mobanmarketClick:RSE1193
GLENVIEW, IL — In 2002, like many Americans, Glenview resident Gretchen Grad found herself disturbed by 9/11 and the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on America. She decided that she wanted to create a program with the intention of bringing teenagers together to learn how to listen and communicate with another, while also peacebuilding and community organizing.
It was with these goals in mind she started Hands of Peace, which for the past 20 years has helped empower American, Israeli and Palestinian youth to “become agents of change.” The nonprofit organization’s first three-week dialogue-based summer program launched in 2003 at Glenview Community Church. Since then, a Hands of Peace program also launched in San Diego in 2014.
Between July 12 and July 31, Hands of Peace is inviting 37 high school students to participate in the summer program in Glenview, while also doing the same in San Diego. According to Emily Kenward, Chicago site director for Hands of Peace, the organization is currently seeking host families for participants and staff from Israel and Palestine.
Find out what's happening in Glenviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Being a host family is a unique and life-changing experience — many Hands of Peace host families are still in contact with their hostees today,” Kenward told Patch. “Being a host family is a great way to have a global experience in your own backyard. Host families learn a lot about a different region of the world, while also learning more about themselves in the process.”
Kenward said among the biggest requirements for a host family to qualify for the program is the ability to provide a “safe home-away-from-home” for participants. Host families should also live within driving distance of Glenview Community Church, 1000 Elm St., but do not have to live in Glenview. Participants are typically dropped off at 9 a.m. and picked up at 5 p.m. Hands of Peace often arranges carpool groups to assist with this.
Find out what's happening in Glenviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“For many Hands of Peace participants, it is their first time leaving their homes and/or visiting the United States,” Kenward said. “The Hands of Peace Summer Program is unique in that all of our Israeli, Palestinian, and out-of-state American participants stay with host families.”
For the program, the students gather at Glenview Community Church to engage in 2.5 hours of dialogue sessions about conflict in Israel-Palestine as well as the United States. According to Kenward, dialogue sessions are led by one Israeli and one Palestinian trained co-facilitator who are brought to the United States along with the Israeli and Palestinian participants and chaperones.
In addition, outside of dialogue, participants take part in various workshops and field trips to learn more about sharing personal narrative, connecting with “the other,” and bringing about social change in their own communities. Participants also take a field trip to Olympia Fields, where they “build trust with one another and learn to communicate.” There are also storytelling workshops and a film-making intensive.
Interested families can visit the Hands of Peace website here and fill out the host family application. Kenward said once the application is submitted, a member of the Host Family Committee will reach out to arrange a home visit.
All host families are also required to complete a background check. Once the application, home visit, and background checks are completed, host families are paired with a participant(s) based on responses given in the application.
Kenward said host families are invited to exclusive events during the summer program, including an all family picnic, religious site visits, and Culture Night.
“Host families create a sense of community with each other as well as with their participants,” Kenward said. “We encourage host families to carpool, get together on free days and free evenings, and engage in conversation about their experience during host family check-ins.”
Click Here: Cheap Adidas Stan Smith
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.