Kathy Kelly -- World Dreams Peace Bridge

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2007

7:15 p.m. at the Naro Expanded Cinema, Colley Avenue, Norfolk VA
Reception at 5:30 p.m. at Azar's Restaurant
Sponsored by The World Dreams Peace Bridge and the Naro Cinema

Founded in October, 2001, The World Dreams Peace bridge is a group of ordinary citizens, from across the United States and around the globe, who believe that dreams can inform our waking decisions about creating a peaceful world. On the eve of Shock and Awe in 2003, when many Peace Bridge members dreamed of the children of Iraq, we created the Aid for Traumatized Children Project and began to seek ways to aid the children. Our search led us to Kathy Kelly.

At the time, Kathy Kelly was directing Voices in the Wilderness, and living in Baghdad. Later, Voices would be fined $200,000 by the US Justice Department for defying the US blockade on Iraq to bring medicine and other necessary items to the people in Iraq who were suffering the most: the poor, the women, the children. Refusing to pay this fine, Voices became Voices for Creative Nonviolence. The work with the Iraqi people continues.

Kathy Kelly has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. You can read about her many accomplishments in her formal vita, but Kathy is not a very formal person.

Ed Kinane of the Syracuse NY Peace Council, remembers being in Baghdad with Kathy Kelly in 2003:

"On April 8 the US Marines shell the Hotel Palestine next door, killing two international journalists. The same day the US bombs the Al Jazeera headquarters just across the Tigris River from us. A Jordanian journalist is killed. The other Arab-language TV broadcast network, a block from Al Jazeera, is also bombed.The next day US Marines arrive and surround us and the Palestine Hotel with tanks and machine gun nests. They're here to "protect" us. To greet them, we drape banners ("Courage For Peace Not For War") and big vinyl photo portraits of Iraqis on the south side of the Al Fanar.

"Kathy circulates among the soldiers with a tray of dates. It's the traditional Iraqi gesture of welcome."

"A neighborhood woman cleans our house several times a week. Her daughter accompanies her. The daughter is about nine years old and very lovely. They live in cardboard boxes in a half-built row house next door.

"One evening I come upon Kathy and the youngster dancing together. There's no music, but together they are luminous; such bliss - they are having the time of their lives."

For more of Ed Kinane's memories go to http://www.peacecouncil.net/pnl/06/754/754kelly.htm

Everywhere Kathy goes, she is attracted to the children, and they to her. It's rare to see photos of Kathy without photos of children.

Since 2003, at the suggestion of Kathy Kelly, the World Dreams Peace Bridge has sent toys, musical instruments and funds to Seasons Art School in Baghdad, one of the first Iraqi-created NGOs after the war began, and then later to The Webdah School for Iraqi refugee children in Amman, Jordan. When asked if he would like to send a message to the people of Tidewater, Virginia, Seasons Art School Director, Emad Hadi said:

"Actually, I have only two words that I wish you convey to the people of Norfolk, Virginia. These two words came from our children's hearts: "Help us!" They keep repeating them to us and they mean a lot when saying them: help us finding peace, help us finding our rights.

"I have a phrase I always thinking of and believing in and so I thought I could share it with you because I am sure you will agree with me that it is one among the most beautiful phrases ever heard. The phrase is: 'There is nothing more beautiful than a child smiling and holding a flower in his or her hand.'

Please imagine the child as you read that phrase; I think you will feel the phrase better inside your heart."

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE KATHY KELLY EVENT, THE DRUM DANCE AND DREAM FOR PEACE SOLSTICE CELEBRATION, AND THE FESTIVAL FINALE RAFFLE WILL BE DONATED TO THE WORK WITH THE IRAQI CHILDREN

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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