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2022-05-10 City Council - Full PSPP Agenda-31671 N o Agenda Edmonds City Council PUBLIC SAFETY, PERSONNEL & PLANNING - ZOOM VIRTUAL ONLINE MEETING EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WEB PAGE, HTTP://EDMONDSWA.IQM2.COM/CITIZENS/DEFAULT.ASPX, EDMONDS, WA 98020 MAY 10, 2022, 4:30 PM COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE WORK SESSIONS FOR THE COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF. COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDAS DO NOT INCLUDE AUDIENCE COMMENTS OR PUBLIC HEARINGS. THIS MEETING IS HELD VIRTUALLY USING THE ZOOM MEETING PLATFORM. TO VIEW OR LISTEN TO THE COMMITTEE MEETING, CLICK ON OR PASTE THE FOLLOWING LINK INTO A WEB BROWSER USING A COMPUTER OR SMART PHONE: HTTPS://ZOOM. US/J/95798484261 OR JOIN BY DIAL -UP PHONE: US: +1 253 215 8782 WEBINAR ID: 957 9848 4261 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: LAURA JOHNSON (CHAIR), SUSAN PAINE, VIVIAN OLSON (EX-OFFICIO MEMBER) CALL TO ORDER COMMITTEE BUSINESS 1. Update to Personnel Policy 3.10 Job Assignments (10 min) 2. Update on City Recruitment (10 min) 3. Proposed Updates to Employee Reimbursement Policy (20 min) 4. Peace Run Resolution (20 min) ADJOURN Edmonds City Council Agenda May 10, 2022 Page 1 2.1 City Council Agenda Item Meeting Date: 05/10/2022 Update to Personnel Policy 3.10 Job Assignments Staff Lead: Jessica Neill Hoyson Department: Human Resources Preparer: Jessica Neill Neill Hoyson Background/History A portion of Policy 3.10 "Job Assignments" addresses the process for making changes to job descriptions. The process currently requires that all changes, including minor changes, to job descriptions be approved by Council. As Council has a processes that requires job description changes go to the Personnel Committee before forwarding to Council for final approval, and committees only meet once a month, the process for updating job descriptions can take more than 30 days. Staff Recommendation Forward the attached resolution updating policy 3.10 Job Assignments to Council for consideration. Narrative At times job descriptions may need only minor adjustments that do not impact the duties or compensation of the position. These may be such things as removing equipment that the position no longer uses, changing the physical requirements, updating a reporting relationship if the position now reports to a new supervisor, or removing language that is no longer necessary but has the potential of creating issues of equitable access to applicants. These minor changes currently must go through the Council approval process. Due to the length of time these changes take for approval, they are often not made. This is usually due to the fact that job descriptions are reviewed when a position becomes vacant. At that time is when the need for these minor updates is usually identified. Due to the need to fill positions quickly, it is then not in the best interest of the City to take the possible 30 days to do minor updates prior to posting a position as this would delay filling the position in an already difficult recruiting environment. Human Resources is proposing a change to the policy that would allow these minor changes that do not impact duties, essential functions, or compensation be made administratively. This will allow the City's job descriptions to be kept up to date and still post positions in a timely manner. Attachments: DRAFT Resolution to Amend Personnel Policies 5.3.2022 Packet Pg. 2 2.1.a RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, TO APPROVE A REVISION TO THE JOB ASSIGNMENTS POLICY OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS PERSONNEL POLICIES. WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Edmonds has adopted Personnel Policies, which include a provision related to employee job assignments and their related job descriptions; and WHEREAS, the current job assignments policy (Section 3.10 of the Personnel Policies) provides as follows: 3.10 JOB ASSIGNMENTS It is the supervisor's responsibility to maintain the employee's primary job assignments within the existing job description, until a revised job description is approved. Requests for revised job descriptions can be made by the Department Director to the Human Resources Office. Revised job descriptions, along with the appropriate pay grade, are subject to the Mayor's approval, before submittal to the Human Resources Office and City Council for their approval. ; and WHEREAS, the Human Resources Department has recommended a revision to the job assignments policy to create efficiencies in making minor revisions to job descriptions that do not impact the position's job duties, essential functions, or compensation; and WHEREAS, the City Council, after review and discussion, has determined that it is in the best interests of the city to approve the proposed revision to the Personnel Policies' job assignments policy; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Recitals. The recitals set forth above are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein. Section 2. Approval ofRevisions. The proposed revision to the job assignments provision of the City of Edmonds Personnel Policies, which is set forth in underlined text in Appendix A, attached hereto, is hereby approved as presented. Section 3. Severability. If any one or more sections, subsections, or sentences of this Resolution are held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this Resolution and the same shall remain in full force and effect. Packet Pg. 3 2.1.a RESOLVED this day of 2022. APPROVED: MAYOR, MICHAEL NELSON ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED: CITY CLERK, SCOTT PASSEY FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: RESOLUTION NO. Packet Pg. 4 2.1.a APPENDIX A CHAPTER III RECRUITING, HIRING, AND PROMOTION 3.10 JOB ASSIGNMENTS It is the supervisor's responsibility to maintain the employee's primary job assignments within the existing job description, until a revised job description is approved. Requests for revised job descriptions can be made by the Department Director to the Human Resources Office. Revised job descriptions, along with the appropriate pay grade, are subject to the Mayor's approval, before submittal to the Human Resources Office and City Council for their approval. Minor revisions to job descriptions that do not impact the position's lob duties, essential functions, or compensation may be approved bV the Mayor without City Council approval. Packet Pg. 5 2.2 City Council Agenda Item Meeting Date: 05/10/2022 Update on City Recruitment Staff Lead: City Council Department: City Council Preparer: Beckie Peterson Background/History N/A Staff Recommendation Presentation from staff. Narrative Council requests an update on director and staff hiring and recruitment. Packet Pg. 6 2.3 City Council Agenda Item Meeting Date: 05/10/2022 Proposed Updates to Employee Reimbursement Policy Staff Lead: Dave Turley Department: Administrative Services Preparer: Dave Turley Background/History The City has an employee reimbursement policy that has not been reviewed or updated for several years. Items have been noted that need to be updated. Tonight we would like to review the current policy and propose some changes. Staff Recommendation We would like to review the current policy and suggested changes. This is a first draft, for tonight's meeting we are looking for feedback and suggestions for improvement. Attachments: EMPLOYEE EXPENSES AND REIMBURSEMENTS_Updating Packet Pg. 7 2.3.a City of Edmonds Employee Expenses, Volunteer Recognition and Reimbursements Policy January 11, 2022 Packet Pg. 8 2.3.a City of Edmonds Employee Expenses, Volunteer Recognition and Reimbursement Policy EMPLOYEE EXPENSES. VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AND REIMBURSEMENTS General Reimbursement Policy The City of Edmonds reimburses its employees and elected or appointed officials for reasonable expenses incurred conducting City business providing the expenses are prudent and directly related to the individual's service on behalf of the City. The City of Edmonds is best served by the active participation of community citizens as volunteers. Volunteers learn more about their City and contribution to its effectiveness, thereby fostering increased cooperation and understanding. Administration The Finance Director administers the reimbursement program, designs and distributes forms and instruction and carries responsibility for review of claims. Claims will not be allowed without a detailed account of monies spent certified by the individual making the claim. ^ ed ay he State Audite . Documentation Claims for personal reimbursement must be made on official Employee Claim for Expenses form, be accompanied by the vendor's wiginal-Invoice, receipt or bankcard charge slip showing the date, vendor imprinted -name, amount paid and items/services received, and must be ^^Y 4fie- ^* ^^a