The Year in Review
Major Initiatives
- Giving Garden: Grew and distributed over 2000 pounds of produce to Salvation
Army and the Harvey County Safe House
- Asset Development for Children and Youth: Tri-County (Harvey, Reno, McPherson)
working group
- Held "listening conversations" about peace with 12 youth groups,
7 women’s groups, and 3 mixed adult groups
- USD 373 Summer Latchkey program: Peace Connections voted "most fun"
by participants. Activities included breadmaking, pottery-making, yoga, and
a civic activity with Newton Chamber CEO Virgil Penner
- Making the Most of Your Real-Life Marriage: Chuck and Jan Hadley, Sylvia
and Wally Jantz, and Carol and Mike Petitjean presented to over 50 people
on topics related to marriage
- Jazz: A Nonviolent Response to Oppression: History lecturer Dr. Arnold Snyder
and fellow musicians presented an evening of jazz music to over 50 people.
- Caroline Hamm taught a series of breadmaking classes to about 25 people/session
- Hosted art exhibit "Exploring the Journey of Womanhood" that included
work from 12 local artists
- Raylene Hinz-Penner presented a creative writing workshop to 8 people.
- Santa Fe herbalist Constance Gehring presented a lotion-making workshop
to 16 people
- Assisted Newton High School students to form a Peace Club
- Organized quilt-making for New York and Afghanistan. Seven quilts were made
Meditation and Prayer
- Created the Breathing Room
- Organized and hosted "Pausing for Quiet Reflection" weekly series March 1-22
- Organized and hosted "Quiet Reflection: Kairos" weekly series June 13-July 25
- Organized and hosted "Preparing the Way for Peace" weekly series Nov. 29-Dec. 20
Local Community Connections
- Taste of Newton: Peace Connections served kolaches, baklava, hummus with
pita bread and vegetables
- Children’s Peace Fair at Bethel College Fall Fest: Activities included face-painting,
flag- and card-making, and storytelling; as well as sales of peace-related
books
- Halloween in downtown Newton: Peace Connections volunteers distributed candy
and stamped over 1,000 children’s hands with fun, peaceful designs
- Shopping Night for Peace Connections at Ten Thousand Villages
- Developed "peace bench" with Northview Industries for sale at
Peace Connections
- Giving Garden included in Newton Public Library Annual Flower and Garden
Tour
- Provided tasks at Peace Connections for youth in the Court Diversion program
to fulfill community service requirements
- Participated in Holiday Table display at Carriage Factory Gallery
- Hosted weekly meetings of Explorer’s Bible Study group
- Participated in Eden Mennonite Church Peace Fair
- SummerFest and Harvey County Kidfest: Provided a seed-sprouting activity
and informational display
National Peace Community Connections
- Director and board member participated by invitation in conference "Creating Peacemaking Communities for the New Millennium: Catholics and Mennonites Bridge the Divide" at St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, MN
- Director participated in conference "Gathering to Discern A Response to September 11th and Pax Americana" in Dallas, TX
Administrative
- Added three new members to Board.
- Increased paid staff to one full-time equivalent (2 part-time people).
- Gift Shop: Volunteer store manager Marlene Smucker joined. Added more than 20 new gift items
- Improved donor appreciation program by providing handmade cards, homemade desserts and other "rewards" to contributors. Hosted Donor Dinner for over 35 people
- Facility: Added new sink and door to restroom; installed walls, laminate flooring, cabinets, refrigerator, stove, sinks, separate handwashing sink in kitchen; installed floodlight above back door; installed 2-line phone and fax machine
- Changed fiscal year to coordinate with calendar year
Heartland Peace Tax Fund Group
- Held monthly meetings
- Developed Stations of the Cross Good Friday Pilgrimage to local agencies
- Member Susan Balzer traveled to Germany to attend an international peace tax meeting
Award: Won Youth Garden Grant, one of 100 in the nation
