PEACE ACADEMY classes will focus on topics related to creating a more peaceful  way of life .  The classes will provide keys to increasing inner peace, as well as peace in the family, workplace, community  and the  world.  A $ 5.00 tuition will be charged for each class. Scholarships will be provided to those in financial need. The Peace Academy will be an on-going project in the Keys. We are already making plans to reconvene in September in conjunction with the International Day of Peace  - Sept. 21.   The venue and the format of the  Florida Keys Peace Academy will vary depending on the speakers and the issues that present themselves.    The Florida Keys Peace Academy Opening: Saturday, June 14, 2008 Montessori School at Treasure Village  Building a Peace-able Community   All classes will focus on providing insights on how to increase inner peace, as well as peace in the family, the workplace and the community. Most classes will be geared to an adult audience, although there are two activities offered for children, at 11:00AM and at 1:00 p.m. The public will have the option to attend four lectures between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Tuition is $ 5.00 per class., with a discounted package for students who attend four classes. The day will end with an informal "fish bowl" session where students and teachers will share their impressions of the day and propose ideas for the next Peace Academy which will reconvene in September for the International Day of Peace. SPEAKERS The speakers for the Peace Academy workshops to be held at the Montessori School at Treasure Village on Saturday, June 14th are incredible. All of our Peace Professors are volunteering their time and travel to share their peace-building expertise throughout the day. Thank you for being The Change! Lama Migmar Tseten <http://www.lamamigmar.com/> Lama Migmar Tseten is the Buddhist Chaplain at Harvard University.  He was born in Central Tibet, and resettled in South India with his family in 1959.  In 1970 he became a monk and achieved the position of first in his class during 9 consecutive years.  In 1980, he received his degree and His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognized his achievements.  Lama Migmar became the head of the Sakya Main Monastery at Puruwala, India and the Sakya Center at Rajpur, India.  In 1990, he became the head of the Sakya Retreat Center in Barre, MA.  He founded the Sakya Institute in Cambridge, MA and the Manjushri Temple in Shrewsbury, MA. In addition to the regular programs in Cambridge and Shrewsbury, MA, Lama Migmar teaches and leads retreats at various Buddhist centers throughout the United States.   Lama Migmar will lead two classes on meditation:   First Session at 11AM: ·       "Introduction to Shamatha (calm abiding) meditation of pacifying the disturbing emotions and experiencing the peace within oneself" Second Session at 1PM: ·       "Introduction to Tonglen (sending and receiving) meditation of awakening the heart with loving kindness and compassion"    Nancy Lucas < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > A public relations coordinator for the Monroe County Youth Challenge Program, and a national speaker, Nancy also co-ordinates a children's playgroup. Tel. 305-393-6413  Nancy will present a program for parents and children at 11am: Games for Peace at Home and School. Build peace in your family or class with these three games for children ages 3 and up. Connect with love on the inside and think positive. The game "Climb Rocky Mountain" teaches how to turn on dream power. The "Love and Imagination Grab Bag" helps practice love and positive thinking. "Master or Monster" is a way to act out both negative and positive responses to typical disappointments. All three games can be replayed at home or school for a fresh way to help teach your child (and yourself!) how to choose love, positive thoughts and joy -- no matter happens.  Nancy will also present a program for parents at 1PM: Peaceful Parenting 101 for parents of children from birth to age 18. Understand your child's brain and you can have the keys to a more peaceful existence with your child – at any age. In an interactive session, you will learn how to increase your child's experience with the 40 Developmental Assets® because the fewer assets a child has (and 59% of the population has too few) the more likely they are to engage in violence. With research-based material and free resources, this is a must-attend session for any parent who wants safety for their child, practical communication skills, and a peaceful home.   Rev. RJ Starr <http://belovedcommunitymiami.org>. A Spiritual Peace Minister and the Director of the Beloved Community Miami (BCM), Rev. Starr is also a recording musician and song-writer. After a career in the US Navy, law and healthcare operations, he attended the Seminary for Spiritual Peacemaking at the Beloved Community in Oregon, and founded BCM, a spiritual and educational organization that aligns itself with the teachings of inner peace at the center of every religious and spiritual tradition and philosophical practice. BCM honors all religions and traditions, believing that all paths lead to Truth. Tel. 305-586-5620 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Rev. RJ is presenting at 1PM and parents are encouraged to bring their children:   Surrender, Trust and Gratitude -- A Practice for Life. This workshop will demonstrate various methods of meditation that allow the participant to become centered, to access the power of the "Now" moment, and to receive the intuition that comes only from the stillness within.  