signed by the individual seeking reimbursement. Should a receipt be lost or not be obtainable, an employee must fill out a Lost Receipt form and attach to the Claim for Expenses signed by his/her Department Head (or Mayor if the employee is a Department Head). This will serve as a substitute for a receipt. In addition to the documentation above, claims for meals that feed others require the following documentation: 1. The names of the individuals being hosted 2. Their official title or capacity as it relateds to City business 3. The nature of the topics discussed, nature of the occasion, what public purpose or policy was being served (and/or copy of agenda) 4. The per-sen being r-eimbursed must explain why it was neeessafy to eanduet this business evef-a 3-.4.Reimbursement is subject to budget behs available for the event, and preapproval by uhe Mayor for staff -sponsored events, and by the Council President for Council-sSponsored events. Employee claims for expenses must be signed by department heads, or in his/her absence, by his/her designee. Department head or acting department head claims must be signed by the Mayor. Council member expenses must be signed by the Council President. Whenever possible, City expenses should be paid for using City funds. At times, however, an employee or elected official may find it expedient or necessary to pay for an expenditure out of their own pocket and seek reimbursement from the City afterwards. When this occurs, the employee or elected official should Packet Pg. 9 2.3.a City of Edmonds Employee Expenses, Volunteer Recognition and Reimbursement Policy obtain pre -approval for the expenditure, before usingtheir heir personal funds. If such pre -approval was not obtained, approval after -the -fact is at the sole discretion of their Supervisor, Department Director or Mayor, or Council President, whichever applies. All Employee claims should be submitted in a timely manner; within 30-60 days. Ne . ei ffibt ff,e..,erequests will be autho-ii-modd flor any e?qwnses taking plaeo in a previous budget year-. ~' V 0 a c a� E O L E O O O 0. E W O N d O Q N N O Om O L a 0 z Q U) W z W IL X LU W W O J d M W C N E t v cC Q Packet Pg. 10 2.3.a City of Edmonds Employee Expenses, Volunteer Recognition and Reimbursement Policy Food and Beverage Based on ^ inch..^., from the State udit,.rl. nrr ^^ •The City uses the following guidelines in determining the use of public funds for expenditures for food and beverages: 1. Who consumed this food and drink? What was the nature of the occasion for the consumption? What public purpose or policy objective was served? 4. M4iy was it .news.~., to e ^ food and beverage to e out the pokey? 5:4. Were the expenses "reasonable"? 6-.5. Were the expenses consistent with the policy authorizing reimbursement? The city must also consider Internal Revenue Service regulations covering the income tax consequences of providing food and beverages to employees. Payment for food and beverage expenses that meet the IRS non-taxable criteria will be made through Accounts Payable. Payment for food and beverage expenses that do not meet the IRS non-taxable criteria will be made through Payroll and taxed at the current IRS rate. General IRS Meal Reimbursement Regulations (See following sections for specific examples) Please note that reimbursement for out-of-town travel is covered by ECC 2.25.050, Travel Authorization and Expense Reimbursement Policies The following food and beverage expenses qualify as non-taxable under the IRS code and will be reimbursed through Accounts Payable. 1. Meals consumed while traveling on city business. To qualify as travel the employee must travel a distance of 40 miles or more from Edmonds and stay overnight. 2. Business meals between city employees and non -city employees that can reasonably be expected to bring a specific business benefit to the city, (e.g. a new store is eentempWing loeating in Edmonds). These meals would bpieally involve the Mayor- and business people seeking to ifiefease business in E ^~a^ Restaurant meals with current or potential city suppliers (vendors/contractors/consultants, etc.) would not qualify under this category. 3. Meal expenses directly related to and necessary for attending business meetings or conventions of organizations directly related to city business. These organizations include chambers of commerce, business leagues and trade or professional organizations such as the American Planning Association, American Public Works Association, etc. 4. Meals provided by the city that meet the following three criteria: a. The meal must be brought to the employee; cash may not be given to the employee to buy a meal. The meal must be provided at the city's business premises. This may include temporary work sites, such as a rented -hotel conference room, if business is conducted there. Publie restaiffants do not "alify as business premises. C Z Q W CO Z W IL X W W W O J IL 2 W c d E z Q Packet Pg. 11 2.3.a City of Edmonds Employee Expenses, Volunteer Recognition and Reimbursement Policy c. The meal must be provided for the city's convenience and have a sound business justification. Examples include: i. Meals furnished during work hours so employees are available for emergency calls during the meal. Evidence must be provided that an emergency occurred. ii. Meals delivered to the office at a group meeting that spans a mealtime and the meeting eamnot h-e :.,*o.- .,,.�0.7 for a meal bro.,lr The following food and beverage expenses are taxable under the IRS code and will be reimbursed through Payroll. 1. Meals consumed while attending local training sessions/classes. Local training means training that does not qualify for travel by being 40 miles or more from the city and requiring an overnight stay. 2. Meals consumed while transporting city or non -city participants to recreation programs. 3. Meals between city employees and/or non -city employees off the city premises that otherwise qualify for reimbursement under city policy. 4. Meals consumed while transporting and/or chaperoning city or non -city participants to city sponsored Parks and Recreation programs or events where paid staff are required for safety and supervision. Examples include, but are not limited to, programs or events at restaurants for senior participants. Claims for taxable meal reimbursements must be submitted to Payroll on an Employee Reimbursement form. Meal reimbursements are included in the employee's regular paycheck. Retreats/Meetings/Training Council Retreats/Executive Team Retreats/Department Retreats to determine goals and objectives for the department/City: The reasonable cost of necessary food and beverages while conducting a City retreat is authorized for reimbursement. Each department will be limited to one retreat per year. Non -taxable -paid through Accounts Payable City Sponsored Training/Staff Meetings: the general rule is that meals and snacks are not reimbursable and are to be purchased by those individuals attending. However, the City will pay reasonable cost of beverages. Non-taxable under the IRS De Minimis meals category paid through Accounts Payable. Non -City Sponsored Training: The City of Edmonds considers training a necessary and reasonable cost of maintaining a high level of excellence in the services we provide. The City will pay for reasonable trainings, conferences, and workshops for employees and elected officials. Training should be approved by an employee's supervisor or Department Director, and in the case of Council members, should be approved by the Council President, prior to registration and payment for the event.. Formatted: Font: Not italic Professional Organization Sponsored Training or Seminars/Business Luncheon Meetings: The City will pay the cost of meals included as part of the registration or purchased separately to be consumed at meetings held during a meal time. Examples include the Chamber of Commerce, Packet Pg. 12 2.3.a City of Edmonds Employee Expenses, Volunteer Recognition and Reimbursement Policy American Planning Association, Snohomish County Clerks & Finance Officers Association, etc. Non-taxable per specific IRS regulation -paid through Accounts Payable Awards/Recognition Service Awards Ceremonies: Expenditures for reasonable refreshments served at the Mayor's Annual City-wide Employee Awards Programs, including luncheon to recognize employees with 5, 10, 15 and 20 plus years of service and breakfast or lunch to recognize employees selected for service awards. (Limited to one each per year) Non-taxable under the IRS De Minimis meals category - paid through Accounts Payable. Department Head Appreciation Luncheon: Expenditures for reasonable refreshments served at the Annual Department Head Appreciation Luncheon for only City of Edmonds staff and Council members. (Limited to one per year) Non-taxable under the IRS De Minimis meals categorypaid through Accounts Payable. Special Events The City policy is to allow for