, Baltimore, MD. Young Ally and her grandmother hold up the Peace Flag created by Where Peace Lives. Ally's father was in Baltimore for a major operation so Danny prayed with the family for his safe and successful recovery.

West Chronicle Orange, West Orange, NJ
Thursday, March 27, 2008

Students paint for world peace
  By Tony Edelstein Correspondent

The goals of high school students these days are quite impressive as the competition to be admitted into the best universities is at a record high. Other goals are perennial, such as landing a first choice prom date.

Then there are the students in Diane Tol's Art 3 class and Art Club. They have added one more goal to their list - help achieve world peace. The students have spent a good part of the year working on peacerelated activities which have all led up to the culminating project of painting a peace mural that will be sent to a youth organization in the West African country of Ghana. In return, the youths of Ghana will send their own peace mural to West Orange High School.

The art swap is part of an effort called the Global Mural Exchange for Peace, which bills itself as " the largest cultural art exchange ever in history." It is a project of the non- profit organization Where Peace Lives, which was created by a West Orange resident, Jeff Rudy, and his two partners. " We wanted to create something that would alter the conversation about peace," said Rudy, the development director of Where Peace Lives, and a graduate of Mountain High School, the former name of West Orange High School.

The idea for the organization grew out of a six- month leadership course that Rudy and his two partners, Jeff and Donna Clapp, a married couple from Red Bank, attended. Prior to the course, Rudy did not know the Clapps, but they bonded over their common desire to try to make the world a better place. Rudy said they now call themselves "Donna and the Jeffs."

In the hope of furthering their collective vision, they have created a curriculum that encourages students to think about peace at three levels: the individual, the community and the world. The lessons lay the groundwork for the creation of a peace mural that can be exchanged with that of a group in another country.

So far, two other New Jersey schools, one in Somerset and one in Wall, have exchanged murals with groups in Egypt and Peru, respectively. The creators of the murals are encouraged to depict their personal visions of peace.

"The murals are an expression of what is possible," Rudy said.

But the process of agreeing on a mural design can test the conflict resolution skills of the participants. At West Orange High, approximately 40 students are involved in the project, and just as many opinions had to be considered.

"I never knew that creating a peace mural would not be peaceful," Tol said. "It required a lot of digging for everyone's personal visual sign of peace."

Tiana Dorner, an 11th grade student, observed that the participants had to practice what they preached.

"At times we had to stop and say, 'Remember, we're working on a peace project,'" Dorner said. The students finally settled on a tree as their symbol of peace. The mural will show people reaching for branches of the tree to symbolize the universal desire for peace and will also contain quotes from famous peace activists.

It will be created with acrylic paint on two canvasses, each measuring 4 feet by 9 feet. The canvasses will then be rolled up and shipped to the youth club in Ghana. "It's sort of neat that it will travel halfway across the world and be seen in Africa," said Elise Powers, an 11th grade student.

While the students do not expect their mural will bring world peace, they see it as a contribution to the larger effort of creating a worldwide culture of peace.

" It's one of the components to make the world a more peaceful place," said senior Garrett Harvest. "It's a first step, but a big step."

"The impact will probably take a while," Powers said. "We just need people to see it and then peace will sort of grow through time."

The students also recently attended the United Nations' Gandhi- KingChavez Season of Non- Violence Youth Conference.

Harvest observed that the most moving part of the experience came when all the attendees waved flags from nations around the world to represent the wish for international peace. Last year at the same conference, the first peace mural was unveiled. Rudy imagines that the world would be a very different place if youths regularly had a voice at the United Nations.

"What if instead of politicians, kids spoke about what it is like to live in conflict," Rudy suggested. "Wouldn't that shake things up?"

Of course, peace is an elusive goal. "I wonder if the world will ever be a peaceful place," Tol said. "It's burning in my mind, and it must be burning in their minds. They are the future." The West Orange High students have at least contributed something toward the goal of achieving peace. Now it's up to the rest of us to get on board.

Tony Edelstein can be reached at wochronicle@thelocalsource.com

All the art students are saying is give peace a chance

By Katerina Athanasiou Correspondent

While the Merriam-Webster dictionary describes peace as harmony in personal relations, West Orange High School students are attempting to expand this meaning by bringing about peace through art.

For the past eight months, talented West Orange High School artists, members of the art club, as well as New York City professional artists from a collective art group known as SOSIC, worked together to create a peace mural which will be exchanged with the artistic creations of students in a village in Ghana - the township's new adopted village.

