Seeds of Peace Special Report | Spring 2005

E

vents Roll Out the Red Carpet Photos: Erin Feinberg

Seeds of Peace held two successful benefits in February co-sponsored by its Young Leadership Committees in both New York and Washington DC. The first, the 7th Annual Bid for Peace Celebrity Auction in NYC, brought celebrities, dignitaries, and over 1,200 professionals together to raise almost $850K for Seeds of Peace.

Photo: Mark Finkenstaedt

The event included special guests Christiane Amanpour of CNN, Former Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin, and former US Ambassador to the UN Richard C. Holbrooke. Miri Ben-Ari, the hip-hop violinist and recent Grammy Award-winner, performed live and was followed by DJ Mark Ronson. Numerous celebrities including Robert DeNiro, Edie Falco, Christine Baranski, and Billy Crudup “walked the path to peace� down the red carpet accompanied by a Seeds graduate to show their support.

The first inaugural Young Leadership event in Washington DC hosted over 600 guests and honored former National Security Advisor Samuel R. Berger. Among other notables in attendance were French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz.

Special thanks goes out to all the New York and Washington DC Young Leadership committees, especially the event co-chairs for their tremendous commitment, generosity and dedication to Seeds of Peace: Daniel Cruise, Evan A. Haymes and Munir M. Hussein in New York, and Dan Magder and Nick Mansour in Washington DC.

www.seedsofpeace.org 370 Lexington Avenue, Suite 401 New York, NY 10017 to discover how your support makes a difference

OPEN

Non Profit Org US Postage Paid Permit 3423 New York NY

Special Report Spring 2005

R

Photos: Allison Monroe

oyal Treatment

“This week I’ve learned from many great people that the youth of nations hold an unfathomable amount of possibilities. We all have millions of opportunities to change the world.

I’ve learned that I need to be the one to change what I want to see in the world and I am starting now.”

– Janet, age 16, American

“Seeds of Peace helped me to know that American people and Arab people are not so different. We all want the same thing: peace, security, and the right to live our lives with happiness and hope for all our futures.”

–Deema, age 17, Iraqi

C

ity-to-City

Following their summer experience, Arab and American delegations were paired to continue efforts between and beyond the Maine and Jordan sessions. These smaller groups jointly designed and implemented projects that continued to develop leadership skills while contributing to their communities and increasing Arab-American understanding. Project highlights of the City-to-City groups include: • Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Los Angeles, CA impacted their communities by participating in service projects and raising awareness about Seeds of Peace.

• Kuwait City, Kuwait and Chicago, IL conducted video-interviews in their community that focused on the US-Middle East relationship to exchange and use in classroom and community presentations.

Cont’d on page 3

Seeds of Peace received a majestic welcome in Jordan as it conducted the second part of the Beyond Borders exchange program this March reuniting Americans from six US cities with Arab teenagers from Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait and Yemen. This group, as well as the 22 accompanying adult educators, first met in Maine in August 2004.

Beyond Borders, jointly funded by private donors from the Arab world, American corporations and the US State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiatives, is the type of exchange program recommended by numerous reports and panels to address the growing US-Arab/Muslim divide. Thus far, participants have been actively promoting greater understanding in their communities (see “City-to-City”), and this will only further their efforts.

To open the conference, H.M. King Abdullah welcomed the group to the royal palace and answered questions about the role youth can play in improving the Arab-American relationship. This meeting was covered on Jordanian TV and appeared on the front pages of local newspapers. The royal treatment continued as these future leaders later met with H.M. Queen Noor, Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher, H.R.H. Prince El Hassan bin Talal, David Hale of the US Embassy in Amman, and Dr. Amal Sabbagh of the Jordanian National Commission for Women.

One of the most meaningful experiences was the informative peer-to-peer talk given by an Israeli Seed, Ran (1994) and Palestinian Seed Leena (1996). Hearing from these two fellow Seeds, the students got a very personal lesson on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how Seeds of Peace has impacted their lives.

The week included visits to cultural sites including Jerash, Petra and Wadi Rum. In addition, the teens worked on completing an educational website that will help promote cultural exchange and international understanding which is one way Seeds can help spread what they learned through Beyond Borders to a larger audience.