reimbursement for the costs of reasonable refreshments for publie events such as Open Houses, City Anniversary Celebrations, and hosting delegations from other jurisdictions. Reimbursement requests must be aeeempanied by the publiely published fietiee of t e Non-taxable under the IRS De Minimis meals categorypaid through Accounts Payable. Birthday Celebrations/ Retirement Welcoming Parties: these events are considered private parties and as such represent an inappropriate expenditure of public funds. The cost of any food or beverage or any incidental expenses related to these events (film, flowers, cards, etc.) are not eligible for reimbursements. Retirement Recognition: The City recognizes that it is sometimes appropriate to recognize and Formatted: Font: Bold acknowledge the contribution that employees have made to the City during their career. The City will pay the reasonable cost of food and beverages at such an event. The City may also a reasonable cost for providing a service award to the retiring employee, not to exceed $100 in value. Volunteers: It is the policy of the City of Edmonds to recognize and acknowledge the contribution that volunteers make to the City. The City will pay the reasonable cost for providing service awards, food and beverages at an annual recognition event... Non-taxable if held on citypremises and meals are provided paid through Accounts Payable. Taxable if held off city premises -employee's meal reimbursementpaid through Payroll. Meals Business Meals between City Employees: Meals (including snacks) between City Employees will not normally be reimbursed. It is expected that City Business between City employees can for the most part be conducted on City premises during normal work hours. Packet Pg. 13 2.3.a O IL City of Edmonds Employee Expenses, Volunteer Recognition and Reimbursement Policy O E d N L Working Lunches: the City recognizes that there are occasions when it may be necessary for a group of employees to work through lunch in order to meet a deadline or to keep a group convened in order E to accomplish the task. To be considered for reimbursement as a working lunch, the meeting must span over a three hour period which includes the group's normal lunch hour and have approval of the Mayor. Non-taxable if the meal is provided on the citypremises for the convenience of the city - paid through Accounts Payable O O. Business Meals between City Employees and Non -City Employees: the reasonable costs of E necessary meals while conducting City Business with persons other than City employees either Uj locally or out of town are authorized for reimbursement. Employees seeking reimbursement for meals N of a non -City person must obtain prior approval from the Mayor. The employee's meal is non- a� taxable if the meal is provided on the city premises for the convenience of the city or the employee is on out of town travel for the city —paid through Accounts Payable. The employee's meal is non- Q. taxable if it meets the IRS test ofproviding a specific business benefit to the city (normally only the Mayor will qualify in the specific business benefit category) —paid through Accounts Payable. The employee's meal is taxable if the meal is not related to city travel and is eaten off the citypremises p paid through Payroll. The meals for the non -city employees are paid through Accounts Payable. Q- O L a c z Q w CO z w a x w w w O J IL 2 w c d E z Q Packet Pg. 14 2.4 City Council Agenda Item Meeting Date: 05/10/2022 Peace Run Resolution Staff Lead: City Council Department: City Council Preparer: Beckie Peterson Background/History On May 18, 2022 the Sri Chimoy Oneness -Home Peace Run will take place in Edmonds. Staff Recommendation Committee requested to review and edit a resolution acknowledging this event. Narrative A sample resolution provided by the event organizers, 2022 Route information and Media package attached. Attachments: Peace Run sample resolution everblossomingdream_web Route 2022 —The Sri Chinmoy Oneness -Home Peace Run Packet Pg. 15 2.4.a Resolution Nothing can be more valuable than peace. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are but empty dreams without peace. From the beauty of the ocean, to the majesty of the mountains, to the silence of the forest, to the friendly smiles and open hearts of our neighbors, we in Edmonds enjoy the blessings of peace in so many ways. Yet we are keenly aware that there are too many people in every corner of the globe for whom peace — inner and outer — is only a dream. At this moment in particular, our hearts cannot help but shed bitter tears at the fate of millions of our Ukrainian sisters and brothers who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their loved ones in the midst of a terrible war. As war begins in the minds of men, so too must peace begin within the heart of each human being. As the founder of the Peace Run, Sri Chinmoy, once said: "Peace does not mean the absence of war. Peace means the presence of harmony, love, oneness and satisfaction. Peace means a flood of love in the world family." Accordingly, we wish to offer our gratitude to the Sri Chinmoy Oneness - Home Peace Run, which has traveled the world for over three decades to spread this message and plant the seeds of peace so that someday we may truly love one another as members of our common human family. Therefore, it is our joy and honor to welcome the Peace Run to our beautiful, peaceful City of Edmonds and declare that April 18th, 2022 is officially "Sri Chinmoy Oneness -Home Peace Run Day" in Edmonds, and we encourage all of our citizens to take its inspiring message to heart. S 0 0 N a Packet Pg. 16 f SRI CHINMOY ONENESS -HOME PEACE RUN © 2018 Peace Ru All rights reserved. No portion of this brochure may be reproduced in any form without express written permission from the Publisher. Photos © Peace Run archives OW 1W ►ow 01.E An Ever- lossominq Global torch relay for world peace Since 1987 FF IM I -W � 2.4.b The goals and ideals of your Run are close to my own.... For me, peace means a transition from simple co -existence, to cooperation and common creativity among countries and peoples, to a dialogue of civilisations. Your Peace Run movement makes a remarkable contribution to this goal. In photographs of the Run I see people of different ages taking part —especially many young people and children, holding the torch in their hands. When we look at their smiling faces, we believe that a happy future is destined for our world. In years to come school textbooks will speak not about the history of war, but about the history of peace! / PRESIDENT MIKHAIL GORBACHEV, Nobel Peace Laureate and a long-time supporter of the Peace Run (April 2017) 99 The Peace Run carries this dream: through running we can unite people in the whole world! When I see this torch of the Peace Run, it symbolises hope, love, light and caring for me. / TEGLA LOROUPE, United Nations Ambassador of Sport, former World Marathon Record Holder and Peace Run Spokesperson Looking back now, I think Sri Chinmoy saw children as being an integral part of the Peace Run since day one. These are the images that stand out, the kids holding the torch. It means something so special to them, and to take the torch into these communities and let them touch the Peace Torch — it is something they'll treasure their entire lives. That's why the torch is important, fire is important and the kids are important. A lot of the kids that were nine, ten or eleven years old are now in their forties, and they're telling their kids, "Let's go see the torch". / SUDHAHOTA CARL LEWIS, Nine -time Olympic Gold Medallist and Peace Run Spokesperson Packet Pg. 19 Foreword An 1 As a young man of 22, I first had the opportunity to run with the torch in Australia in 1987 as part of the inaugural Peace Run. Each time I would finish running my section of the relay, I would be overcome with gratitude for being part of such an undertaking. My understanding of and love for the Peace Run is continu- ally evolving. I'm amazed how each person, no matter their culture, religion or country, connects on a fundamental level with the peace torch. I've come to realise that we all have a deep yearning for peace, for love, for happiness inside us, and while it might find expression in different ways, it is what unites us at our core. Perhaps the most powerful and inspiring experiences I see are when people, particularly young people, are moved to give expression to this inner yearning — through art, through music, through poetry, through service and much more. If the Peace Run can provide an opportunity for these higher ideals to find life in an aspiring heart, then we have rendered the greatest service we can. M5 Over the years of being involved with the Peace Run, I have noticed a deepening of comprehension of the spirit of the Run. With each year that passes, the depth of understanding of all participants, from world leaders, to runners, to young children, progresses. Each