‘Culture of Peace’ Week under way

Peace advocate Arun Gandhi will highlight the weeklong “Building a Culture of Peace” activities that continue through Oct. 4 at Fresno State and Fresno Pacific University.

The annual observance, formerly called Stop the Hate Week, is a joint project of the two campuses for the first time. Events will include music, a cultural vendor’s faire, poetry, a candlelight vigil, an educational forum on Proposition 54 and an International Culture Night program.

Gandhi, grandson of Mahatmas Gandhi, will participate in a garlanding ceremony to mark his grandfather’s birthday at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2 in the Peace Garden at Fresno State (www.csufresno.edu/peacegarden). He also will speak on “Non-Violence or Non-Existence” at the 7 p.m. lecture in the Fresno Memorial Auditorium in downtown Fresno as part of Fresno State’s University Lecture Series.

All activities during Building a Culture of Peace Week are free and open to the public. The schedule includes (Fresno State events in bold lettering):

Saturday, Sept. 27
Welcoming Diversity: A One-Day Prejudice Reduction Workshop
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Renaissance Room, Fresno State
Pre-registration required. Call 278-4435. This workshop will be repeated Friday, Oct. 24.

Monday, Sept. 29
Opening Prayer Service
10-11 a.m., Alumni Courtyard, Fresno Pacific University

Opening Ceremonies
Noon, USU South Patio, Fresno State

International Festival
6-7:30 p.m., Alumni Courtyard, Fresno Pacific University

Tuesday, Sept. 30
Musical Entertainment
Noon, USU South Patio, Fresno State

“Getting Along: People Who Walk the Extra Mile” – A Performance Hour theatre production
7 p.m. in the Theatre Lab Fresno Pacific University

Wednesday, Oct. 1
Cultural Vendors Faire
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Memorial Garden, Fresno State

Poetry Jam
7 p.m., Coffeehouse and Pub, Fresno State

Candlelight Vigil
8:30 p.m., Peace Garden, Fresno State

“Insight: Non-Violent Protest” – A video documentary presentation by the Center for Non-Violence
8 p.m., Ashley Auditorium, Fresno Pacific University

Thursday, Oct. 2
Garlanding Ceremony in honor of Gandhi’s birthday
1 p.m., Peace Garden, Fresno State

Dialogue with Dr. Arun Gandhi (following the garlanding)
2-3:30 p.m., Renaissance Room, Fresno State

Reception for Dr. Gandhi
4:30-5:30 p.m., Ashley Auditorium, Fresno Pacific University

University Lecture Series speech: “Non-Violence or Non-Existence,” Dr. Arun Gandhi
7 p.m., Fresno Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium

Friday, Oct. 3
Movie: “Gandhi,” presented by the Indian Student Club, Fresno State

7 p.m., University Center, room 200

Educational Forum on Proposition 54
6:30 p.m., Peace Garden, Fresno State

College Hour, Duane-Ruth Heffelbower, speaking
10 a.m., Fresno Pacific University

Prayer Vigil for the World
7 p.m., East Hall Green, Fresno Pacific University

Dances of Universal Peace
7 p.m., Congregational Church (the Big Red Church)

Saturday, Oct. 4
International Culture Night
6:30 p.m., Satellite Student Union, Fresno State

Sponsored by: Cross Cultural Awareness Network, Commission on Human Relations and Equity, Central Valley Cultural Heritage Institute, Fresno Pacific University, NCBI, Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development, University Student Union: Diversity Awareness Program and Productions, the Women’s Resource Center, Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom, Center for Non-Violence, City of Fresno Human Relations Commission, Center for Peacemaking, Interfaith Alliance of Central California, Central California Cultural Society of India, Indian Student Club of Fresno State, Campus Peace and Civil Liberties Coalition and the Reedley Peace Center.