Seeds of Peace Welcomes New Chair

L

etter from the President

Joseph Gantz

Dear Friends: The year 2004 was a phenomenal one for Seeds of Peace; 2005 is shaping up to be even more exciting. This year’s Bid for Peace Celebrity Auction in New York City embodied just the right combination of substance and celebrity, honoring Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Christiane Amanpour and Jamie Rubin combined with the buzz created by the appearance of Robert DeNiro and others. For the first time, we also held a major Young Leadership event in Washington DC at the French Embassy, where we honored former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger. And we recently hosted our third Forum on Conflict and Diplomacy with General Anthony Zinni. Our event calendar remains full with the New York City Gala Dinner on May 16th hosted by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and featuring former Director of Shin Bet, Ami Ayalon and Palestinian Chief Negotiator, Sa’eb Erekat.

We are continuing to expand our regional programming to place more emphasis on local presences to strengthen community relationships. As you know, this fall and winter, we made some transitions at the Center that although difficult, were necessary and have shown to be successful improvements as is demonstrated by the expansion of programs organized by the Seeds themselves (see “Seeds Expand Center Programming”). Additionally, we continue to run extraordinary new programs like Beyond Borders which this report also highlights.

In February, I had the pleasure of accompanying the Executive Committee of Seeds of Peace to Jerusalem to visit the Center for Coexistence to personally see all of the exciting regional programming that is happening there. In just three days, the Committee met with Seeds and staff and learned from them about each program area, the ongoing impact of the situation on the ground, and the future program plans. Together, we also dedicated the new Gould-Shenfeld Community Center in Haifa, which came about as a result of the generosity of Seeds of Peace board members Fred and Helaine Gould. The facility in Haifa includes a room that is specifically designated for Seeds of Peace, and will be a tremendous boost to our area programs.

The improvement in the political situation on the ground between Israelis and Palestinians will enable Seeds of Peace to expand its regional programming with a particular focus on our graduates. The Palestinian Authority has now formally rejoined the camp selection process after a four year period, and this year the International Camp will even have Palestinians from Gaza.

The fact that we remain the only dialogue and coexistence organization that combines a transformative experience in the United States, with serious all year round follow-up in the region including the support of governments and political leaders, gives us a remarkable foundation on which to build. I’m confident that this year we will continue to grow. I want to take this opportunity to thank Fred Gould for his extraordinary service as chairman of the Seeds of Peace board of directors and to welcome Joe Gantz as the new chairman. Joe has already been incredibly active in all aspects of Seeds of Peace operations.

I am reminded again that the real success of Seeds of Peace can be found in its compelling mission, the selflessness and dedication of its staff, and the support and involvement of its wonderful board. I also want to thank all of our supporters for helping us carry out our critical mission.

Best Regards,

Aaron David Miller

Sign up for our monthly e-Newsletter at www.seedsofpeace.org.

Joe Gantz was elected chairman of the board in 2005.

Joe first learned of Seeds of Peace from board member Joel Jacob and he and his family soon became enthusiastic supporters. Asked by John Wallach to join the board of directors, Joe saw it as an opportunity to become ever more involved.

Joe’s leadership has been much appreciated and he has already moved Seeds of Peace towards long-term success.

Says Joe, “My hope is that under my stewardship, we will have the best leadership possible and we will create a unified mission for the organization. I hope that by the time I leave, we’ll have a concise overview of what our mission is, be under strong leadership and be fiscally viable. I also believe in the importance of regional programming. John Wallach was even more prescient than he realized when he pushed for the Center. Camp is a transformative experience but it is not an end in itself; Camp is the beginning of the process and the Center reinforces and continues it. We are looking for results years out.”

Seeds of Peace welcomes Joe Gantz as chairman and looks forward to working with him to build and grow the organization for the better.

Program Preview August 2005

Leadership Summit For one week this summer, approximately 150 Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian, and American Seeds, who first attended camp between 1993-1998, will reconvene at the International Camp in Maine for the first-ever Seeds of Peace Leadership Summit. The experience of meeting together again – after so many years – in the place where they first lived in coexistence with ‘the other’ will truly be a significant event for all. Much has changed, not only in the Seeds’ personal lives, but in the region and in the conflict.