one impacting the other. Each of us helping the other to develop and progress. Like an inner fire our shared understanding and mutual experience expedites and enables growth. Since its inception, the Peace Run has grown from a tiny seed to an immense annual effort — a growing, tangible force for peace and harmony in the global family. I invite you to hold the torch and to acknowledge all those who've held it before you, all the hopes and dreams which have gone into that torch. Also please know that you too are passing on your hopes and dreams to the next torch -bearer and, while you may have let go of the physical torch, you will always be carrying those highest hopes and dreams for humanity in your heart. Each of us has the golden opportunity to make the world a more peaceful place — right here and right now — simply by the choices we make, the decisions we take. Echoing the words of Sri Chinmoy, let us make our journey to world peace "an ever -blossoming dream." / SALIL WILSON, Executive Director New York, April 2017 2.4.b Packet Pg. 20 • Ah I2 The beginning r1 L . -dO Fr. On April 27th, 1987 the first Peace Torch was lit in New York City by Sri Chinmoy, and so began the worldwide Oneness -Home Peace Run. In a single moment, humanity's age-old yearning for peace, deeply rooted in the heart of Mother Earth, found a new avenue of expression. A seed planted by one of the world's foremost visionaries and `peace dreamers' began to blossom. k An ever -blossoming dream Since 1987 flaming torches have been carried by runners throughout the world, connecting and inspiring individuals, communities and countries in a clear and dynamic declaration of peace. In 2005, having watched the run develop over 18 years and seen the world's growing acceptance and participation, Sri Chinmoy remarked, "I had a dream, and the name of the dream was the Peace Run. This Peace Run is a dream, an ever -blossoming dream of our Source. This dream of ours will be valued infinitely more in the near future, and more so in the distant future." 4!! o+ ar 00 , -.00 1 { '10 � i S Living in a global oneness -home We are all sisters and brothers in the world - family. The goal of the Peace Run is to expedite humanity's efforts to make our world a `oneness -home' for all people. With the Peace Run we celebrate the wonderful diversity of humanity and the unique and exemplary qualities of each individual and each nation. We run together to create a world founded on peace. With each step the Peace Run is building bridges between schoolchildren, artists, athletes, and people from all religions, cultures and nations, revealing and strengthening the bond of unity that connects all people from all backgrounds. How does it work? The Peace Run is a worldwide relay run. Runners carry a torch — the Peace Torch. As the torch is passed from hand to hand, from person to person, from nation to nation, each citizen of the world has the opportunity to carry the flame, to take a step for peace and to feel their oneness with the universal aspiration shared by children, women and men around the globe. Through the Peace Run everyone can give expression to their own highest hopes and dreams for a more peaceful world. Running with the Peace Torch is a unique experience. It underlines the importance of striving for peace and awakens the experience of peace as a dynamic, fulfilling, achievable reality. Hundreds of thousands of individuals, from schoolchildren to heads of state, have shared the joy of this experience. Wk r77 Trk i Y ft Bringing together the lovers of peace The Peace Run brings together peace -lovers from all corners of the world and from all walks of life in a combined aspiration and understanding. The vision of a global `oneness -home' will help to create the conditions that we as a human family need to progress and flourish on this earth planet. Each sincere effort for peace strengthens the solid foundation upon which the world community can overcome all the various challenges that lie ahead. a The future is in your hands, hearts and feet The time has come in the history of humankind for us to consciously steer a constructive path forward with vigilance, compassion and determination. A renewed sense of personal responsibility is required by each and every member of the world -family along with a deeper understanding of and value for the intrinsic interdependence of all nations and peoples on earth. 2.4.b 01 offilzmffilzvvow� r rA Greece France Serbia IF Ghana me# -_ Alban Australia y o r L a� 4P wp— Packet Pg. 22 2.4.b Fac ................ : The route of the • biennial Peace Run covers over 40,000 Kilometres or 2S.000 miles. • That is the distance around the Earth. Since the inception, ' the Peace Torches have been carried over 600,000 Kilometres or 370,000 miles. That is like running to the Moon & beyond. 0 4 _ Since 1987, more than 25,000 schools have participated in the Peace Run events, and over 7,000,000 people have held the Torch. :....,..................... C I Colour Key Annual country -wide Peace Run events Countries with regular local events Countries participating occasionally Countries we hope to visit r in the near future! Participating countries and territories... Africa Indonesia New Zealand Moldova Grenada Benin Israel Papua New Guinea Monaco Guyana Botswana Japan Samoa Montenegro Jamaica Cameroon Jordan Tonga Netherlands Puerto Rico Cape Verde Kazakhstan Vanuatu Northern Ireland St. Kitts and Nevis Egypt Kyrgyzstan Norway St. Lucia Ethiopia Malaysia Europe Poland St. Vincent and Gambia Maldives Albania Portugal the Grenadines Ghana Mongolia Andorra Romania Trinidad and Ivory Coast Myanmar Austria Russia Tobago Kenya Nepal Belarus San Marino Virgin Islands Lesotho Palestine Belgium Scotland Liberia Philippines Bosnia and Serbia Central Mali Qatar Herzegovina Slovakia America Morocco Russia Bulgaria Slovenia Costa Rica Mozambique Singapore Croatia Spain El Salvador Namibia South Korea Cyprus Sweden Guatemala Senegal Sri Lanka Czech Republic Switzerland Honduras Sierra Leone Taiwan Denmark Ukraine Nicaragua South Africa Tajikistan England Vatican Panama Swaziland Thailand Estonia Wales Tanzania Timor-Leste Faroe Islands South Togo Turkey Finland North America Tunisia Turkmenistan France America Argentina Uganda United Arab Georgia Canada Belize Zambia Emirates Germany Mexico Brazil Zimbabwe Uzbekistan Greece United States of Colombia Vietnam Greenland America Chile Asia Hungary Ecuador Armenia Australia Iceland The Guyana Azerbaijan & Oceania Ireland Caribbean Paraguay Bangladesh Antarctica Italy Antigua and Peru Bhutan Australia Latvia Barbuda Suriname Brunei Cook Islands Liechtenstein Bahamas Uruguay Cambodia Fiji Lithuania Barbados Venezuela China Kiribati Luxembourg Dominica Georgia Marshall Islands Macedonia Dominican India Micronesia Malta Republic Over 150 countries on all 7 continents! 2.4.b The founder S R I CHINMOY (1931— 2007) dedicated his life to the fulfilment of the dream of world peace. Through events like the Peace Run, he sought to inspire individuals to bring forward their own feelings of peace from within and to share them with the world in dynamic ways. Sri Chinmoy is also highly regarded for a variety of creative accomplishments that convey the spirit of peace and harmony through music, art and poetry. He was always a strong advocate for the role of sports as a powerful instrument for promoting global peace and harmony. In 1987 he founded the Oneness -Home Peace Run as a way to bring people together in a global yet grassroots event. Since its inception the Run has traversed over 150 nations and touched the lives of millions of people. Sri Chinmoy has expressed humanity's age-old dream for peace in many poems and aphorisms: Peace does not mean the absence of war. Peace means the presence of harmony, Love, satisfaction and oneness. Peace means a flood of love In the world family. May I become Aflame of peace In the heart of humanity. More information at SdChinmoy.org Peace reveals The absolute excellence Of human life. Voices for the Peace Run I salute the runners of the Peace Run who are carrying a torch to the destination of peace I through the streets of the world. / HOLY FATHER POPE JOHN PAUL II, St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, Rome / On May 31", 1995 before a gathering of 15,000 people in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father blessed the Peace Torch which was offered to him by Sri Chinmoy. 