The Fire Inside -continued

Thank you to “Know Justice, Know Peace” sponsors:The Center for Ethics in Action
Affinity Arts
Michael Wilson, ARC

Affinity Arts, in a collaboration with the Alliance for Responsible Communities (ARC), invited about 20 artists, musicians writers, creative arts people to the Affinity Arts studio and retreat on June 28 to spend a day working in the arts around the theme, "Know Justice, Know Peace." This is the second in a blog series profiling the people that attended the event. It drew a diversity of people across, age, race, ethnicity, careers, talents and accomplishments. Their presence and conversations put a "Fire Inside" the old mill, home of Affinity Arts.

Hashim Ali is executive director of the Amistad Arts Collective (www.amistadcollective.org). He is a single father, a published and performing poet and spoken word artist who also has expertise in working with youth of all backgrounds that are struggling to find a right path to build a life. Hashim led the preparation for the arrival of the Amistad Freedom Schooner to Maine last year. The mission of the Amistad Arts Collective is "to promote diverse ways of expressing and communicating human experiences through the arts while being dedicated to improving the quality of life and fostering communication between all people."

The schooner is a replica of La Amistad, a Spanish slave ship that Mende tribesmen sailed into Long Island Sound in 1839 after taking over the ship from the slavers and trying to return home to Sierra Leone. The men were freed by a Supreme Court decision in which the former President of the United States John Quincy Adams represented the 55 Mende men. The Amistad Freedom Schooner now travels the world as a floating classroom.

About the Amistad history, Hashim has said,

"So this shows to me people, no matter your color, people who believe in human beings, coming together and working for a goal."

For Bernie Vigna, R.N., Sierra Leone is home to the Mende people and also the home country of his twin boys, Peter and Paul. Bernie and his wife adopted them in Sierra Leone only a few years ago. The boys joined the couple's big family in Bridgton where there are also a goat or two. Bernie is a nurse and a musician of African drumming. He has studied drumming and instruments in Africa, makes his own drums and leads drumming circles. In sharing his gift and genius Bernie has drummed in numerous groups, for theatre productions and for a conference, "Living with Cancer, Healing from Within." His unique instrument sat quietly against a wall during this day of discovering "Know Justice, Know Peace." Someday soon, we can only hope, his drums will reveal and he will share what may have been created out of this day .

Gola Wolf Richards of Denmark could initially be described as philosopher/philanthropist/psychologist/CEO.

However, he is a man of many facets, intimately acquainted with the world’s ways from the human being's worst behaviors to extraordinary accomplishments,and limitless possibilities. As the conversation began, ideas emerged on personally committing to justice and fairness in all of one's acts. Hashim said it is easy to consider justice and fairness when thinking personally...making sure one's own children will have opportunity, enough food.... But perhaps the challenge is always making sure one is thinking about justice and fairness for other people's children. Wolf quietly asked if morality must be at the center. The question drew vigorous discussion in the search for answers. On his website blog Wolf has written this,

"...more and more people of good will must come to understand that Understanding the nature of change, changes the nature of understanding. In order for individuals to self-cultivate global change, contemplating principles for superior character development offers the broadest pathway for enlightened human development. And, on the road to peace, only courage to reach the highest truth leads deep enough to attain the goal.”

I hope Gola Wolf Richards will take the time to describe his own search for justice and peace on this blog; or you can check out his words, thoughts, advice and philosophy for life and peace on golawolfrichards.org.

Mike Wilson, who has worked for Portland Housing Authority for over 20 years paced a bit as the conversation became seemingly theoretical. He said,

“I just see what goes on, how people are affected (by lack of justice and peace)everyday…there is no time.”

Next Blog: Mike Wilson