A Peace of My Mind: Photo Exhibit and So Much More

Peace has been given a public forum and home at Northeastern Illinois University. For now, it's housed on the second floor of the Student Union. For the entire month of September, Northeastern has been given the honor of showcasing "A Peace of My Mind," a photo exhibit by NEIU's Artist in Residence John Noltner. The photo exhibit depicts ways in which ordinary people construct peace within their communities, the variety of ways that they seek to understand peace spiritually, emotionally and politically and how they've risen from the dust of violence.

The photo exhibit, lectures and workshops are designed to get people to "be thoughtful and reflect about messages of violence," says Dr. Cris Toffolo. Toffolo, Chair of the Justice Studies department, is also the Co-Chair of the Peace Committee at NEIU and a member of the Peace and Justice Studies Association. According to their website, the Peace and Justice Studies Association is a bi-national organization whose focus is to "bring together academics, K-12 teachers and grassroots activists to explore alternatives to violence and share visions and

strategies for peace building, social justice and social change." Toffolo and the Peace Committee hopes that by bringing this exhibit and the series of peace building events to NEIU it will begin a continued conversation around the construction of peace within our communities. "We live in a society steeped in violence," Toffolo said. "As human beings, we are not necessarily predisposed for violence. Violence is a learned response, something embedded within us through the media, by watching other people commit violent acts and by buying into the cultural myths of our society."

Like most non-violent activists before her, Toffolo knows that there is a long road to peace and that she and the Peace Committee cannot travel it alone. "This is collective work, which will take the whole community to get involved," said Toffolo. Events will not merely focus on violence, after all, it is about constructing peace. The Peace Committee has planned major campus events that actually engage students and community members in fun activities designed to provide alternatives to violent behavior.

The Peace Committee of NEIU invites all to be involved with the work of constructing peace. Workshops and lectures last through the month of September and include the following two dates that John Noltner will be presenting and the Peace Fire Ceremony.

Wednesday, Sept. 21(4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – FA 225A) •    Making Pictures Talk: A Workshop with John Noltner, Photographer

Wednesday, Sept. 21 (6 p.m. – The Oak Grove) •    Peace Fire Ceremony

Thursday, Sept. 22 (1:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. – LWH 1002) •    The Creative Process & Activism: A Workshop with John Noltner

Thursday, Sept. 22 (4:15 p.m. – 6 p.m. Second Floor Student Union Gallary) •    Capturing the Power of Creative Writing for Social Change: A Workshop with John Noltner

More information on upcoming events can be found on tables in the Eagles' Nest, and around the Student Union. For more information about John Noltner and about his exibit log on to: http://www.apeaceofmymind.net