13 It is my hope that the flame of the Peace Torch will kindle the spirit of oneness, solidarity and friendship in all the people that hold the Torch aloft. May we all work together to build a European society based on the values of our common humanity, so we can have a world where peace and harmony are not mere dictionary words, but living realities. / HERMAN VAN ROMPUY, President of the European Council Meeting the Peace Run team in Brussels (Feb 11111, 2014) You are part of the spiritual force of Love 9 9 that emanates from God and which will transform the evil of this world into its counterpart. Thank you for persisting and going on, going on. The world continues its existence only because of people like yourselves who help to hold it in being. / ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, Nobel Peace Laureate, to Sri Chinmoy in a meeting at the UN Plaza Hotel, New York (Mar 161h, 2004) This is so important. We are with you in upholding peace this way, which brings solace to many people throughout the world. Peace is one of the things that is going to save the world. Thank you, thank you very much. / PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA, during one of his meetings with Sri Chinmoy (New York, Sep 201h1 1998) I am so pleased with all the good work you are doing for world peace and for people in so many countries. May we continue to work together and to share together all for the glory of God and for the good of man. / MOTHER TERESA to Sri Chinmoy during their meeting in Rome where Mother Teresa held the Peace Torch aloft (Missionaries of Charity, Oct 11t, 1994) Let me also take this opportunity to express my appreciation for your 30 years of dedication to the United Nations. Through your prayers, meditations, concerts and global `Peace Run', your work has linked peace -lovers in more than 100 countries and complemented that of the world Organisation... / KOFI ANNAN, UN Secretary -General, in his letter to Sri Chinmoy (Sep 22"d, 2000) Packet Pg. 24 • 1995Queen Elizabeth II uses the Peace Highleights Torch to light beacons all over the UK celebrating the end of WWII. `1987-2017 1996 - Cosmonaut Gennady Strekalov _ takes the Peace Torch to Space o 1987 Station "Mir", which means peace 3 in Russian. He presents the Peace o - � Sri Chinmoy launches the first -ever - '"� y + Oneness -Home Peace Run in New Torch to US astronauts. { York City — televised live by the M he`r Teresa blessing r y Today show. The Peace Run went on 1998 the Torch in Rome, 1994 to visit 55 nations on 6 continents. Nelson Mandela, President of South 0 - + y Africa, holds the Peace Torch with ; d T�;q Mikhail Gorbachev with his wife Raisa holding the Torch d1989 founder Sri Chinmoy. To date over in New York, October16th,199455 heads of state and government m 4 Peace Run visits Antarctica —the 3 have held the torch., 4 �� (� torch has now been on all seven Iry }, continents.`V. 1999 = Y .cR�au.....iliJ. - II • . . : - . -, - �, y 19 91 A year -long continuous relay links =_ "{ 46 European countries. The core E • First -ever relays links Egypt and _ a v , .., team is comprised of 90 runners, .., _ _ w * , Israel; first -ever Peace Run in the ..._—_ _ _ f . x some of whom run the entire year. f o ..:+.. • �, o J�tSoviet Union. D. London, r x• + A5 ,0-.0;` ' • Sri Chinmoy composes the Peace 2001 j m Y * Run song. Eternal Peace Flame established in t • Nationwide Peace Run in the Oslo, Norway. Philippines with tens of thousands` s "' participating. President Cory 2005 Q _ Aquino receives the torch. Sri Chinmoy composes the World y Harmony Run song. 1994 a Mother Teresa meets with Sri 2006 - Chinmoy in Rome on October 11t Peace Run in Caribbean visits and holds the Peace Torch. 11 nations, meeting 4 heads of state. . 14 ■ ■ i5 Packet Pg. 25 2007 • Peace Torch taken to top of Mount -__ P Everest b Canadian climber Finish of Peace Run at European y K F Parliament in Brussels with Samuel Nirabadhi Wyatt. 60M l� President of European Parliament. 2013 2008 Leaders of Timor-Leste hold the - !�r "rV. torch and dedicate a statue of • The first Torch -Bearer Award is i- i +� presented to nine -time Olympic Sri Chinmoy on the grounds of the Gold Medallist and Peace Run national parliament. spokesperson Carl Lewis. Since y _ then the Torch -Bearer Award has 20147 ,- { been presented to numerous heads Peace Torch presented at European 3 Parliament and to the President of o! of state, humanitarians, musicians, �` .. � �'r� �, � (D w4 athletes and others who have European Parliament.cc Peace Torch at the top ofMount Everest dedicated their lives in the service a by Canadian climber Samuel Nirobadhi of others. 2016 Wyatt I 12) IT • For the first time the Peace Torch is •Pope Francis blesses the PeaceI. 3 _ { it carried around the entire continent Torch at a public audience in The Peace Torch of Australia. St Peters Square. is blessed by d i — Pope Francis 5 •a Closing of the global Peace Run in New York, l l • Peace Run visits Marshall Islands, at the Vatican, 2016 • Peace Torch goes to the North Pole. _ Kiribati and Micronesia for the first time. C The Peace Torch crossing the bridge of Mostar 4 201 . �` y n Bosnia, rebuilt after being destroyed during • Peace Run Team visits Greenland yrr- �' - O European Peace Run culminates + he war in 1993 3CE in Red Square, Moscow after an for the first time ever. 7 x ` _f 8-month, 25,000 km, 49-nation XT 79HN - y fix:: Y t journey which began in Dublin, 2017� r Ireland. "Colours of Peace" event is -1 E organised by the Peace Run on - I 2011 the occasion of the International;''y' • - �� Archbishop Desmond Tutu receives Day of Peace in Rome, 2017, with a• the Torch -Bearer Award. over 7,000 peace drawings from i 39 countries exhibited at the }� 2012 Colosseum. �-- • A Moment's Peace in conjunction —"` with the 2012 Olympics in London. - 16 ■ ■ i7 Packet Pg. 26 t■ W 0 � u 692 & ) A 0 � � a ■ /\ �- � .- � - /� ■ � �\ ■ �@ � � Fame Islands TiM me m -L • � - \ / � a � ■� Greenland r « � A-4 |� —. + i. / dar, ■,%`■�� �J '�k it k� 2:■ �!■� , �a \! ■�. A f ` Pak tit. � ■�$■ ' \@4 w■E , # IFv V- #\ © '■ -�� � ■ /« � �� . The moments when we can express our sincere cry for peace are rare In our lives... and precious. THE PEACE RUN IN SCHOOLS: eace a ins wi me. Thousands of school ceremonies have shown the extraordinary transformative energy and power that the Peace Torch and its flame create. In 30-60 minutes, the runners, teachers and schoolchildren, ignited by the peace spark, blend into a happy community of harmony and joy. Sri Chinmoy expresses this feeling as Inspired by the message "Peace begins with me" Usually the Peace Run stays no more than "Oneness -World -Heart -Joy" in the song and a dynamic presentation that seeks to involve 45-60 minutes in any one place, but the that he composed for the Run. The hearts and educate children, more than 25,000 schools spirit of the Peace Run and the experience of of the world join together, regardless of around the world have welcomed the Peace Run. peace remain. colour, culture, religion, language, age and Children greet the Peace Runners' arrival at their social background. Let us join with Nobel school with huge peace banners, drawings, paper Prize Winner and former President Mikhail peace doves and other artwork for peace. During MORE , Gorbachev who stated in his message to the the ceremony children read essays, poems and Peace Run that "when we see the happy faces messages they have written about peace, perform You can find simple guidelines f•r how to of the children in the school ceremonies, we plays, play instruments, dance and sing. In organise a schoolceremony believe that a happy future is destined for our addition, thousands of young hands reach out to • " ' /schools -and -youth world. In years to come school textbooks will hold the Peace Torch and to run with it. speak not about the history of war, but about ' ' videoexamples ' ' nia the history of peace!" ' around world ' 21 Ethiopia + _ . Morocco I" --a- 4.. Mozambique .'" w # Ik Uganda Mongolia Botswana } �- r ���, • .�� Bali 40 "PO t' a Cape Verde - Malaysia Costa Rica t Al. ; -3 - — •y d A . 7 ._ } -*. Brazil - China Indonesia i T + 1 Spain s + Germany gory + Switzerland y - • Canada A , 1 46 +tip i LS Kiribati Slovenia Macedonia Croatia �."` x i Ro cIi *� ,.'