West Linn High School Seniors Pass DOP Resolution
Excerpts from The West Linn Tidings, Nov 13, 2008

The West Linn City Council pitched its support toward the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence Monday, becoming the fourth city in Oregon to join a national grassroots political movement. West Linn High School seniors Lucas Pinelli, Kirk Larson and Chelsea Callas presented the idea to city councilors at a regular meeting Monday. The three 17-year-olds had already briefed the council on their proposed resolution at a work session in October.

Teacher-librarian Stacy Erickson said the students’ initiative represents a surge in youths advocating peace and taking an interest in civic participation at West Linn High School. She said these students are “actively engaged in seeking out ways to increase the peaceful nature of not only our high school but the world around them,” through sports projects, work at home and other efforts. “There’s something afoot as far as the amount of concern and the grassroots excitement around developing a more peaceful community and world.”

Testifying on behalf of the resolution was Harvey Thorstad, a U.S. Navy commander, retired Vietnam veteran and president of Veterans for Peace Chapter 72 in Fairview, which supports West Linn, Portland, Vancouver and outlying areas.

Mayor Norm King voiced enthusiastic support for the group’s efforts. “I can’t tell you how pleased I am that this student group has brought this forward,” he said before the council’s unanimous vote.

Councilor Mike Jones, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who served on submarines in the Cold War, also gave students’ his approval. He urged them to remember their initiative isn’t just another extra-curricular activity. “What you’ve started and are working on here should guide you through your lives,” he said.

Read the full article here.

Texas SPA Co-Coordinates “United Sounds of Austin” Concert
by Hannah Richard

On Friday, October 17th, the Southwestern University Student Peace Alliance co-hosted a charity and awareness-raising concert called the United Sounds of Austin at the Austin Music Hall in Austin, TX. Sponsored by a diverse array of social justice organizations including the Austin Tejano Music Coalition, University of Texas at Austin Project on Conflict Resolution, Student Peace Alliance and Humanitarians Engaged in the Arts for Respectful Dialogue, the concert celebrated “unity through music,” and raised awareness of cultural issues surrounding conflict resolution and community engagement.

The concert juxtaposed diverse genres of music, bringing together groups of people that wouldn’t otherwise associate. Featuring musicians from a diverse collection of genres including Tejano, Indie, Funk, Ska and Hip-Hop the event also featured the addresses of prominent community leaders such as former veteran TX Senator Barrientos and special guest and honoree “Little” Joe Hernandez, an important voice in the struggle to equalize recording-industry disparities for Tejano artists. Hernandez was honored with an award for his service to the community.

The Southwestern SPA played a major role in creating the event. “We want to show people who love music that there is more music in Austin than just on 6th street west of I35, and the United Sounds of Austin is going to do just that,” said Southwestern’s SPA chapter president, Martin Fergus.

The event Drew over 300 people and raised thousands of dollars for primary education programs, a great success. For more information on this event and/or how you can put one on like it, email Martin Fergus at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Students Show NW Michigan That “War is a Drag”
by Rob Atkinson

More and more, Student Peace Alliance chapters are finding fun, creative ways to raise awareness about this movement, and money too! On Sat, October 30 Ruthy Posluszny and the Michigan Student Peace Alliance put on a drag show to bring the community together around the common goal of peace and have a great time doing it! Taking place at the InsideOut Gallery, a “way off the beaten path” alternative art and entertainment gallery in Traverse City, Michigan, the NWMU SPA sold out the venue and raised over $1300!

“There was much careful preparation involved, but people were really excited to do it” Ruthy said, including T-Shirt sales, posting flyers all over town, posting in local community calenders and facebook, sending out press releases, getting food and raffle donations from local businesses, selling tickets at 5 local businesses, auditioning drag kings and queens 20 days prior, producing an event program, producing the CD for the show’s music, and recruiting the president of NWMU to MC.

“It was a lot of work, but it really paid off. It got our name out there and people really loved the event. Next time, though, we need to charge more for tickets!” Ruthy said. Tickets were $4 for students, $5 general, and $10 at the door.

To find out more about the event and/or how you can put on fun and educational fundraising events in your community, email Ruthy Posluszny, Michigan SPA leader, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Jake Hoy-Elswick, National Finance Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

TJ Bowen, SPA National Field Organizer, Ventures to New Horizons
by Bria Anderson

As this movement continues to grow, evolve, and move into new times, so does its leadership. Last Summer, TJ Bowen, the National Field Organizer (NFO) for the Student Peace Alliance, decided it was time to venture to new horizons.

Somewhat humorously, TJ explained, “I am graduating in December, so I will no longer have student status and I am 29, so I’m only a ‘youth’ by the more liberal definition of the UN. I have loved the position but it’s time for me to play other roles in life.”

Far from withdrawing from the movement, however, TJ is merely taking on a new role, “I am going to be working on dialogue and restorative justice processes in the coming years. I believe that truth can only be found from all perspectives and we must urgently work to be more inclusive in creating our world… I believe that one way to dissolve the walls Obama spoke about in his Berlin speech is through dialogue. The Department of Peace Campaign and parallel campaigns for ending violence are built on a foundation of listening and understanding and I intend to contribute by strengthening this foundation.”

The Student Peace Alliance and Peace Alliance Leadership are currently interviewing candidates for the position. According to TJ, it will be somebody that will “take the position and organization to the next level,” be an active member of the SPA National Coordinating Committee, and show a strong commitment to supporting regional and local leaders in their efforts.

The Student Peace Alliance appreciates and honors TJ’s passion and commitment in laying the groundwork as the Student Peace Alliance’s first ever NFO, and wishes him the very best on his new horizons.

Putting Peace into Practice
By Miranda Fisher

Peacebuilding Today: 1000 Peace Women
By Miranda Fisher

Inspiration to work for peace comes from many different sources. Many of us draw it from those who have gone down in our history paving the way for peace such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Susan B. Anthony.

However, there are also many unsung heroes. 1000 Peace Women is an international network contributing to the emergence of a strong, cross-sectoral and global women's peace movement through connecting and strengthening women's peace efforts around the world. One of the main roles of this network is to support those women who are severely oppressed in countries where female leadership is socially unacceptable. This international movement helps provide a support base to empower women to work for justice and human rights in the areas that need it most.

Visit their website here and see how women across the world are standing up to oppression and empowering each other worldwide to continue to build peace even in the most difficult of situations.

The Student Peace Alliance 1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 712 | Washington, DC 20036 | Tel 202-296-1187 www.studentpeacealliance.org You received this email because you or someone else subscribed you to the Peace Alliance Mailing List.   This list is a subset of The Peace Alliance main mailing list. Unsubscribe: To be removed from Student Peace Alliance e-mails, click here. Update: You can change your contact information, including email address, via your profile page. Subscribe: If this email was forwarded to you and you would like to get your own copy, you can subscribe here. For General Inquiries, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it