SOSIC consist of four artists who also exist under their alter ego artist names. Scott Andre Patterson is also known as The Me Nobody See PEACE, Page 7 A group effort, including West Orange High School art students and New York city professional artists, worked to create a peace mural that will be exchanged with the creations of students in a village in Ghana - the township's newly adopted sister village. Peace murals hoped to bring world change through art.

(Continued from Page 1)

Knows or TMNK, Anthony Vasquez is also known as Avone, Mike Baca is also known as 2ESAE and Fernando Romero is also known as SKI. Jeff Rudy, West Orange High School alumni and co-founder of Where Peace Lives, a non-profit organization which is focused on conflict resolution and peace building training for children and teenagers, introduced the idea for the peace mural and will sponsor the project. In 2006, the organization began an International Peace Mural Exchange Project. The project's goal is to be the largest cultural art exchange ever.

Students were asked to draw what they envisioned as a peaceful world. One particular student's vision stood out.

"A student by the name of Diana Siegel sketched an idea that everyone took to and used as a springboard for the vision," said West Orange High School art teacher Diane Tol, who supervised the mural and supervises the art club Together, students worked as a cohesive unit to achieve the goal of creating a peace mural that would appeal to an international audience. The project not only allowed for team work between students, but for life lessons to be learned.

"The experience was beneficial to the students because the skills used to make important decisions as a group can be used in any real life situation," said Tol. Sharing a vision for peace with another country is really special in itself."

As one would expect, the students' enthusiasm to work on such a large and positive project was apparent.

" I was excited to have the opportunity to exchange my work with another country," said Lizzy Storm, one of the students who worked on the project, "and I'm still eager to see what they'll give us in exchange."

Gaby Bravoco, a junior at West Orange High and an art student, agreed.

"The experience was incredible. I didn't realize how much you could express yourself through art. It was nice to come together with other students to convey such a amazing message."

Other students were unsure about how the project's goal would be achieved, but found it to be a beneficial experience. "I thought it was a very rewarding experience," said student, Ivorine Fung. "Originally, I never thought peace could be spread through artwork."

Even students not involved in the project felt that enthused about it. Fellow art student and senior Sally Hammer said, "Although I did not work on the peace mural, it was impressive to see such a diverse group of students use their talents to create something so beautiful."

On June 3 at the West Orange High School art show, after many months of hard work, the peace murals were finally unveiled and the results were incredible. Tol was thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of such stunning creations and to be able to work with the New York artists and her own students towards peace. "I have had the privilege to work alongside the infamous SOSIC art group, who have recently participated in an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art and were featured in The Daily News.

Working with the SOSIC collective on this project has not only inspired us as artists, but has brought light to the fact that we can all work together to achieve a common goal: peace." Also at the art show, an eclectic mix of artwork was displayed and awards were given. Students Malachi Cameron, who won the award for best advanced placement art portfolio alongside friend and fellow senior Zeke Decker, who won the award for best use of art, are appreciative of the support and experience that their participation in the art program has given them.

These advanced placement art students both expressed they enjoyed working with such talented artists and will both be attending the School of Visual Arts in New York City in the fall. Senior Molly Wachtel, an advanced art student, designed a piece which had five clay masks aligned in a series of blank to complex expressions. Her artwork was meant to show the progression of expression.

Wachtel won an award for this piece and will be going to New York University this fall. Another senior, Lizzy Storm, has been enjoying art since elementary school and, since the beginning of high school, has taken art lessons in New York City at the Art Students League. Storm, now an advanced placement art student, shared that her favorite part of art is the reaction that people have. She is also the art club treasurer and plans to attend Rhode Island School of Design and major in illustration.

Baca helped with the peace mural by lending his graffiti skills. "The students are really talented. I went to a specialized art high school, Art in Design in Manhattan, and it was nothing like this."

Seeing a community come together over the talent of its youth is inspiring. Generations of parents, students, teachers, administrators and artists gathered to not only see the beautiful art on display, but to see the beginning of using art as a vehicle for a lofty goal - the attempt to achieve peace.

Katarina Athanasiou is a West Orange High School student.