•+ ` _ fill. At 5 f �•: af' r � 'f Poland '` F} r:T Slovakia * • �-..r4 Kazakhstan �'_ x�. _ Tajikistan RL i # 40 S (10fMOYONENES-FEC7Mtit ' . Austria EACE Puerto Rico 4 The country j*oi*nedi*n celebration • Launch ceremony at the National Parliament with the Prime Minister, HE Rui Maria de Araujo, and President of the Parliament, HE Aderito Hugo da Costa. Included a torch lighting and traditional performances followed by 1 km mass participation walk in the Parliament district with country leaders, government civil servants, national athletes, youth and civic organisations. • School Visits — 11 schools over three days featuring numerous performances by students with music, singing, spoken word, artwork and dance. • Community Run/Walk — 5 km run/walk though the streets of Dili, the capital, involving numerous community groups joining along the way. National hero Xanana Gusmdo and the President of the Parliament completed the entire event. The run/walk culminated with a concert, dancing and award presentation. Mara Bernardes de Sa Peace Run Focal Point, Timor-Leste My role with the Peace Run formally began at a joint meeting with the departmental leaders from Youth and Sport, Tourism, Education and Police. In this meeting the main priorities and aspects of the Peace Run visit were discussed and the steps forward outlined. As a focal point my role was to liaise between the various departments as well as develop and organise the proposed events. I began by building the event around school visits was much fun and a fitting way to finish for the Peace Run team as this is one of their core wonderful days with the Peace Run. competencies. We selected schools both in the The Peace Run is a very effective and fruitful region of the capital as well as in some outlying project and furthers and deepens all efforts to districts. promote a culture of peace and understanding Then we added in a formal launch involving our among all inhabitants of a nation. Prime Minister and President of Parliament which also involved schoolchildren as well as many Presidential candidates. The highlight for me was the finale event of the Peace Run — a 5 km run/walk through the streets of Dili — our capital. We involved many community groups who joined us along the way and I was very proud that the historical leader and the first President of Timor-Leste, Xanana Gusmdo, covered the entire distance. The 5 km community walk culminated with a family event featuring a concert and traditional dancing — it 0 Photos on this spread (left to right): Over 700 students of the Escola Bazica a Secundario Catolica Sao Inaciao de Loyola Kosait sharing a silent moment of goodwill for the world. / The international Peace Runners presenting the Torch during a school ceremony. / The Prime Minister, Mr. deAro6jo, holding the Torch. / Mr. Xonono Gusmdo enthusiastically leading the runners through the city during the 5km run. / During the days of the Peace Run visiting the country, the programme was intertwined by many cultural events. 26 27 Packet Pg. 31 And we began to imagine peace... • Five months of planning resulted in visits to twelve schools over four days throughout the District, which is the eighth largest in the US. • Preparatory meetings with an organising committee at each school resulted in significant teacher involvement and consequently excellent student preparation. • District -wide participation in art and poetry project with selections sent to Rome for an international exhibition at the Colosseum. • Grand Finale "Evening of Excellence" event showcasing the students' creative expressions for peace including music, dance and song. An excellent opportunity for parent and teacher participation. Cindy Marten Educator, teacher and Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District I speak on behalf of the Board of Education, and I speak as an educator, a teacher and as a Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District when I talk about the work that happens through the Peace Run. I first experienced the Peace Run when I was principal at Central Elementary. The team came to our school and the students wrote their essays on what peace means to them. And we began to imagine peace not just in our school, but in our city, in our state, in our nation, and across the world. As the torch gets passed literally across the world, spreading peace, each individual person finds their own way to engage in peace, whether it is through art, through dance, through music, through the spoken word or through the written word. What we learn through the Peace Run folks is that peace comes from within and we express it in multiple ways. We express it from our hearts as we make wishes and intentions for a beautiful world. I watched it happen at Central and said it would be wonderful if this could be across this whole district. What really ends up happening is that individ- ual children across this entire district begin to imagine peace. And we know that when you make a wish for something and you feel this wish coming from within, you don't always know how or when your wish is going to come true, but when you believe in that wish and you hold on to it and you gather people around that intention, things begin to happen. And that is what you could never even plan. To see children in twelve schools envisioning peace, manifesting peace in their communities, I know change will happen. And today more than ever do we need peace! And it happens — one child, one thought, one action, and as the Peace Run teaches us — one step at a time. That step begins with each of us. I am so grateful to be a part of this and the work that happened. Thank you very much, everybody!" (Address at the Peace Run Ceremony in San Diego, March 23r; 2017) 28 29 Packet Pg. 32 Peace: light of hope The story of the Morano High School in Caivano, in the province of Naples, is quite remarkable. Ms. Eugenia Carfora, "the Principal", as the whole community calls her, has transformed it from a dilapidated place in an area of low school attendance and high crime into a model institute in the education sector, giving the children a new possibility of a better life. In 2016, a collaboration between the school and Peace Run was initiated, with the implementation of several projects that received the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture. In 2017, the Morano High School sent a delegation of one hundred students to Rome to provide catering for the opening ceremony of "Colours of Peace", a large exhibition of over 7000 peace drawings from 38 countries, organised by the Peace Run to honour the UN International Day of Peace. The school also presented artworks for the exhibit, and assisted the Peace Run in launching the international PMA (Peace Movie Award) project. Eugenia Carfora Head of the Morano High School in Caivano In 2016, I was contacted by the Peace Run, and was told they would be passing through the area and would like to visit our school. I liked the idea and was struck by the Peace Run's approach to the ideal of peace and the possibility of giving the kids hope and a positive vision for the future. In this area children need to dream, to have a new horizon and to be able to imagine a different, better life. The Morano High School is a vocational school, and together with the teachers we involved all ' t - the school departments: cooking, mechanical, etc. All worked together on the project for about six months. One department prepared sweets on the theme of peace, in particular "Peace Run cupcakes". Another department used recycled materials to show that problems can be turned into resources, creating design objects, pieces of furniture, and even a wedding dress made from recycled paper! Also, we contacted a well-known Italian director and created a video on the theme of peace, showing how peace can be a value lived in everyday life by each student. To welcome the Peace Runners, we celebrated a "Peace Run Day" where all the work done was presented to the runners. Peace -drawings were created and music performances and poems performed on stage. A delegation of five hundred ka students from three other local schools was invited, involving a thousand students in total. Representatives of the local police and magistracy and of the national Ministry of Education took part in the event. The collaboration with the Peace Run has become an ongoing partnership that involves students and teachers from various departments of the school. In the Peace Run I envisioned a further possibility for the students to use their positive potential, even in the face of the difficulties they may have to face in their everyday lives, especially when living in a difficult environment such as ours. To me peace is to give children a light of hope in the dark, and that's my ultimate goal. Q 30 31 Packet Pg. 33 "2.4.b spa inn e-ijit ra Isola United States ofAmerica India eelarus South The daily experiences on the route of the Peace Run prove that there is far more that unites us than divides us. J 2.4.b SUSTAINABLE FosteringDEVELOPMENT T G►LS the culture of ""'Mpp�ft- Sri Chinmoy has always been deeply inspired by the United Nations and for 37 years offered twice -weekly peace meditation sessions for staff and delegates. In fact it was following one of these meditation sessions at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City that Sri Chinmoy posed the question, "Can we not organise a worldwide relay for peace?" The Peace Run seeks to express the core ideals of the United Nations in a dynamic way: to support and nurture a peaceful family of nations in a spirit of unity in diversity. It is fully in line with paragraph 4 of UN Resolution A/Res/71/160 of 16 December 2016 titled "Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace" where civil society is invited "to collaborate with the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace to promote greater awareness and action to foster development and peace and contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through sport -based initiatives...." The Peace Run seeks to go one step further: as expressed in its title, it aims to provide an opportunity for nations, peoples, cultures and religions to find their "Oneness-Home."Through running with the Peace Torch we have felt this spirit go beyond geographical or cultural borders and unite people in a common joyful feeling of belonging to one large global family. 