La Liga de la Comunidad, the
Resource Center for Nonviolence
Soccer program coordinated by Marciano Cruz, recently received a $19,200 grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation for youth uniforms and equipment.
Financial support for the Youth League is still needed to pay for fields and referees. Contact us if you or your business can donate to offset these costs, or would like to sponsor a team ($500 per team). We also need more volunteer coaches for ages 12&up. Call 831-423-1626 or email Tania: belenztania@hotmail.com

Olive Harvest Delegation
to Israel and Palestine
October 31 – November 13, 2010
Co-Sponsored by Interfaith Peace Builders and
the Resource Center for Nonviolence
Delegation Leaders: Ilise Cohen and Scott Kennedy
IFPB delegations expose participants to perspectives that are not readily available in North America. Meetings with diverse representatives of Palestinian and Israeli society focus particularly on those working nonviolently for a resolution to the conflict and an end to the occupation. Delegates see the Wall, checkpoints, and demolished homes and learn how these and much more affect Palestinians. Likewise, delegates hear from Israelis about the effects of the conflict on Israeli society. Co-leaders: Ilise Cohen is a Sephardic Jewish Scholar-Activist and has been a Middle East peace and justice activist for 20 years and has led Middle East delegations to Israel and Palestine. RCNV staff member Scott Kennedy has traveled to the Middle East more than 30 times and led numerous delegations.
For more information, contact Scott Kennedy 831-457-8003, kenncruz@pacbell.net or www.ifpb.org/del35/default.html

Saturday, June 5, 2010 at the First Congregational Church Social Hall, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz

Featuring Israeli Peace Activist & International Peace Prize Winner, NOMIKA ZION speaking on “Raising Another Voice.”

5:30 p.m. Hors D’oeuvres & Silent Auction
6:00 p.m. Dinner - vegetarian Middle Eastern Cuisine
7:00 p.m. Program- Brief concert with First Congregational Gospel Choir and New Beginning Community Gospel Choir, followed by featured speaker Nomika Zion

Reservation Information:

General reservations: $35-100 per person sliding scale for the Dinner and Program.

PROGRAM ONLY at 7p.m.: $7-25 sliding scale

$250 – $1000  “Sponsor” reserves a table for 8.

$100 – $235  “Host” reserved seating for 2 people

$50 “Supporter” reserved seating for one person;

**Scholarship Donation:  If you cannot attend, consider giving a scholarship for young people or families.

Please make Reservations : 831-423-1626.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: Naomi (Nomika) Zion, is a granddaughter of Yaakov Hazan, co-founder of the first kibbutz in Israel. In 1987 Nomika founded the urban kibbutz Migvan in Sderot, Israel, situated in a quiet agricultural area a mile and a half from the border. Since the beginning of the Second  Intifada in 2000 Sderot became the target of relentless bombardment by Qassam rockets launched by Palestinian militant groups in Gaza.  The intensification of rocket-fire in 2005 has made Sderot a household name in the West.

In August, 2009, Nomika published the Sderot War Diary “Not in my name and not for me you went to war.” The Diary takes Israel to task for the invasions of Gaza, and was published in 22 different languages. Because of this powerful letter, Nomika received several international peace prizes including the 2009 Niarchos Prize for Survivorship.

Nomika is active with the “Other Voices” group in Israel, a peace collective comprised of residents of both Gaza and neighbouring Israeli towns like Sderot. Other Voices seeks to present an alternative to the majority of pro-war opinions that currently dominate the media in Israel and the USA. Zion is also director of the Center for Social Justice in memory of Yaakov Hazan at the Van Leer Institute in Jerusalem.

Reservations are required for dinner: 831-423-1626 .

Title: Peace is the Motiv-benefit for RCNV
Location/ Time: 6-9p.m., Motiv Lounge, 1209 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
Description: Fundraiser and Silent Auction; Where: Motiv Lounge 1209 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz; Date: Wednesday June, 2, 2010; Time: 6pm-9pm; Event:
Mixer with appetizers, food and drink specials. Featuring Resource Center for Nonviolence staff members Sandino Gomez and Marciano Cruz. The community is welcome to attend. Silent auction upstairs with art from local artists and students. Proceeds from auction and mixer will be donated to the Resource Center for Nonviolence.  For RSVP or info call 831.429.8070 or email motivloungeasst@gmail.com

This event has been postponed. Details for new time/date/ place to be announced soon. George Bisharat speaks on the Goldstone Report-
International Human Rights
& the Implications of Israel’s 2008
attack on and continuing siege
against Gaza
Moderator: Robert E., Taren, Santa Cruz Attorney, and advocate for Human Rights and Civil Liberties

POSTPONED: Thursday, June 10th,
7:30 p.m.
at the Quaker Meeting House,
225 Rooney St., Santa Cruz
George Bisharat is a prominent Palestinian-American  professor of law at Hastings College of Law in San Francisco and an expert on international law.  He is a frequent commentator on      current events in the Middle East, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular.  In 1989, he published the book “Palestinian Lawyers and Israeli Rule: Law and Disorder in the West Bank.”

Suggested sliding scale donation $7-15.

For more information, call 831-423-1626