Starting Date: 03-20-2009
Ending Date: 03-23-2009
Hyatt Crystal City
Arlington, Virginia
United StatesPeace Within Reach:
People and Politics Partnering for our Common Security
March 20-23, 2009
Hyatt Crystal City in Arlington, VA
What 2007 Conference Attendees Said: "A most EMPOWERING experience!
This is what it means to be a US citizen!" "…inspiring and world-class, and not to be missed."
"Invigorating, empowering, practical, fabulous. It's an incredible feeling to show up and take responsibility as a citizen." "We really felt empowered with the whole experience. I know that we made a difference."
Register Today!
An historic four-day event of inspiration, education, empowerment
and effective peace action!
Connect with hundreds of youth and adults committed to creating a more peaceful future
Increase your understanding of effective peacebuilding, national and international politics, the root causes of violence, and programs that WORK
Build your skills as a peacebuilder, joining others in being the change we wish to see
Expand your abilities as "citizen lobbyist" advocating for effective change in our government and communities
Create or deepen your partnerships with others from your area who are active in peace advocacy
Bring the kids! Enroll your children in one of our Youth Programs! Learn more....
Walk the Halls of Congress, meeting with your members of the House and Senate to lobby for a Department of Peace and Nonviolence
Help Spread the Word!
Thanks to all of you who've offered to help spread the word!
You can download this interim conference flyer to copy and hand out. We'll have a new professionally designed flyer in mid to late January, as well as an email you can forward to all of your friends.
Confirmed Speakers thus Far:
Riane Eisler, social scientist, attorney, social activist and author of the bestseller "The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future" and "The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics"
Rita Marie Johnson, founding director of Costa Rica's Rasur Foundation
Azim Khamisa, Chairman, CEO and Founder of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF)
Congressman Dennis Kucinich, primary sponsor of HR-808, the bill to establish a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence.
Ocean Robbins, co-founder of YES! Youth for Environmental Sanity
Rich and Yvonne St. John-Dutra, co-founders of Challenge Day
Swami Beyondananda the "Cosmic Comic," with his unique brand of "comedy disguised as wisdom and "wisdom disguised as comedy."
Plus
Bob Koehler, award-winning columnist, Tribune Media Services
Dot Maver, Director of the National Peace Academy project at The Omega Point Institute
Lisa Schirch, Program Director for the 3D Security Initiative and a professor of peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University
Members of Congress (being confirmed; we'll publicize their names as we have them!)
Other leading experts in
Domestic and International Programs that WORK to reduce and prevent violence
Peacebuilding and Global Security
Human Security: Keeping America Safe
Read the speaker bios here.
Conference Fee: $255 - $355 sliding scale; Student rate: $100
Those of us who can pay at the higher end make it possible for us to include the broadest cross-section of our population as possible.
At the door, registration fees will increase to $275 - $375 sliding scale for general registration, $120 for students so don't wait!
Help support youth in attending the conference!
When you register, you'll have an opportunity to donate to the Youth Participation Fund. A donation of $100 will allow us to scholarship one youth, $1,000 will bring 10 youth! Even $10 will help us help youth participate. (Note that in the unexpected event that donations exceed need, your funds will be used for general conference expenses.)
At our last national conference, we exceeded capacity and had to turn people away. Don’t miss out on this historic event!
Register Now!
Note: Students under the age of 18 must have the name and contact information of their chaperone to complete registration. No more than eight (8) students per chaperone.
Additional Details
The Conference Agenda is still being crafted. However, you can plan for the following:
FRIDAY
Check out the new
Youth Programs!
click here
Registration opens in the late afternoon followed by an evening “Meet and Greet” reception and our first keynote speakers. Come to town early, visit the monuments during the day and soak in the amazing history of our nation's capital. You may even want to come a day early!
SATURDAY and SUNDAY
The program is expected to run from about 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, with speakers, sharing from grassroots activists, break-out sessions, lobbying training, specific activities for the Student Peace Alliance and more. Lunch and dinner breaks will be included, with most meals being on your own or with your district and state groups. Light snacks and one lunch will be provided throughout the conference.
MONDAY
Monday will be a day to meet with Members of Congress and/or staffers on Capitol Hill. Plan to schedule your meetings for between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to allow for conference morning and evening events and travel time to/from the Hill. As we get closer to the conference, we’ll provide registrants with coaching about setting up meetings and connect you with others who might also be in your district and state.
The evening will begin with sharing our lobbying successes and conclude with a Grand Finale and dessert reception.
TUESDAY
Post-conference lobbying on the Hill continues for those unable to set up Monday meetings. Note: West coast and some Midwest districts may have greater luck meeting with actual members of Congress on Tuesday than Monday, due to Congressional travel schedules.
TRAVEL
Reagan National Airport (DCA) is 10 minutes from the hotel, which provides a free shuttle to and from the airport. A $20 taxi ride will also get you to the hotel, or you can use the Metro. Those more familiar with the DC area may want to consider Dulles (IAD) or Baltimore (BWI) airports. Remember that ground transportation costs can reach up to $50 one-way from Dulles or BWI. BWI also has a 30-minute train ride into Union Station, where you can connect to the Metro. For Maryland regional train information, visit www.mtamaryland.com. For DC Metro and bus information, visit www.wmata.com.
HOTEL
You can reserve your room at the Hyatt online today and get the group discount.
Hotel Conference Rates:
$165 Single/Double occupancy
$190 Triple occupancy
$215 Quadruple occupancy
CONFERENCE FEE
Conference fee is sliding scale of $255 to $355, (Student rate is $100). Those who are able to pay at the higher end of the scale will help make it possible for those who need to pay at the lower end.
Cancellation Policy: A nonrefundable fee of $50 will be applied to all cancellations.
Late Registration Fee: After March 19th and at the door, conference fees increase to $275 - $375 sliding scale for general registration, $120 for student.Geographical Scope: National Conference |
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