Jill Harris is a retired teacher and nonviolence advocate who has done peace and nonviolence work in the Republic of Colombia. She also is a certified trainer in Kingian Nonviolence. Recently she attended a workshop on the use of song in peace work with Dr. Bernard Lafayette and was introduced to the Brothers Koren who teach how to create our own personal song. These two diverse topics are the subject of our podcast today.

Exploring Use of Song in Peace work and an Update on Colombia with Jill Harris

For a time after the founder of Los Osos Cares mutual aid organization resigned it appeared that services to help people experiencing poverty or homelessness in the towns on the Estero Bay of the Central Coast of California would cease to exist. However, the Board of Directors recognized one person who had the education and experience and who had been volunteering with Los Osos Cares to be the perfect person to take over. Thus, Angela Frank, a local Central Coast resident became the new Executive Director of this important community aid organization. In this talk Angela and Ruth Ann Angus of Yes We Can Peacebuilders explore in depth the workings of a humanitarian/mutual aid service. They explain the geography, history of the organization, and the societal and political environment and how it has brought about the need for assistance to community members who are struggling with the economic injustice of poverty. Frank gives details on the operation of the organization, outlines the assistance of accompanying groups, and speaks to the societal challenges facing the community, and how political changes have affected what aid is available. Angus asks, “Are we just giving band aid service without solving the issues that are causing the problems?” Answers to questions and defining what challenges Los Osos Cares will face as we head into an unknown political climate are part of the discussion.

Resurrection of a Mutual Aid Organization

This is an interview with Walter Heath, President of Morro Bay in Bloom in Morro Bay, California telling how he came to start this amazing community gardening organization giving people in the community a chance to enjoy gardening, beautify their town, and help conquer our climate crisis. Heath, a trained biochemist, learned a great organizational tool while volunteering in the presidential campaign for Obama and brought it to his town where it has made a terrific impact. Morro Bay is a tourist town that was in need of looking better and in the process it opened up an opportunity for people from all political, philosophical, and religious persuasions to come together in the simple act adding garden areas and planer boxes all over town. Using only native plants and drought resistant plants they have changed the face of the city. They are even responsible for collaborating with Yes We Can Peacebuilders in developing the first Morro Bay Peace Garden in one of the more public places in the town where a artist decorated peace pole is surrounded by beautiful succulents and residents and visitors can rest and contemplate the beauty on a bench constructed out of recycled milk cartons. Morro Bay in Bloom is a success! The image shows the city's newest trash containers planted by the "Bloomies" of Morro Bay in Bloom.

Interview with Walter Heath Morro Bay in Bloom

Ruth Ann is a writer/photographer and peace activist working on the Central Coast of California. She is Director of Yes We Can Peacebuilders in Morro Bay, CA doing educational workshops and discussions groups on living the nonviolent life. Peacebuilders collaborates with the humanitarian organization Los Osos Cares. 
www.yeswecanpeacebuilders.org

This track is not available anymore.

Other tracks from Ruth Ann Angus