Want to know what you can do to participate?  We have active committees, all of which could use more members to help them grow and be more effective.  We have recently consolidated our committees into four focus areas. They are: Advocacy, Development, Education, and Communications. If you are interested in learning more or joining one of our committees, please reach out via email or phone – (925) 933 – 7850.

Advocacy Committee:

  • Works to organize events and promote awareness around issues impacting us around the globe. This committee focuses on international issues as well as the environment, working to bring speakers, authors, and activists together with the community to address and solve problems. The advocacy committee also networks with other local organizations and builds connections with others doing advocacy work in the area. This committee meets monthly.
  • The Center is a co-sponsor of ICAN (Interfaith Climate Action Network, a subcommittee of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County), and our Advocacy Committee works with them to bring awareness locally to environmental issues and assist in the implementation of legislation, particularly at the local/state level. ICAN Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 1 pm at United Methodist Church in Walnut Creek. 

Development Committee:

  • Focuses on fundraising, membership, bequests, and sales merchandising. Works to find ways to increase membership as well as organize events for members.  Good outreach and event planning skills are ideal for members of this committee. The development committee also works to identify and obtain sources of funds to support the general operation and specific programs of the Center. Sources would include foundation support, individual financial support and government support.
  • This committee also plans our annual Peace Awards Dinner, a semi-fancy fundraiser (full-course meal, live music, sometimes dancing!) and community outreach event, held each fall.  This committee seeks input from the community and recommends nominees (individuals and organizations) for the annual “Local Heroes of Peace” award.  Past winners have included well-known members in the community such as Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Angela Davis, Congressman George Miller, and Cindy Sheehan. We seek sponsors; arrange for food/drink and entertainment, silent auction donations; and do marketing and promotion. The development committee meets as needed, but ideally monthly. 

Communications Committee:  

  • Works to maintain communication with members and general public through outreach and advertising. Focuses on getting out the bi-monthly Peace Gazette newsletter (mailed and emailed to membership, posted to website and delivered to libraries), maintaining the Center’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/MDPJC; updates the weekly Peace Activist Calendar (email blasts out to 3,000 +/- on Monday afternoons), sends out Activist Alerts to email database as needed; updates and maintains the Center’s websites: www.ourpeacenter.org and www.creatingpeacefulschools.weebly.com.  Bi-monthly meetings or as needed.   

Education Committee:  

  • Goal is to reach out and influence youth and educators in the community to address the issues covered by the Center. Organizes the annual all-day conference held in early February “Creating Peaceful Schools” and the annual “Art and Writing Challenge” contest for youth, including an awards dinner for the youth, which takes place in spring. Meetings are scheduled as needed during each season, but they take place frequently (sometimes semi-monthly) during the several months in advance of each event. Backgrounds in education and connections to that field are ideal.  More information on the programs is available on our dedicated website: http://creatingpeacefulschools.weebly.com/
  • The Education Committee is also home to the sub-committee, Diablo for Peace, which is a relatively new group of students, activists, and artists currently focused on addressing issues impacting young people & students in the local community. Outreach is youth-focused. It has been organizing town-hall style events, reaching out to high school students, and publishing zines.