Imagine all the people . .

Imagine a Valentine’s Day that is not only about romantic love or for lovers.

Imagine a Valentine’s Day that is about love, peace and global unity as a growing possibility in today’s interconnected world.

The Valentine Peace Project will take place this Valentine’s Day, involving students, artists, individuals, and groups committed to peace throughout the diverse communities of the city of Los Angeles and beyond. The goal is to expand the framework of this romantic holiday into an opportunity for vision, community and connection. As one expression of the day, volunteers throughout the city will be distributing carnations with attached peace poems. The poems, written by Los Angeles area kids, adults, families and others, are submitted through the Project website .The poems reflect an expanded possibility for Valentine’s Day and encompass themes of peace, sharing, and love in a wider sense. This is an opportunity to express or envision images of a more peaceful world, a unified global community or share experiences of connectedness with friends, family and strangers alike.

Imagine a commuter on this day, or a pedestrian, or a student given a flower with words to brighten up the day – words from someone in their community – and the chance to realize the connections which occur in our every day.

Is this what makes peace a possibility in the world?

Why not create a Valentine’s Day signaling this possibility?

Inform others about the Project. Make it an opportunity for peace education - contact us for a lesson plan. Inform florists. Plan a day filled with carnations and poetry. Tell students and children about the project. Get the media involved. Participate in carnation distribution. Develop your own expression of an expanded vision of Valentine’s Day to include peacemaking along with love. Poems submitted will be displayed on the website and distributed on Tuesday, February 14, 2006.

You can contact Federico Hewson at 310-339-6602 or fhewson@valentinepeaceproject.org

The Valentine Peace Project is a Project of Community Partners.

www.valentinepeaceproject.org

Showing love and respect will give a sence of of power that no one can take from you