***NEWS ADVISORY***

On Wednesday, September 21, thousands of New Haven public school students from all city schools will gather on the New Haven Green to celebrate United Nations International Day of Peace. Students have made more than 3,000 pinwheels that will be displayed on New Haven Green.  

The event will feature singing and speakers, including Anwarul Karim Chowdhury,  retired under secretary general of the United Nations; former President of the Security Council; Honorary President: United Nations NGO Committee on the International Day of Peace. Also speaking will be Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Mayo.

Students will celebrate the event, which seeks to promote peace both in the world and the community, with fellow students in Kragujevac, Serbia via an Internet hookup.

DATE:                          WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21      

TIME:                           10:30 A.M.

PLACE:                        NEW HAVEN GREEN

In case of rain, the event will be held at the Floyd Little Athletic Center, at Hillhouse High School, Sherman Parkway, New Haven.

CONTACT:

Henry Lowendorf, New Haven Peace Council
203-389-9547

Al Marder, New Haven Peace Commission
203-387-0370

Nilda Morales, Arts Supervisor, New Haven Public Schools
203-946-6498

Christopher Hoffman, Director of Communications, New Haven Public Schools
203-946-8450

The New Haven School District is collaborating with the New Haven Peace Commission and the New Haven Peace Council to celebrate International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, 2011. The art teachers have been working with students to create perhaps as many as 6,000 pinwheels with messages of peace written on them that will be part of an art installation on the New Haven Green tomorrow.

The Eli Whitney Museum of New Haven is making wire holders for the pinwheels, which were distributed to the schools at the beginning of the school year.

A ceremony on New Haven Green at 10:30 a.m. will include many New Haven students, dignitaries and a special guest from the United Nations. At least two classes from each K-8 school plan to attend the ceremonies.

An essay contest for middle and high school students on the meaning of peace will also take place. Social studies teacher Sandra Cates-Clark is coordinating the contest and the winning essay will be read at tomorrow’s event.

Music teachers are also working with students preparing a performance of “Let There Be Peace On Earth,” which will be part of the ceremony. Music facilitator Ellen Maust is coordinating the performance.

The making, collection and installation of the pinwheels on the green will be coordinated by Arts Supervisor Nilda Morales and Lisa Davis Rucinski, Arts Facilitator from Comprehensive Arts.

Resources for lessons on peace include:

www.peacefulschoolsinternational.org

www.readwritethink.org/lessons-plans/peace

www.internationaldayofpeace.org

www.pinwheelsforpeace.com

The International Day of Peace was established by a United Nations Resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Day of Peace was celebrated in 1982 and the day is now celebrated worldwide.

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September 16, 2011 – New Haven, CT – Three youth partnerships will host a community breakfast on Wednesday, September 21, from 8:30 to 12 noon, New Haven Job Corps, 455 Wintergreen Avenue, New Haven to focus energy and commitment on issues related to positive youth development and support services.

The event will feature guest speakers, including state Rep. Toni Walker (93^rd district, New Haven), legislative panel and youth panel discussions. Participants will be asked to reflect on the discussions and develop ideas for next steps in supporting youth in the community.

The event has been organized to increase knowledge about local efforts to support youth, spur greater action to support youth, and expand youth-adult partnerships in decision-making on issues that affect youth.

Working together for the first time to create such a shared community event are three groups; Citywide Youth Coalition, which promotes positive youth development, the Local Interagency Service Team, which focuses on juvenile justice, and the local Collaboratives, which provides wraparound services for children and youth with mental health issues.

Community members submitted questions for legislators and youth, on themes including: youth development, community violence, juvenile justice, education, service needs, and encouraging youth voice. Participating legislators include Senator Toni Harp (10th district, New Haven), and Representatives Gary Holder-Winfield (94th district, New Haven), Roland Lemar (96th district, New Haven), Peter Villano (91st district, Hamden), and Patricia Dillon (92nd district, New Haven).  Participating youth were recruited from Farnam Neighborhood House, Boys & Girls Club of New Haven, and Branford High School.

This event is organized by Citywide Youth Coalition, Local Interagency Service Team, the Collaboratives, sponsored by Empower New Haven and the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, and hosted by New Haven Job Corps.

Registration is accepted via web, links.cwyc.org/breakfast, and phone (203) 936-8010.

Photo/video opportunities: Wednesday, September 21, from 8:30 to noon

New Haven Job Corps, 455 Wintergreen Avenue, New Haven, near Springside Ave. intersection