1.           “Connecting the Dots…”

To make connections:  We would like to eventually connect with as many grassroots and peace-supporting communities as we can.  Considering that the Jerusalem Diaspora consists of Peace-loving Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities all over the U.S (and the world), this undertaking requires substantial traveling.

Phase 1: To identify and become acquainted with the numerous grassroots organizations and projects that exists in the Jerusalem area. To describe each organization setting forth its mission, scheduled projects and support needed to continue its work.
Phase 2: To develop connections with potentially supportive organizations and communities around the world starting with the U.S., and connect them to the Jerusalem network and to specific organizations and projects within their scope of interest, eventually creating long term relationships.

The two phases are constant efforts and overlap as the projects, organizations and relationships constantly evolve.   Many connections have been made, both in Jerusalem, with Palestinian and Israeli organizations, and in the U.S., with communities in San Francisco CA, Boulder CO, Taos and Albuquerque N.M., Washington DC and more.  We hope to be invited by communities and organizations that wish to make the effort to connect.

2.      The Grassroots Jerusalem Marketplace/Su’qe/Shuk

A website presenting the grassroots organizations and projects that exist in the Jerusalem area on one side, while on the other, the organizations and projects supporting them in the Diaspora.  The website will present a “marketplace” of organizations, projects and other initiatives that are working towards the society mentioned above. The site will facilitate the sharing of information and linkages among the NGOs and will enable a mutually supporting grassroots social network to be formed. The information on the site will enable interested individuals to learn about the organizations and what they are doing and will assist them to get involved.

The Website has already begun as this Blog through which connections can be made and where information is collected.   We intend to expand the Blog into a website as the body of information grows.  The website will be built professionally, and will be clear and accessible.  It will include a schedule of events, profiles of organizations, the people involved, and more.  It will facilitate on-line discussion and promote live connections.

3.       The Collaboration Workshop

We are planning a workshop for leaders of this network to take place at the Lama Foundation, located North of Taos, New Mexico.  The projected dates are May 29-31 2009, planned to coincide with the Grassroots Peace week slated to take place in Taos, N.M – May 26-31. Representatives of a number of the grassroots organizations mentioned above – Israeli, Palestinian, and U.S. based – will be invited to participate in the Grassroots Network workshop.  Local New-Mexico Grassroots leaders, who ultimately face similar challenges but in different contexts, will also be invited.

This is part of our ongoing commitment to the realization of the special role we believe the Grassroots community in Jerusalem, and in fact the world, play in the larger scale of realistic Peace, and sustainable ways of life.