American Express Member's Project

Where Peace Lives was recognized as one of the Top 50 Projects chosen in America in July 2007 to compete for the American Express Member's Project competition where one winner would receive up to $5M to fulfill their project idea. Where Peace Lives was selected out of over 7,000 projects submitted for the competition. Competing organizations included Unicef, United Way, National Forestry, National Down Syndrome Association, and more.

Google Grant Recipient

Where Peace Lives was awarded a special Google Grant to help promote our efforts and reach a wider audience in July 2007. The open ended grant has afforded Where Peace Lives the opportunity to make critical contacts for project leads in Costa Rica, Tanzania, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Congo, Uganda, Palestine, India, Israel, Canada and the U.S..

Conerly students in mural project - Courier News, Jan 2007

Conerly Road Elementary School students are participating in a project to design, create and paint a traveling wall mural that will be exhibited in Franklin and, officials hope, around the world at other elementary schools.

Three evening workshops for the mural are planned in February. The final painting of the mural will be March 17, Conerly Road School's Peace Day.

For more information, call (732) 873-2400, Ext 290.

Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival - March 14, 15, 16, 2007

Where Peace Lives spent Thursday and Friday as the HOT Art Stop at the 2007 Monmouth Ccounty Teen Arts Festival. Over a hundred students gathered to participate on Thursday in the project. Curious and excited they worked in teams to create unique, fun, and creative images of peace that really came from their hearts. From tea cups to peace signs, hearts and flowers to intricate lines and color they quickly began to fill in the 256 6" x 6" squares on the 4 ft. x 16 ft. mural surface. Many teachers stopped by as well to find out what the buzz was all about. Donna and Jeff Clapp, co-founders of Where Peace Lives explained that what they wanted to accomplish was to get the word out about this fun and exciting international cultural exchange and to enroll the students to talk about it with their teachers to bring it to their schools.

"It was great to just watch the kids dive into this.", says Jeff Clapp, the organizations Program Director. "You know you work on something and hope it will make a difference with people but it isn't until you put it out there, take the risk, that you get to see the impact your idea can have". Clapp continues, "If we touch even just a few students in every school we work with and ignite that spark in them that has them know and experience for themselves that they can make the kind of difference they want to make in the world they want to live in, well, it doesn't get any more fulfilling in life than that. In fact, it is simply said what Donna and I are all about." The Clapps have been working on their program with partner Jeff Rudy of West Orange, NJ for the past year which is designed to not just produce great art but to give students a chance to share their voice with the world and gain access to valuable life tools in areas of conflict-resolution, mediation, and peace.

Click here to see photos of the students creating their murals.

Gandhi-King: A Season for Nonviolence Event at the United Nations
March 21, 2007

Where Peace Lives has been asked to be an honored guest and presenter at the upcoming youth event to take place at the United Nations this March. Celebrating it's tenth anniversary the Season for Nonviolence, January 30 - April 4, is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. Inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event honors their vision for an empowered, nonviolent world. Where Peace Lives will be presenting its program to hundreds of youth and teachers in hopes of creating opportunities for participation in the Global Mural for Peace project that launches this year. On display will be two murals from schools that will have completed their murals by the event date. More details to come.

A feast from many nations (Where Peace Lives debuts at Conerly Road School)
Friday, November 17, 2006 • The Star Ledger

BY ROHINA PHADNIS, Star-Ledger Staff

Inquisitive palates and a penchant for the international guided families from Franklin Township to the Conerly Road School this week.

Students brought their families and cultures together during their first International Dinner that centered on the theme "We All Belong to One Family." Although the event has been celebrated in the past in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month, this was the first time the school has come together to showcase a multitude of ethnicities, said Virginia Abu-Bakr, guidance counselor at the school.

"The faces of the world -- that's what we have here," said fourth-grade teacher Rena Stewart, who was dressed in a traditional orange and black African dress. About 25 countries from across the continents were represented at the dinner Wednesday evening. Hungarian fried cabbage was situated right next to Indian food. Pakistani biryani played neighbor to Chinese lo mein, and people tasted Egyptian baklava right next to delicacies from Guyana. More than 200 people celebrated their individual heritage while experimenting with new foods and dances in the school gymnasium.

