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Any way it's measured, Dubuque's 2011 celebration of the United Nation's International Day of Peace was a heart-and-mind-filling success!
Not content to mark only the official September 21 Day of Peace, hundreds of area residents joined together for nearly a full month of activities. Some 20 types of events -- in which the arts were prominently featured, ranging from a Christian/Muslim potluck to the Sept. 21 featured dramatic performance by Rohina Malik -- provided ample opportunity for fostering multicultural respect, interfaith understanding and promotion of human rights.
Hundreds of people of all ages were enthralled by Malik's presentation of "Unveiled," a one-woman performance in which the Chicago playwrite and actress told riveting stories of five fictional Muslim women confronted by prejudice following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America. A first-of-its-kind massed choir, comprised of students from four Dubuque colleges, provided a thrilling vocal opening to the performance.
A joy-filled peace parade, a solemn commemoration of those lost in the 2001 attacks, a Voices from the Warehouse art exhibit and gatherings devoted to prayers for peace were all part of the community's celebration.
Excited about the success of their 2011 peace festival, the Dubuque Peace Coordinating Committee is already beginning plans for their 2012 International Day of Peace celebration.
Wouldn't you like to be part of this gratifying experience? There is always a need for more friends of peace to join us in the planning and preparation of events to make celebration of the 2012 United Nations International Day of Peace an equally memorable experience.
Our next meeting takes place on January 10, at 4:30 p.m., in the Clarke University atrium. Call or email committee chairman Art Roche at 563-581-6521 or
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to get more information.
We're waiting to meet you! |