Keeping Alive the Vision of Dr. MLK, Jr. in this Divided Nation
by Norval Reece, Community Contributor, NMM
Barbara Simmons. Executive Director of the Peace Center and Clerk of Newtown Quaker Meeting will speak on Keeping Alive the Vision of Dr. MLK, Jr. in this Divided Nation on Sunday, January 18 at 9:45 a.m. at the Quaker Meetinghouse, 219 Court Street, Newtown. Worship in expectant silence will follow at 11:00 a.m. All are invited to attend.
Simmons asks. “How do we fulfill Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community when we are dealing with a rise in political violence? How, as Quakers (Friends), do we work towards non-violent action as the division seems to widen? On Sunday, January 18 we will engage in small group dialogue and deep listening to see how we can unite in our values and teachings of Dr. King.”
Barbara Simmons has been the executive director of The Peace Center for more than 30 years when it has created and implemented programs focused on prevention, intervention and tertiary methods to address conflict, violence, racism and bigotry in over 300 schools, businesses and communities in Bucks County, New Jersey, and greater Philadelphia..
Simmons has also been a Professor of Practice at Arcadia University, delivered trainings and workshops in Rwanda, South Africa and Northern Ireland, and is the founder of Peace Talks radio programs on NPR about peacebuilding in Nagasaki & Hiroshima, Japan, Israel & Palestine, Rwanda, South Africa, Vietnam, Northern Ireland, Canada and throughout the US., often featuring veteran journalist, Walter Cronkite, as host. She also traveled with the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers to Dharamsala, India to meet with the Dalai Lama.
Simmons serves on the Board of the Nakashima Foundation for Peace, the Executive Committee of the NAACP, and is co-chair of the MLK Peace & Justice Summit.
Newtown Friends Meeting co-founded by “Peaceable Kingdom” painter and Quaker minister, Edward Hicks, in 1815, is open to all who wish to attend. First Day Education classes (Sunday School) for all ages begin at 9:45 a.m. and Meeting for Worship begins at 11 a.m. Childcare is provided.