Parent Steve Carmichael, who represented Italy and Hungary, ventured to try escoveitch fish, a spicy Jamaican fish dish of porgies covered in a brown sauce with carrots and onions. "I just tried it," he said. "I try everything. I'm not afraid." Those gathered at the event said they came to share their cultural traditions while meeting other families. "It's fantastic -- it's an openness, a celebration," said Principal Donna Silva-Burnett. "It's a new opportunity to network and see that there's a place for them in the community." Maribeth Llaguno visited the dinner with her 6-year-old son Simon. She sampled baklava for the first time along with food from Nigeria, Pakistan and Jamaica. Llaguno felt the dinner was a good way to bring the students and families together. "Actually, it makes us more involved, it makes us feel welcome," said Llaguno, who traces her roots to the Philippines. "We feel the warmth of the community."

The students in Franklin Township represent a variety of nationalities. The school district is home to speakers of more than 50 languages. Spanish, Gujarati, Cantonese, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Mandarin are the languages other than English with the highest concentration of speakers, according to school officials. Reaching across international borders is a common thread in the lives of Conerly Road School's students. In September, members of the school's Peacemaker program visited the United Nations to celebrate the annual International Day of Peace by presenting a banner to Nane Annan, the wife of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, as her husband prepares to leave office at the end of the year.

During Wednesday's event, children continued their work on the international level by creating a mural that will travel around the world to show other children what peace looks like to those in the United States.

"I feel excited because I never did something that's going to be around the world before," said Aleah Harris, 9.

The mural project is the work of Jeff Clapp and Jeff Rudy. The two recently founded the group Where Peace Lives, and the international mural exchange is one of their first endeavors. The plan is to have students of all levels in different countries create portable murals to show what they think peace means.

"I'm just moved because our whole purpose is to give children the opportunity to have that voice," Rudy said.

Dancing also took center stage as students and members of the community presented traditional moves from India, the Dominican Republican, Ireland and the Middle East "I think dancing is a part of your culture and you should express it," said Britany Peralta, 10. She performed a meringue dance with her brother and sister clad in red, white and blue, the colors of the Dominican Republic's flag. Isaac Inyang, 7, showcased the culture of Nigeria by wearing a sky blue dashiki a long tunic over loose pants. Inyang said he felt great that he could take part in the international event and share his heritage with others alongside his family "I felt proud," he said.

Rohina Phadnis works in the Somerset County bureau. She may be reached at rphadnis@starledger.com or (908) 429-9925.

Mural to bring artists and children together
October 17, 2002

By Libby Kesil, Staff Writer, The HUB, NJ

RED BANK — Jeff Clapp, the new media director for a Tinton Falls publishing company and a local artist, wanted to work on something that would give back to the community.

Karen Leoncavallo, principal at Red Bank Primary School, said Clapp and his wife Donna were looking for a way to work hands-on with the community and approached her with the idea for an art project.

"They came into the school and, as members of the Red Bank community, were looking for ways that they could get more involved in the educational process," Leoncavallo told the board earlier this month.

"I was talking with Karen about the possibility of creating a project that would involve the community members and the students collaborating on an art project," said Clapp.

What they came up with was a community mural project, which will involve working with a core group of fourth-graders, as well as the participation of third- and second-graders.

"The key factors here are that children will be the ones to explore, create and design," explained Clapp.

Clapp said he has had preliminary meetings with local businesses who are very eager to participate in the project. He has also met with artists, and the response has been overwhelming. He is looking to enroll 30 artists and there are 25 on board. Others members of the community are also stepping forward with offers for time, materials or funding.

"It really is not the sole duty of the faculty and the parents of the students to be involved in what happens to the students," said Clapp. "We're getting individuals involved, local businesses, artists and other residents."

According to Clapp, the project will also be funded by the community.

"The school will not be responsible for any funding for this project. The purpose of this project is to get the community involved on a 100-percent basis."

Clapp and his wife were already involved with RSVP, a volunteer reading program, and had found the program very rewarding, inspiring them to get further involved in the educational process.

"My wife and I were completely lit up after working with the kids," recalled Clapp.

Clapp explained that the concept for the project, which is called Where Art Lives, Creating Community through Art, was inspired by his state of mind following the events of 9/11 and the subsequent healing he experienced when the community pulled together.

"The concept of the mural is moving beyond where we were last year and looking forward into the future," he said. "I really came to understand the importance of working with other people through that. It makes a difference.

"There is a growing number of at-risk students in our community. Some of us may choose not to look at it, some of us know it. Regardless, it's there," said Clapp. "These children are faced with ever-tougher decision-making, decisions that have to be made as they come of age. The concept of the mural is to create a lasting educational, motivational and cultural experience."

