Visits to Lake Anne and London Towne Elementary Schools...and van Gogh's Birthday

First of all, Happy Birthday, Vincent! You'd be 156 today.
Probably wouldn't be doing much painting...
Roger and I visited Lake Anne and London Towne
Elementary Schools in Virginia to talk with them
about CHALK4PEACE. These photos are from Lake Anne...

FAN MAIL FROM YOUNG CHALKSTARS...WOODLAWN & GROVETON E.S., Alexandria, VA

This week, I had the pleasure of visiting the Woodlawn
and Groveton Elementary Schools in Alexandria, VA to talk
with Marielle Mariano's students about CHALK4PEACE. They
had great questions and great answers; their enthusiasm for
CHALK4PEACE shows us that the young artists of the world
will always want to express their ideas about peace.
Shown here are a couple of thank you letters from the kids
for CHALK4PEACE.

This is just the first batch of letters that Marielle could take home!

John teaching students the Peace salute....start off like a normal salute and extend your hand out with your fingers in a peace sign.

John fielding questions from some very inquisitive students.

John with Woodlawn's Wildcats.

WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT PEACE, LOVE & UNDERSTANDING?

A day on Capitol Hill visiting the offices of congresspeople and senators...
Alexander Calder's "Mountain" in the Hart Building Photo by Helen Duval's daughter

Soldiers of Peace

Some dedicated individuals who are dedicated to creating peaceful lives of non violence here in the DC Metropolitan area. l-r Lauren Zepp (My Sister's Place www.mysistersplacedc.org), Ronald Moten (Peaceoholics www.peaceoholics.org), Juan Pacheco (Barrios Unidos www.peacewarriors.net/buva.htm).

PEACE WITHIN REACH...Leaning into the Rain...

A blurry vision of peace as it all begins...Coming to Washington to attend the Peace Conference at a time
in history when the the Powers That Be aren't openly hostile
to its efforts as a think tank and an agent of change creates
a most refreshing and uplifting sense of optimism that suggests
that for once, someone's gonna listen. Consider also that this
is a rare instance in America that the populace might actually
be able to affect positive political change. There is now a
genuine possibility of the creation of a Department of Peace.
It is so not going to be easy; but this has the feeling of being
in the right place at the right time.
It's the first day of Spring.

CAPITOL PECHA KUCHA Vol. 7- CHALK4PEACE Presentation with MARIELLE MARIANO

MARIELLE MARIANO, EAST COAST COORDINATOR of CHALK4PEACE
spoke Wednesday evening at the CAPITOL PECHA KUCHA Vol. 7-
Sponsored by Corcoran College of Art +Design, Washington, DC
3/18; The Theme: ""the sound of conversation" gets louder"
Marielle spoke about the history and future of CHALK4PEACE to
an appreciative audience of 300; and CHALK4PEACE thanks hosts
and sisters Rouzita and Bita Vahhabaghai of Capitol Pecha Kucha for showcasing Marielle's efforts to bring CHALK4PEACE to the world.

TOUCHDOWN IN DC PEACE IS ON THE RISE...

Arrived in DC: Frank dropped me off in Arlington.
This is still on the door that used to be the front
door of the Museum of Modern ARF.
It is now a cool restaurant called Eventide.
Saw old friends and colleagues and have hooked up
with Marielle Mariano, C4P East Coast Coordinator,
for her talk at the Corcoran tonight.

St. Patrick's Day Take Off...

CHALK4PEACE WILL BE POSTING 4 THE NEXT 10 DAYS
FROM WASHINGTON, DC WHILE JOHN ATTENDS THE
DEPARTMENT OF PEACE CONFERENCE AND VISITS
SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZERS TO SPREAD THE WORD
ABOUT CHALK4PEACE 2009. PEACE ON!
WOT A BLAST!
SEE YOU IN DC!!!
THIS PROJECT HAS THE SUPPORT OF
"YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE..."

THE GOOD HOPE NEWSLETTER- CAPE TOWN

Angela Rackstraw of the Community Arts Therapy programme
sent this article about CHALK4PEACE that appeared in The
Good Hope, the official newsletter of the Diocese of Cape
Town, S. Africa (first published 1950)
THANK YOU SOUTH AFRICA!

PEACE WITHIN REACH: WASHINGTON, DC MARCH 20-23, 2009

The most important step taken towards global peace in a long time...
The National Conference-
"Peace within Reach: People and Politics Partnering For
Our Common Security"
2009 Department of Peace Campaign
March 20-23, 2009
Washington, DC

http://www.thepeacealliance.org
http://studentpeacealliance.org

Join Congressional Host Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Riane Eisler,
Wayne Gilchrest and others as we collectively chart a new, more
positive course to maintain a more peaceful and secure future.

John Aaron, Marielle Mariano and others from CHALK4PEACE
will be in attendence.

A great big thank you to the Peace Alliance for bringing
our efforts to the attention of the Peace Constituency.

"What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?
-Elvis Costello

Thoughts about Zimbabwe and the Tsvangirai Family...

From spending time in Zimbabwe a while back, I hold the
country and its people very near and dear to my heart: and
I feel great empathy for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai,
who was injured Friday in the collision that killed his wife,
Susan.
Tsvangirai's Movement for a Democratic Change has been
successful in bringing the Prime Minister into a power-
sharing deal with long time President Robert Mugabe. As
Morgan Tsvangirai has been ceaseless and fearless in his
efforts to bring peace, stability and equity to Zimbabwe,
we at CHALK4PEACE say a prayer for Susan Tsvangirai and
extend our condolences to Mr. Tsvangirai, his family and
the nation of Zimbabwe for their great loss.