35 Representing the countless personalities from the international civil service who have participated in the Peace Run, we would like to highlight three true pioneers who have promoted a Culture of Peace. Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury Former Under -Secretary -General and High Representative of the United Nations, Former Ambassador of Bangladesh to the UN, Founder of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace (GMCoP) RAmbassador Chowdhury is internationally acclaimed for his pioneering leadership at the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 for adoption of the landmark Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace and in 1998 for the proclamation of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non -Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010). Ambassador Chowdhury is an inspirer, encourager and facilitator who brings to fruition the highest ideals of the United Nations, within the United Nations itself and around the globe. I am very delighted to be here because I was associated from the very beginning with the Peace Run. I am also particularly touched by my brother -friend Sri Chinmoy, whose image you see here, who instituted and inspired the Peace Run. He has been and continues to be a great soul with a true vision for peace.... I remember many, many years of my collaboration with him. I remember his message, which he used to define as a `oneness -world of peace'. This message has a vision for each one of us, each individual, as well as for humanity at large." April 121, 2010, Dag Hammarskjdld Plaza, New York Packet Pg. 35 0 N d 3 m V M d a Vladimir Petrovsky (1933-2014) Former Under -Secretary -General of the United Nations in New York and Director -General of the UN Office at Geneva, Former Deputy Foreign Minister of the USSR Vladimir Petrovsky was an important figure in the political landscape of the . second half of the 20th century. As Deputy Foreign Minister under President Mikhail Gorbachev, UN Under -Secretary -General and Director -General of the United Nations office at Geneva, he contributed significantly to many important processes such as the Helsinki Final Act, Mikhail Gorbachev's Perestroika, disarmament and the strengthening of the United Nations. He met Peace Run Founder Sri Chinmoy for the first time in 1991 and they developed a close friendship until Sri Chinmoy's passing in 2007. Mr. Petrovsky hosted two beautiful Peace Run events in 1993 and 2000 at the Cour d'honneur of the Palais des Nations in Geneva. You are continuing to build a bridge between peoples and nations. Your contributions are most welcome and needed in our turbulent times!" I "I regard Sri Chinmoy's work as one of the most powerful pillars of a culture of peace of the 20th and 21st centuries." (October 27, 2007,, UN Headquarters, New York) Dr. Davidson Hepburn President of the 35th General Conference of UNESCO, Former Ambassador of the Bahamas to the UN /Dr. Hepburn was President of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), from 2009 to 2011. Ambassador Hepburn served also for many years as the Permanent Representative of the Bahamas to the United Nations in New York. Twenty-five years ago, Sri Chinmoy, who was a very dear friend, breathed life and a�ion into the simple idea that we are a oneness -world -family. The global run, known as the `S Chinmoy Oneness -Home Peace Run', powerfully demonstrates this blossoming truth." "I think Sri Chinmoy was searching for a way to bring the essential spirit of the United Nations, an organisation he dearly loved, to people all over the world. By carrying the torch from one city to the next, one country to the next, with joyful reception all along the route, the run highlights the fact that there is far more that unites us than divides us." Packet Pg. 36 "2.4.b lay of hope,,,,,, It Tanzania lI a J@ 9 1 iSRICHINMOTONENESS-HPM .. ` hlE r Connecting the hopes, dreams and promises of millions of people, the Peace Torch embodies the inherent goodness of humanity. 71 4 " MV Mostar Connecting life -stories Every day of running with the Peace Torch brings something memorable. Some moments touch us profoundly, leaving a lasting impression upon our hearts: situations where the fundamental human need for peace is manifested in its unalloyed form, unveiled often by harsh life circumstances. And we witness, in awe, the healing power of peace. Peace Run in Bosnia Visiting the city of Mostar in 2006 was one of the strongest experiences on our route. Reminders of the recent war were never far away, in the form of ruins and houses with bullet holes all over. This made so poignant the ceremony of handing the torch to the children and their parents, who had waited for us in the pouring rain with such joy and enthusiasm — and a deep, genuine yearning for peace, love and understanding which the war made a hundredfold more precious. Exchanging guns for running shoes Through the power of inspiration, the Peace Run's dear friend and spokesperson Tegla Loroupe has achieved the almost impossible in Kenya: she has created an annual series of Peace Marathons to encourage warriors from belligerent tribes in Kenya and the neighbouring Uganda to hand over their weapons and exchange them — literally — for running shoes. Seeing the former deadly fight- ers reunited through an athletic event and then holding the Peace Torch was a deeply moving and unforgettable moment. Seeing with the heart Jorge Pina lost his sight when he was 30 — shortly after he became the Portuguese national champi- on in boxing. Yet he didn't take this new condition as a handicap but rather a blessing. "I was blind; now I see. I see with my heart," he says. When holding the Peace Torch for the first time, without knowing what it was, he felt a quiet energy draw- ing him deep within. "This is something unique," he said. Jorge joins the Peace Run team regularly ever since, enriching and inspiring all of us with his cheerful, indomitable spirit. 400 2.4.b I I .i Torch -Bearer Award As we journey across the country and around the world, invariably we come into contact with some remarkable people who have inspired their communities, cities and nations through their own lives and deeds. The presence of the Peace Run and torch creates an opportunity to recognise these remarkable people. The Torch -Bearer Awards programme was inspired by the Peace Run founder, Sri Chinmoy. Throughout his life he encouraged individuals to offer their talents and energies in self -giving service to the cause of peace. This programme continues his tradition of honouring deeds of the heart: selfless acts of love, compassion and kindness that help transform our world into a oneness -home of peace and harmony. Some of the recipients (by rows): Carl Lewis, 9-time Olympic gold medallist and spokesperson for the Peace Run / Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Laureate / Billie Jean King, tennis great and women's rights advocate / Student from Tijuana, Mexico honoured by his peers / Wasfia Nazreen, Bangladeshi mountaineer, activist and social worker / Hon. Xanana Gusmdo (right) and Hon. Mari Alkitiri, freedom fighters and founding fathers of Timor-Leste Packet Pg. 38 2.4.b Our team The Sri Chinmoy Oneness -Home Peace Run is the global collective of independently incorporated chapters in more than 40 countries that administer events around the world. We are supported = primarily by private financial donations from individuals and secondarily by grants and donated C services/materials offered by empathetic businesses, as well as town and city administrative agencies. The Peace Run is organised and facilitated by volunteers in close cooperation with sports clubs, 0 y d schools, local and national government bodies and media. Some of the members of the core Peace Run team of organisers have been with the Peace Run since its inception in 198Z They have experienced the essential vision and spirit of the Run and its actual manifestation around the globe. They offer a great insight into the heart and soul of the Q Peace Run. a The inherent goodness of humanity Dipavajan Renner, Europe Executive Director / Graz, Austria Since my first day of running with the torch, I have been able to feel that we truly have the power to change the world by giving an example to the people around us. From my journeys through almost half of the countries in the world with the flaming torch, I have learned that there are good people everywhere. Wherever I have gone, I have found that the majority of human beings have good hearts and good intentions. I think that otherwise, humanity would have already ceased to exist. The Peace Run symbolises and reflects this