Clapp said that the goal of the project also is to further cultural awareness, strengthen bonds and fill a new energy in the community as a whole.

"By bridging the gap between cultures, we hope to infuse the leaders of tomorrow with a positive attitude toward the world they create," he said.

Originally, the mural was going to be one continuous piece encompassing the majority of the space in the quad in front of the Red Bank Primary School. The project was approved by the Board of Education, but it will now be divided into individual 25-foot murals to be displayed in various hallways of the school. The individual murals will consist of themes tied into the core curriculum and how those subjects will help shape the future.

"Through the course of the mural we can explore those different areas that are being taught in school system," said Clapp.

Clapp has proposed the project to be extracurricular, as to create no disruption to the school.

Board of Education member Barbara M. Horl raised a question regarding the time frame for completing the project, which Clapp had proposed to be completed for this November.

"A project like this — I think it's wonderful that you've come to us," said Horl. "It seems to me that the window for getting all this done is short."

Clapp assured Horl and the board that he and those he has been working with were completely flexible and would be willing to sit down and work out a schedule that works for everyone.

"I'm not looking to bulldozer this thing in," said Clapp.

Clapp, however, is anxious to start the project as soon as possible. The first artist meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday. Clapp hopes to start the project in early November and be completed by December or January.

"What I think is really important about the program is the kids will feel an ownership for what they create," said Clapp. "They'll have a daily reminder of what they're able to create every time they come into the school."

Clapp said that another important part of the project will be community acknowledgment of what the students were able to create. He has met with Mayor McKenna, who would support a ribbon cutting and unveiling to the community.

Leoncavallo is going to be the district liaison working with Board of Education.

"She has been instrumental in getting the board energized about the project," said Clapp.

Local Artist Hopes To Engage Primary School Kids In Mural Project
October 11, 2002

By John Burton, The Two River Times, Red Bank, NJ

RED BANK - Local artist Jeff Clapp sees a way to use his passion for art to help the borough's school children.

"I see a need for the community to really get involved here in Red Bank," Clapp said. His proposed project, titled Where Art Lives: Creating Community Through Art. is an attempt to address that need.

Clapp attended last week's Board of Education meeting to present his proposal for the program, which would arrange for professional artists to work with primary school pupils in designing and painting a mural that would eventually be displayed at the open quad area on the school grounds at the foot of River Street.

"Art," Clapp explained to the board, "is not just in our home or in a museum. It's anywhere you put it."

Clapp is a digital artist and painter who has lived in the borough for the last five years. Recently, he and his wife Donna have been volunteering their time to the RSVP Reading program sponsored by Family and Children Services at the Primary School. In the aftermath of the events of last Sept. 11, the couple have been looking at ways to reach out to the community, and have discussed their ideas with the school's principal Karen Leoncavallo. "The project will unite," Clapp said.

The mural project is envisioned as an extracurricular activity conducted after school and on Saturdays. Clapp said he expects the core group of students participating to consist mainly of fourth graders, who possess the appropriate maturity and commitment level. However, every effort would be made to allow for interested second and third grade students to be involved, he said.

The mural would be 200 feet long and stand eight feet high. The children would paint the various sections on 4x8 foot masonite sheets. Those sheets would be treated and weatherproofed, and eventually connected to form the completed work. The finished work could then be attached to the building for display.

Clapp said he decided to work on the sheets, as opposed to painting on the side of a building, to make the work mobile and to avoid defacing the building.

The subject matter and design of the mural will be determined by the children participating in the project. An art teacher and approximately 30 professional artists would assist the kids, Clapp said.

So far, he said, approximately 20 Monmouth County artists have expressed "enthusiastic interest" in participating in the project.

The mural proposal will complement the students studies, by introducing problem solving and engage the children in teamwork and conversation, he said.

"This will show kids to not only dream big but to make some big things happen," he said.

The cost of the project is expected to be roughly $4,000, and "we'll really be looking at Red Bank to step up to the plate," to finance it. No public money would be used, and financing and supplies would be through private donations, and possibly sponsorship, he said. Clapp has been talking to area businesses who have expressed an interest in supporting the project.

Part of the inspiration for the idea, he said, comes from the City Arts project, which has been operating in New York City since 1968. Hopefully the project will be successful enough to be adopted in other school districts.

"I wanted to be be part of starting something, I wanted to be the catalyst," Clapp explained. "I know things like this are possible, now that I know how they're done."