The Leadership Summit, which is being organized by the graduate Seeds themselves, will provide the opportunity for older Seeds to recommit to Seeds of Peace and peace-building as they enter the next stage of their lives.

S

eeds Expand Center Programming

Photos: sop-me.com

This year has witnessed a tremendous increase in regional programs, as Seeds continue their dialogue, reaching out to their peers and communities, and acquiring critical leadership and professional skills. Most exciting, the dramatic expansion of activity is a result of the Seeds’ own efforts as they have organized themselves into various steering committees that create, plan, and execute these programs in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Amman and Cairo.

In early 2005, two very successful Civil Rights Seminars were held in the Middle East – one for Israeli and Palestinian Seeds in Jerusalem and the other for Egyptian and Jordanian Seeds in Cairo. Each conference was attended by over 30 participants, which included both Seeds and their classmates. “Unity Teams” were created that now meet locally to help their schools bring a better understanding about civil rights to a broader audience.

Other programs through the Center this winter have included: • Mediation and Negotiation Course for 35 older Israeli and Palestinian Seeds who meet weekly to train as leaders in their communities as well as within the Seeds of Peace organization.

The course is a joint effort with Seeds of Peace, the Jerusalem Mediation and Conflict Resolution Institute, and the Palestinian Resolution Institute.

• Our Neighbors Seminar attended by over 100 Palestinian and Israeli Seeds over a three-day period to continue dialogue and discuss community leadership. Led by older Seed gradu-

City-to-City (cont’d from page 1) • Baghdad, Iraq and Dallas, TX worked separately given the current climate. Dallas delegates organized “Books for Baghdad,” an initiative which collected over 700 books for Iraqi students. Baghdad delegates co-founded “The Hope,” a group which involves 50 Iraqi youth educating the public about their situation.

• Cairo, Egypt and New York, NY conducted an attitudinal survey that surveyed over 400 Egyptian and New York students to reveal trends and divisions in thinking.

• Sana’a, Yemen and Atlanta, GA launched an online magazine which features history, sports, fashion, architecture, entertainment, and eventually will offer interviews with city officials and public chats.

• Amman, Jordan and Boston, MA launched a website to continue discussing current events and project ideas including creating a video about life in their society to show at schools.

ates, participants were Seeds from 2002, 2003 and 2004 and the program included lectures by community leaders and a continuation of the dialogue the youth had begun at camp.

• Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian Seeds participating in the Sesame Seeds project, a partnership between Seeds of Peace and Sesame Workshop. The Seeds meet weekly to plan activities for the kindergartens they will be visiting. Sesame Seeds is supported by the Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Foundation.

• Dialogue Sessions for 60 Seeds and their nonSeeds friends to expand Israeli-Palestinian com-

munication and learning to a larger audience.

• Language and Culture Course in Jerusalem organized for and by Seeds to learn and teach Hebrew and Arabic to each other as well as share and discuss their cultural traditions.

• Palestinian and Israeli Community Service Projects by Seeds involved improving a public park, volunteering for the disabled, those with social difficulties and the sick, and teaching team-building to younger children.

• Seeds committee to plan the Leadership Summit for Seeds from 1993-1998, set to take place in Maine in 2005 (see “Program Preview”).

S

preading the Word in South Asia

Seeds from South Asia were energized over the winter by three-day leadership workshops: one held in Mumbai, India and another in Lahore, Pakistan. Both workshops included leadership training, dialogue sessions, Bring-aFriend day, and the creation of a video project that Indian and Pakistani Seeds participated in individually and then shared across the border. All these activities gave the Seeds the opportunity to become aware of and strengthen their own leadership capacity.

In early 2005, the Seeds of Peace Afghanistan program was reenergized with new local staff and a Bring-a-Friend workshop. Thirty Afghan Seeds participated in the workshop that allowed the Seeds to explore the traits of world leaders, their country, and their personal lives and then explore their own leadership qualities and ways to promote peace to their families, schools and communities.