goodness and teaches it to us in action. It has taught me never to give up hope for humanity. The Run inspires me daily to improve myself and to become a better citizen of the world. Packet Pg. 39 Oneness -home-building in the Asia -Pacific region Harashita Sunaoshi, Asia -Pacific Executive Director / Kyoto, Japan In 2009 the idea came to several of us to connect different countries in Asia. Until then we used to have separate Peace Runs in our respective countries, but not as connected events. We were from Russia, Mongolia, Korea and Japan, and we started planning. There was so much joy, inner thrill and eagerness in the whole process, even communication challenges seemed charming and inspiring. In our inaugural run in 2010, there was one Russian runner who ran the whole distance from Hiroshima to Moscow! Eight countries participated in this first Asia Peace Run, which expanded to include the Pacific region in 2012, and by 2016, the Asia -Pacific Peace Run has connected 18 nations. It is a great joy to participate and witness the progress of oneness -home-building in this part of the globe with such diversity in cultures and languages. On a deeper level Harita Davies, USA Co -Director / New York, USA Some people say they feel the message of the Peace Run is now being accepted and received on a deeper level. I feel the same way. It seems that more than ever humanity as a whole is looking for peace and the level of outer unrest is urging us as individuals to look more sincerely for ways to rectify the situation. Maybe the realisation of the importance of our own inner responsibility to the world situation is becoming more apparent. Perhaps on a deeper level the great disparities of humanity are bringing us all closer together as one world family. FW00 q OR- -1 0 2.4.b Expressing the universal yearning for peace Brahmata Michael, Co -Director, Peace Run Canada Our visits with children are my favourite part of the Peace Run. The children intrinsically understand peace. When we ask them for ideas about how to feel peace, a sea of hands shoot up with dozens of insightful answers: `I try to be silent and feel the peace inside the air'; `I sit on my bed and listen to nature'; `I ask God for peace'; `Be kind to everyone even when you T' don't want to. In every single community, we find circles of wonderful people who are working tirelessly for peace. In small ways and big ways, locally and globally, people everywhere are serving the world. I feel so fortunate to learn about these people, their optimism and selflessness, and their inspiring projects. They have not given up hope, and they believe in the beautiful dream of world peace. These people will change the world. Meeting them has changed me. The spirit of oneness Apaguha Ondfej Vesely, European Co -Director / Prague, Czech Republic When running for a long time on the Peace Run, I feel that I am not alone. That I am carrying more then "just" a Peace Torch. I can feel with me the hearts of thousands of people that we have met on the road. I love the unique concept of the Peace Run. It offers people a chance to hold the Peace Torch and send with it their love, joy and goodwill to humanity. This way people create an amazing amount of positive energy that does not get lost. It grows ith every new person, with every new heart. It travels around the world with the Peace Torch. That is the spirit of oneness that you can feel on the road. am truly grateful that I can be part of this project. And I am grateful to all the people ,ho have held the Torch and joined us on the road, as by doing so, they contribute to this )irit of humanity's oneness -home in their lives. Packet Pg. 40 ins 0 0 tc ' Y- • � 1 �I 5,'h We read about peace. We talk about peace. It is time to make peace a living reality beginning with us. 2.4.b You are invited... Dear reader, we hope that this brochure has been able to convey the spirit of the Peace Run. Without you we are nothing but runners carrying a torch. It is only with your heartfelt and enthusiastic participation that this event becomes the Oneness -Home Peace Run. The Peace Run seeks to inspire and remind us that through each of our actions and choices, we can actively become engaged in creating positive solutions for our communities and the world. As we hope to celebrate and support you and your com- munity's aspirations and initiatives for peace, we would be very happy to explore bringing the Peace Run to your community. As we have seen in the case studies, Peace Run activities can be at any level — country, district, town or school. The Peace Run is carried by a pure volunteer spirit, a spirit of cooperation, of joining of hands and hearts. We are working with a modest budget and do not accept big sponsorship so as to avoid compromising the ideals of the run. We compensate for this with a shared enthusiasm, a common yearning of thousands of peace -lovers from all walks of life, who help to organise the run on a global, national, regional and local level. In this partnership of peace we are reminded tangibly and powerfully that we belong to one world and that we need to join together to create a true culture of peace, solidarity and cooperation. This coming together is crucial to solving and transforming our common global challenges, enabling us to build a new oneness -world peace -family. You can contact the Peace Run through the regional offices that are listed on our website. Thank you for taking a step for peace! / DEVASHISHU TORPY, Global Events Director Packet Pg. 42 2.4.b "O dreamers of peace, come. Let us walk together. O lovers of peace, come. Let us run together. O servers of peace, come. Let us grow together." / Sri Chinmoy SRI CHIN ONENESS-1 PTAI�JL-j RUN Please visit peaceru n.org 5/5/22, 3:02 PM Route 2022 1 The Sri Chinmoy Oneness -Home Peace Run _ `� SRI CHINMOY ONENESS -HOME IOW t0 Contact ,ail PEACE RUN *About p p *Highlights U artici ate us Information for: > Teachers and youth leaders > Route 2022 > Media > Children > Municipalities H J U t P This is our route for 2022 https://www.peacerun.org/us/route-2022/ I Packet Pg. 44 i ei cxiVunr Seattle PEACE RUN t Ir F _. San Diego 1Rc .sue HarrisburgT*- Gettysburg T 1. 1 } Marshall j T t C r r1III 1.1%4010iY= •lPortland Concord, Brattleboro T* •� • - TPortsmauth Albany T - Boston To WoodstacicT Providence j{4 T. New Haven `� e, Stamford New Yorks _ T harlottesville 11rL- + BoSto n Detroit1 Af r Ann Arbor y Chicago — � New York 1 Toledo Start & Finish zb New Yark .r ClintonT :o adingT -• Washington, DC • � Prirreton �j Philadelphia T Baltimore r� Washington, DC ?d , Orlando Tampa Miami .) 5/5/22, 3:02 PM Route 2022 1 The Sri Chinmoy Oneness -Home Peace Run `� SRI CHINMOY ONENESS -HOME HOW t0 Contact ] PEACE RUN *About p p *Highlights U artici ate us Information for: > Teachers and youth leaders > Route 2022 > Media > Children > Municipalities Ivll - LJULCUIL, lull June 5 - 18 Northeast Loop: New York City, NY -Albany, NY Brattleboro, VT- Concord, NH -Portland, ME- Boston, MA - Providence, RI - New Haven, CT 2 0 0 Our team will be vaccinated and will follow all of the Covid-79 guidelines of the�urisdiction the team is in as well as adhere to specfi c requirements of schools we are visiting. a OUR TEAM ROUTES FOR PREVIOUS YEARS a� Latest reports from United States - 2022 3 May Lake Mary, Florida - Alta monte Springs, Florida Torch -Bearers and Peace Trees... Latest reports - around the world: 2 May Spain Valencia Spain 02.05.2022: Valencia Day 1... 2 May Sanford - Altamonte Springs Peace builders in the community... 28 April Bulgaria Plovdiv 7 Peace Trees in 7 schools in Plovdiv and Krumovo... view all > I ,. https://www.peacerun.org/us/route-2022/ Packet Pg. 46 5/5/22, 3:02 PM Route 2022 1 The Sri Chinmoy Oneness -Home Peace Run _ `� SRI CHINMOY ONENESS -HOME IOW t0 Contact � PEACE RUN *About p p *Highlights U artici ate us Information for: > Teachers and youth leaders > Route 2022 > Media > Children > Municipalities Search peacerun.org... Route 2022 Children Municipalities About us About Highlights Sri Chinmoy Major routes Europe Danube Peace Run 2022 - USA Route Mongolia circuit 2022 - 54 days, 7:Mkm CourltrleS Africa - Albania - Andorra - Angola Belarus - Belgium - Bolivia Chile - China - Colombia Equatoriai Guinea E Great Britain https://www.peacerun.org/us/route-2022/ I Packet Pg. 47 5/5/22, 3:02 PM Route 2022 1 The Sri Chinmoy Oneness -Home Peace Run _ `� SRI CHINMOY ONENESS -HOME IOW t0 Contact ] PEACE RUN *About p p *Highlights U artici ate us Information for: > Teachers and youth leaders > Route 2022 > Media > Children > Municipalities Maldives - Malta - Marshall Islands Mauritius - Mexico Micronesia - Moldova - Monaco Mongolia - Montenegro Mozambique - Namibia - Nepal Netherlands New Zealand North America area - North Macedonia - Norway Portuguese Speaking Countries Uniu Serbia • Sr- r— T— . (-�.,.r) I -,r,. Southern Hemisahere - Soain Uganda - Ukraine https://www.peacerun.org/us/route-2022/ Packet Pg. 48