Peace Mothers National Coordinator Here Next Week

We all know what happens when violence takes charge. More violence. All we have to do is look around the world to see its effect.
It is uplifting to come across options to the violence; ways to get out of the martyr/victim cycle that cuts our world off at the knees.

To that end, I want to tell you about an exciting woman, documentary and fundraiser for a local organization that will take place July 8 in Sebastopol.

Exciting Woman: Michaela Ashwood
She is the head of the Peace Mothers group that is giving war-torn Serra Leone a second breath of air. As part of Fambul Tok's postwar reconciliation she works with women to help them heal. They do so by talking about their experiences and supporting one another. This visibility among women empowers them to heal their community which is comprised of their husband, brothers, fathers, sons, mother, sisters, and daughters.
To date these women had also been able to help one another with microbusiness ventures as well as with the ability to have a voice in local, political affairs.

Documentary: Fambul Tok  (fambultok.com
A Documentary Film About the Power of Forgiveness.
Victims and perpetrators of Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war come together for the first time in an unprecedented program of tradition-based truth-telling and forgiveness ceremonies. Through reviving their ancient practice of fambul tok (family talk), Sierra Leoneans are building sustainable peace at the grass-roots level – succeeding where the international community’s post-conflict efforts failed. Filled with lessons for the West, this award-winning fiilm film explores the depths of a culture that believes that true justice lies in redemption and healing for individuals – and that forgiveness is the surest path to restoring dignity and building strong communities.

Fambul Tok International is dedicated to advancing peace by mobilizing ordinary people—entire communities ravaged by war—in the hard work of reconciliation. It originated in the realization that peace can’t be imposed from the outside, or the top down. Nor does it need to be. The community led and owned peacebuilding we support, witness and celebrate in Sierra Leone are teaching us that communities have within them the resources they need for their own healing.  We believe this process has much to offer other post-conflict countries—and the world.

Fundraiser: Collaborative Families  (www.act-solutions.org)
The screening of this documentary is a benefit for Collaborative Families. Located in Sonoma County it provides parents with collaborative professional guidance and neutral decision-support necessary to make informed child-centered decisions, reach non-adversarial mutually beneficial out-of-court family law agreements, access vocational support and microfinance resources and achieve sustainable family income.

Details: The documentary and Michaela Ashwood will be at the Rialto Cinemas Sonoma County in Sebastopol on July 8, 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased from the theater. RialtoCinemas.com. 707-494-6503