Greetings F/friends,

Steve Flowers from ground zero / Camp Hope Chicago. For those that are not aware of whats going on in the streets, churches, faith communities in the Hyde Park area, home of 57th street meeting of Friends -also my monthly meeting- go to http://www.camphope2009.org.  I have been most recently very active in the planning and running of Camp Hope as the co-clerk of 57th Street Meeting of Friends Peace & Social Concerns Committee.

This has been an inspirational experience for me. Witnessing and supporting the youth involved in the organizing, staffing, collaboratively running of this project has brought much joy and hope that a new dawn in the peace movement has arrived. It has been a while, I started my work in the peace movement back before Paul Simon won as Senator from IL on the heals of the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Movement, since I have experienced the energy of youth facing down and braveing cold snowy days of frigid temps sharing their desire for Peace.

Living in public housing, where Obama orgaized prior to his arrival, from the north and south city limits of Chicago to attending schools from Carbondale to Aurora, IL… If I were actually provided money for the volunteer service I currently provide I would be wealthy. On the other hand my sitting with a multicultural group of activists until late (10:30 pm) in the evening last Sunday representing members of the Camp Hope coalition deeply in dialog around the direction of Camp Hope provided me with wealth of the Spirit from which, though I may be poor financially, I carry on the struggle for sustainable Peace amongst all humanity.

May the dialog continue. Blessings; to all my relations, In Peace, In The Light, In Touch – Steve Flowers