For many, the 2020 International Day of Peace is coming just at the right time.
This year’s event — set for Monday, Sept. 21 at Mary D. Fisher Theatre — will feature a collaboration of local organizations dedicated to helping others and bringing people together.
As a result of a legacy donation by an anonymous Sedona resident, the theater will host a day’s worth of free events. Coming together to host the event will be the Sedona International Film Festival, Sedona International City of Peace, Mental Health Coalition of the Verde Valley and National Alliance on Mental Illness.
“We are thrilled to be part of this because in the world that we are living in today, we need to be taking steps to recognize what’s required for peace on a personal level, community level, national level and world level,” said Barbara Litrell, of the Mental Health Coalition of the Verde Valley. “Being part of this event will help foster that kind of awareness in our own community and in ourselves. We’re thrilled to be part of it.”
Judy Maloney aka Margaret “Joy Weaver,” chairwoman of the Sedona International City of Peace, said her group has been doing events on Sept. 21 for the past eight years and is excited to again join forces with the other organizations.
“We want to take care of people, especially at this time where the divisiveness has become increasingly destructive,” she said. “We all have personal relationships, especially with law enforcement, and knowing what they’ve done for the people of our community and for those who have mental health and behavioral challenges is so appreciated. So, to bring the healing opportunity to help dissolve those prejudices is really key.”
The lineup of events for International Day of Peace include:
• 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dissolve the divide between law enforcement and our community — featuring Sedona Police Chief Charles Husted and another officer.
• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dissolve the divide between law enforcement and the community — featuring Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jeff Newnum, of the Detention Services Division, responsible for incarceration of inmates and services pertaining to their health, welfare and safety.
According to the organizers, the intent of this event is to dissolve the divide by having audience members listen to law enforcement.
Organizers are using the “human library” format to “create understanding and bring healing versus amplifying the divide.”
Attendees can listen and then ask questions to “deepen compassion and understanding,” as well as share experiences that may have been upsetting or traumatic with an intention to heal.
• 2 to 3 p.m. Dissolve the Divide Within: Meditation Mondays — featuring Sedona International City of Peace Chairwoman Judy Maloney aka Margaret “Joy Weaver.”
For three and a half years, the Sedona International City of Peace, Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley, NAMI and Spectrum Healthcare have offered meditation on Mondays at Posse Ground Pavilion and local yoga studios.
• 4 and 7 p.m. Worldwide film screening event: “We Are Many” at Mary D. Fisher Theatre. The collaboration will join 100 cities around the country with the premiere of this movie.
“We Are Many” is 2014 film about the largest demonstration in human history — the anti-Iraq war protests on Feb. 15 2003 — and how the movement created by a small band of activists may have changed the world. Many of the communities and local organizers from the 2003 protest will partake in this event.
This has been made possible with a donation by a resident in support of the four participating organizations. The donor was married to a Vietnam veteran for 25-plus years.
As a spouse, she committed to his healing and also hosted the first Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans event in Sedona along with Sedona International City of Peace.
The Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans event has circled to five cities in the Verde Valley for the last seven years.
“We have always collaborated with law enforcement because so many people with mental health issues end up in jail and the criminal justice system,” said Rose Berner, president of National Alliance on Mental Illness-Sedona. “That kind of collaboration is so necessary and has been well received by law enforcement locally. The fact that they will be here on that day means a lot to those who have mental health issues.
“COVID-19 has not only impacted those who already had mental health issues but other people as well. It’s also brought out other issues like domestic violence, depression and anxiety. Having an event like this will help bring peace to our lives, which is very important right now.”
Like the others, Jo Stone, a member of the SIFF board, said this is a great opportunity for these organizations to come together.
“We’re hoping this will help stop the divisiveness that’s going on in the country and help people get back to a sense of community and public responsibility,” she said.
Patrick Schweiss, SIFF’s executive director, agreed and added, “When Mary Fisher, and the rest of us, had the vision to do this theatre, we wanted it to be seen as a place where we could tackle tough issues together as a community and discuss them with a civil dialogue — a place where we could be inspired by things and share that inspiration. That’s what we wanted this to become, so a collaboration like this just solidifies what our mission is as well as these other organizations.”
Tickets for all of these International Day of Peace Events are free and are limited. For free tickets and more information, call 282-1177.
For those who can’t make the events in person, a livestream of the three live events can be viewed through the Sedona International City of Peace’s Facebook page. As for the film, SIFF will be making a link available through its website so the film can be viewed virtually at SedonaFilmFestival.org.
