Mother’s Day Proclamation
by Julia Ward Howe*, 1870

The First Mother’s Day proclaimed in 1870 by Julia Ward Howe
was a passionate demand for disarmament and peace.

Arise, then, women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts, whether your baptism be that of water or tears!

Say firmly: “We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have taught them of charity, mercy and patience. We women of one country will be too tender of those of another to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.” (more…)

Wow, here’s my friend Desi, a street artist and youth worker, with a crew of young spray-can muralists creating a major work right on my block in the Temescal District of Oakland! This wall on the corner of 42nd and Telegraph has been tagged and painted out a hundred times or more — a spot waiting for just this kind of full-scale expression. The sidewalk is jumping today with hip hop and people watching and taking photos. Cars slow down to enjoy the scene, too. Desi explains the meaning of this particular mural and community rejuvenation. It’s my first spontaneous attempt to use the movie mode on my camera!

Sidewalk scene in front of Pizzaiolo Restaurant, Oakland, California, September 18, 2009 around 7:15 pm.

Imagine my surprise Friday evening to emerge from a favorite dinner spot and discover a party on the sidewalk. But wait, there was something different about the street — beyond the sidewalk artist, busy with his pink chalk and boombox syncopation there was a full-blown game of Scrabble taking place on a real grass lawn, with lawn chairs and umbrella right where there used to be a parking spot on busy Telegraph Avenue! (more…)

Anusha Venkataraman has written a thoughtful and enlightening review of Beverly Naidus’s new book Arts for Change. From the apt overview—

“Part memoir, part historical narrative, part resource guide, Naidus’ book summons in an accessible and easy-to-read format her experiences, challenges and advice from years of working in the field.”

to insight about how twentieth-century social movements influenced teaching— (more…)

Photo of Reverend Joseph Lowery by Pouya Dianat, staff photographer at the Atlanta Constitution.

It’s been a day of jubilation, and, as many head off to inaugural parties, local celebrations, and some to fancy balls, I want to share my own gratitude for the closing words of today’s presidential swearing-in ceremony—the benediction offered by the Reverend Joseph E. Lowery.

Reverend Lowery is recognized by the NAACP as “dean of the civil rights movement” and has a lifetime of speaking truth to power. His prayer was a fitting blessing for today’s momentous occasion and the inspiration and wisdom the nation needs. (more…)

New Village author and syndicated cartoonist Keith Knight has picked up the best bailout idea of the week. Other treasures in his K Chronicles strip, too, like Toyota’s laudable practice of starting paid community service for employees on downtime. (more…)

From the man with the pink box bringing doughnuts for everyone lined at the polls this morning to John McCain shushing boos during his beautifully unifying concession speech tonight, I have been moved today by the warmth of people. Here in Oakland I could hear the election results before finding them on my news screen by the crescendo of horns in the street. Three hours later, 11:00 pm in California, the excitement has not waned. I walked out earlier to experience the celebration on Telegraph Avenue and was joined by an African American couple clearly as jubilant as I. We introduce ourselves on the way back — turns out they live in the apartments next door! An American moment. Another neighbor comes by. We put stars in our hair, run back to the same corner and light sparklers. Great waves of honking rises at every stop light. Dancers on the sidewalks hoop, skateboarders flash peace signs, bicylists ring their bells, even buses beep. Obama 08 glistens wet on the favorite neighborhood tagging wall. I’m grateful to be witnessing this fearless wave of joy for a better day, for working together, for building that beloved community that Martin Luther King (Sr. and Jr.) and Howard Thurman before them held so dearly. Yes we can!!

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.

Yoko Ono is inviting people around the world to join together in wishes for peace as she lights the Imagine Peace Tower today in Reykjavik Iceland honoring John Lennon. The tower is a beam of light powered by local geothermal energy. (more…)

Steven Dahlberg, contributor to the latest issue of New Village Online will be teaching a new course at the University of Connecticut, “Creativity and Social Change”, which is the first offering in a new interdisciplinary Creative Community Building Program that includes partners outside the university. The program is offered through the Center for Continuing Studies for a Bachelor of General Studies degree, as well as non-credit workshops and seminars for professional development. Learn more about the course and program on Steve’s Applied Imagination blog.

Craig Zelizer, PhD, visiting professor in Conflict Resolution studies at Georgetown University and co-founder of the Alliance for Conflict Transformation has written a sensitive and enlightening review of Bill Cleveland‘s new book — Art and Upheaval: Artists on the World Frontlines. In his review for the Community Arts Network, Zelizer offers lessons he learned from the book. (more…)