Rev. RJ will also challenge you with an entirely different way of thinking -- that everything in your life is self-created and comes as an answer to your prayers. When this is realized, we can bring ourselves into alignment with its divine purpose and end the struggle. This is one workshop NOT to be missed.   Ron Cole < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > A veteran Vietnam-era Navy pilot and retired airline Captain, Ron Cole is a co-leader of the national campaign to establish a U.S Department of Peace and actively mentors the Keys to Peace efforts. Tel. 303-725-5594  Bring your lunch from 12:15 to 12:45 PM to an open forum where Ron will answer questions about the campaign to establish a U.S. Department of Peace. Come learn about how our grassroots efforts towards peace here in the Keys can make a tremendous difference at the national and global levels.   Ron will also talk about the U.S. Department of State Great Seal exhibit, of which Keys to Peace is sponsoring a replica -- celebrating the 225th anniversary of the Great Seal. This colorful and informative exhibit celebrates the Seal's role in our nation's history and the meaning it holds for future generations. The great Seal, the vision of our nation's Founders, emphasizes the importance of national unity amid a diverse U.S. populace. This theme is as essential today as it was over 225 years ago and artwork will be displayed from local Montessori students, depicting their vision of the Seal's meaning.   Allen Sells  <www.miamicsl.org> Allen has 30 years of New Thought leadership experience in Unity, Religious Science, A Course in Miracles, hospice and studies of comparative religion.  He lived in the Keys several years, where he was first spiritual leader of Unity Church of Marathon and then of the New Thought Community Church of Marathon. Allen was also involved in a number of civic activities from being the President of the Marathon Rotary Club in 2005-06 to being a director for the Monroe County Educational Foundation, which is involved in funding Challenge Day and Take Stock in Children. Allen moved from the Keys two years ago to lead the Miami Center for Spiritual Living, the Science of Mind church in Miami. Tel. (786) 514-2666 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   Allen will conduct a workshop entitled:   Peace in the Home, Peace in the Workplace, and Peace in the Community. This three-hour workshop will run from 1PM to 3PM and is divided into three segments.  Students may attend one, two or the three segments, each of which will involve a 10-15 minute presentation by Allen followed by open discussion to describe thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors which work together to enable us to effectively communicate peace… as we relate to our family, co-workers and neighbors throughout the day. Come experience this refreshing and inspirational activity. "We - all of us - would like to think that we create peace," Allen explains, "But the reality of our being is that we are each of us only the peace we personally take responsibility for being. We cannot give peace or receive it. We can only be it. On that knowledge hinges our ability to cause greater peace to be present everywhere we are."   Sally-Ann Crawford < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > Sally-Ann Crawford has been a Victim's Advocate for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office since 2000. A Victim’s Advocate works on cases related to Domestic Battery, Elderly Abuse, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse and other aggravated assault cases and protection injunctions. Tel. 305-853-7479.Sally-Ann will present at 1PM:   Tools for Building Peaceful Relationships in the Family and the Workplace, sharing experiences and goals to end violence and transform relationships.  She will also demonstrate how to create more peace in your relationships through the use of the "Power and Control Wheel" and the "Positive Action Wheel."   Cheryl Cooke < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > An American Red Cross national instructor-trainer, Cheryl would like parents to know that the following free program exists and that it should be included in school curriculums so that youth learn about acceptance of diversity and other cultures.  Tel. 305-393-4692 Cheryl will present at 1PM:  Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL).  Cheryl feels that the following quote sums it up:  "We have a choice today. We can either sit back, watch the devastation wrought by war and try to make our children look the other way; or we can choose to tell our children that what they see – or what they are themselves experiencing – is not acceptable, that this is not how it is supposed to be, and that they can behave differently, in ways inspired by deep-rooted respect for human dignity, both in peacetime and in the midst of armed conflict."  (Jacques Forster, International Red Cross Vice-President, European Leadership Education Conference on Exploring Humanitarian Law, Vienna, May 2006.)  Judy Greenman <http://www.corticalfieldreeducation.com/%20/%20_blank> A personal effectiveness coach, Judy supports change that creates more comfort, choice and ease in our movement, body and all levels of consciousness. Her skills include Integrated Awareness®, Cortical Field Re-education (based on Feldenkrais Method®), Imago, Non-violent Communication, and Cranial Sacral Therapy. She is the founder of Monroe Youth Challenge Program, a Florida Keys community-based initiative that fosters acceptance, respect and personal development for and among the youth of Monroe County. Tel. 305-393-1315 - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it %20/%20_blank'; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text5829 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //-->\n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .    Judy will present at 2PM:   Reclaim Personal Peace Thru Body Awareness. Unconsciously, over time, your body stores memories, habits, and attitudes. The posture you carry reveals where your hurts and mental blocks are. Come do gentle, slow movements on the floor and learn what your body tells you so you can reclaim personal peace. With this science-based technique, your body can reorganize into fluid motion, enhanced energy, and an overall sense of ease that allows for more presence and connection with self and others. This is a must-attend session for parents, creative people, and people in leadership. Ask your body anything and it will give you the answer – learn how in this session. Be prepared to embody peace!   Donnagaye < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > An energy healer who works with natural and bio-energetic healing practices, Donnagaye lived for 15 years in South America and studied with several indigenous Shamans while she was in Colombia. She was initiated as a High Priestess by the Mayan Indians from Guatemala. She is a disciplined Siddha meditation practitioner and has been practicing purification for many years.  Tel. 786-200-0215. Donnagaye will teach at 2PM: Healing the Soul and Finding Peace Within from the native and indigenous peoples' perspective.  Diane Landsberg < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > Executive Director of the Non-Violence Project for the past eleven years, Diane has a mission to utilize nonviolence education and advocate policy change to prevent youth violence. Since its inception, NVP has reached over 600,000 youth with the guidance to live a happier, healthier and safer lifestyle. Tel. 305-663-1733 Diane L. will present at 2PM: Together we can create peace within our community and ourselves. Diane will share her work about non-violence.  "Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." (Author unknown)  Diane Gardner PhD PA < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > A Licensed Mental Health Counselor who lives in Tavernier Diane’s specialties include addiction, family counseling and relationship counseling. Tel. 305 852-8482. Diane G. will present at 2PM:   Creating Inner Peace. How does one achieve inner peace? It begins with awareness. We must learn to observe ourselves . We must become aware of our efforts to try to control others, and begin to focus on self. We are all on automatic. We must let go of old tapes. We must then begin controlling our mind and our emotions. When we can be aware of our actions, our thoughts, and our self-talk, we can then choose peace. Let it begin with us.   Susan Russell < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > A Healing Touch practitioner and massage therapist living in Key Largo, Susan has a BS in Medical Technology, with clinical experience in oncology and rheumatology; she is also trained in Healing Touch, a continuing education program for Nurses, Massage Therapists & Chaplains. Tel. 305-360-0862 She will present at 3PM: Bringing Peace Back to Healthcare. Using Healing Touch to optimize energetic flow to facilitate the body's self healing and reduce healthcare costs. Susan encourages us to cherish our similarities while relishing our differences and to look for beauty in each face that you see.   Kathy Gong LCSW, DCSW < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Kathy has a private practice in Key Largo. She sees people for counseling and teaches coping skills, pain management, and relaxation & stress management. Some of these include meditation, breath work, visualization, guided imagery, progressive relaxation, hypnotherapy, and affirmations. She has been practicing yoga as a way of life for thirty years, and is a certified yoga instructor and REIKI Master. Tel. 305-394-4006. Kathy will present at 3PM: " Practical Keys to Peace: Reduce stress and pain to create peace in your life, or, yoga without the physical postures!  Most people have stress and pain in our lives that can keep us from experiencing inner peace, or from manifesting peace in our lives. Learn and experience ways to reduce physical, mental, emotional and spiritual stress and pain, to release tensions in your body and life. Using breath, awareness, meditation and other techniques, we can free up energy to create a more peaceful and peace-able life.  Sandy Hastings A yoga instructor qualified as a yoga therapist, Sandy lives in the Marathon.  Tel. 305-289-8441. Sandy will present at 3PM: Laughter Yoga. Laughter Yoga is supported by powerful tools derived from the Western psycho analytical methods as well as Eastern spiritual laws. It will help you to stay in high spirits when life throws up challenges. It will enhance your ability to laugh and smile when dealing with negative emotions, situations and negative or difficult people. Laughter Yoga combines simple laughter exercises (simulated laughter) and gentle yoga breathing, which turns into real laughter when practiced in a group.  Nilda Bernaldez < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > With a Master Degree in Educational Management from the Philippines, Nilda is the Executive Director of Burton Memorial Child Development Center and a professor of the "Florida Child Care Professional Credential" program in the Upper Keys. Her past work experience includes Dean of Colleges, Executive Director of Universities, and High School Principal in various schools in the Philippines.  Tel. 305-852-0250 Coming in September, Nilda will present her workshop Be Still and Know that I Am. Based on a Bible verse which talks about an invitation to listen, really listen, and journeying within oneself, Nilda discusses her positive perspective.