Click to view the Mayor's Proclamation in .pdf format
Global Peace Initiatives gains the Mayor’s proclamation lauding May as “Peace Garden Month” in Indianapolis, as University of Indianapolis Community Programs Center names organization founder Linda L. Proffitt Outstanding Community Partner in Southeast Indianapolis.
Indianapolis, Indiana -- Proclamations and acknowledgments are raining on Global Peace Initiatives as Mayor Ballard declares May 2009 Peace Garden Month in Indianapolis and the University of Indianapolis Community Programs Center acknowledges Linda L. Proffitt, Global Peace Initiatives founder the Outstanding Community Partner in Southeast Indianapolis.
Peace Gardens grow food to feed the hungry. Peace Gardens heal and beautify landscapes. Global Peace Initiatives sows Peace Gardens in challenged neighborhoods where the need for food is the greatest. Using vacant lots and volunteers; Global Peace Initiatives creates abundance to help people in need out of backbone and packets of seeds.
The Mayor’s proclamation is part of the Global Peace Initiatives Greater Indianapolis Peace Garden Initiative, which encourages people and organizations to plant a vegetable garden, adopt a food pantry and provide that pantry with fresh produce through the growing season. This summer Global Peace Initiatives has 13 varied initiatives across Indianapolis, including neighborhoods, schools, churches, retirement communities and specialty plantings of sunflowers. Peace Gardens have one solid rule, “take what you need but leave something for the next guy…” Proffitt explains that this rule encourages abundant thinking and generosity, which are values for being people of peace. Proffitt explained kindness has to be demonstrated in times of great need, “Mayor Ballard and his wife have been very kind and supportive of Global Peace Initiatives and our efforts to feed the hungry. Last fall they donated their personal minivan so we could be better equipped to manage the Peace Gardens.” Global Peace Initiatives promotes the idea that everyone can help feed the hungry by Peace Gardening.
Encouraging peaceful values is winning Proffitt awards, like the one she received last week from the University of Indianapolis Community Programs Center. As the founder of Global Peace Initiatives, Proffitt has volunteered countless hours over the past three years to organize and implement these community efforts to beautify neighborhoods and feed the hungry. Global Peace Initiatives develops initiatives knowing when basic needs for people are met they are less likely to find themselves in conflict. Providing for basic needs is the essence of prevention of conflict. For Proffitt, creation of peace is as simple as planting seeds to feed hungry people and through gardening create places of community where abundance thrives.
A local organization, Global Peace Initiatives is now in their fourth year of serving locally and globally. Proffitt explains, “we only go abroad in order to come home inspired to do good here the other 51 one weeks out of the year.” Last year Indianapolis peace and justice professionals and IPS students, teachers and parents from the Key Learning Community went to Negril, Jamaica. When in Jamaica, they beautified the neighborhoods, collected recyclable materials, planted trees, mentored at risk youth and participated in a youth leadership summit. Ideas they gathered while in Jamaica are now part of their consciousness locally. Global Peace Initiatives is now in the planning stage of collaboration with the IPS Emmerich Manual High School Star Academy Agricultural Science and Business Program to use goats to maintain problematic greenways in Indianapolis. They know that the goats can successfully keep greenways maintained and allow students to process goats’ milk for cheeses.
The mission of Global Peace Initiatives is to promote the development of a critical mass for peace consciousness through the arts, education and service. Global Peace Initiatives, Incorporated is classified as a 501 c 3 organization by the IRS.
Call or write Linda L. Proffitt for more information about Global Peace Initiatives and their efforts to serve.
Global Peace Initiatives, Incorporated
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317.222.1556
www.globalpeaceinitiatives.net
Last Updated on Sunday, 17 January 2010 19:11
