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The
Local Peace Economy: A majority of our $33 billion per year Dayton!
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Highlighted
below are sectors of the Dayton Region's economy that are doing the
great work of creating a
culture of peace. To be sure, there are parts of the economy that do
not contribute to safety, prosperity, and quality of life, so we need
to put emphasis on the ones that do! Here you'll find some surprising
stories of regular people doing
extraordinary things.
Wellness Business
Arts Faith-Based
Academic Security
Sports Service
Environmental Civic
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The
Wellness Community
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With
roots going back to 1994 when the Dayton Heart Association and the Montgomery
County Society for Cancer Control combined, the Dayton Region's Wellness
Community (formerly Wellness Connection) is getting a new location. Cancer and
heart patients will soon be treated at their new Sugar Camp (former NCR) facility
with professionally-led support groups, comprehensive education,
community-building, and medical care.
www.wellness-connection.org
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The
Business Community
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One of
Dayton's premier corporate headquarters, Lexis-Nexis®, is a leader among industry
in community service, with programs in the Dayton area and around the world. The Lexis-Nexis Care® program
encourages their 13,000 employees to donate their skills on company time to
help local nonprofits. In a single Florida community, for instance,, employees made 75 bikes,
38 wagons, 35 rocking horses, 40 rocking chairs, 40 benches, 65 cubbies, 125
stuffed animals, and refurbished over 100 old toys for community toddlers.
www.lexisnexis.com
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The
Arts Community
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The
Missing Peace Art Space in Dayton's St. Anne's Hill is the only art gallery in the world solely dedicated
to issues surrounding peace. The next exhibit will open on February 5, 2010
with the paintings of Californian artist Mary Perry Stone, one of the sculptors
from the WPA artist program during the Depression. Gallery Exhibition hours for
Stone's paintings will start in February with hours Thursday - Sunday 2pm to
7pm. Special tours are available upon request. www.missingpeaceart.org
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The
Faith-Based Community
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The
Wesley Center of Dayton, led by Dr. James Dobbins, has extensive community
programs. Working to support families, the West Dayton Service Network is a
collaboration of five agencies (Helping Hands Outreach, Dakota Center, Wesley
Community Center, Dayton Urban Ministries, Founder's Family). In addition, the
Wesley Center has an Abuse and Neglect Prevention initiative, a Teen Pregnancy
Prevention program, and Computer Literacy Classes. www.wesleycenterdayton.org
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The
Academic and Environmental Communities
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The
University
of Dayton's Research Institute, which may be located in the abandoned
NCR heaquarters building, has been chosen to design a viable,
affordable, and environmentally friendly jet fuel from coal and
biomass.
Synthetic fuel chemist Heinz Robota will lead the effort to create the
Air
Force's new assured Aerospace Fuels Research Facility, which will
research how
to reduce the carbon footprint of synthetic fuels.
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The
Safety and Security Community
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Modeled
after the 1990's Boston Gun Project, Dayton's Community Initiative to Reduce
Gun Violence (CIRGV) is focused on a deterrence strategy for reducing violence.
Through mandatory "call-in" meetings, targeted individuals are given a clear message:
gun violence will not be tolerated. They are informed that the full force of
the law will be used to respond to gun violence. Offenders and potential
victims are offered alternatives and streamlined access to social services,
education, and support in finding and keeping employment.
http://www.cityofdayton.org
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The
Sports and Entertainment Community
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KIDS
Are TOPS Sports Center in Centerville, Ohio, works in partnership with the
National Center for Safety and the National Council of Youth Sports. KIDS Are
TOPS staff undergoes annual background checks to ensure children are in good
hands during fun and fitness programs. That means peace of mind for parents!
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The
Service Community
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PowerNet
Of Dayton is an organization working to help returning inmates get a head start in turning their
lives around. The group emphasizes initial contact with inmates 15 - 18 months
before release, implementing best practice reentry programming at least 12
months prior to release, and facilitating the inmate's transition from prison
back to the community. Their philosophy is "When a person leaving prison or
jail succeeds, the community succeeds." PowerNet www.PowernetOfDayton.orgBack to Top |
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The Regional Civic Community
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A
new Dayton revitalization initiative, Imagination Station, is being
launched by some imaginative and committed individuals in the Dayton
Region. A working description by organizers imagines: "An open hub for
interaction and action, Imagination Station facilitates bottom-up,
collaborative, entrepreneurial community-building initiatives that
address pressing social, economic and civic needs in the Dayton
region." For information, contact Peter Benkendorf at peter@involvementadvocacy.org
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What is Dayton's
Largest Economic Sector?
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According to the Department of Commerce, the output of goods
and services in the U.S. increased at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the third quarter of
2009 to over $14 trillion. As the 62nd largest metropolitan area in the
country, Dayton's economy was over $33 billion last year.
That's over $33 billion to focus on what is really important
to our citizens: safety, prosperity, and quality of life. In effect -- a life
of peace.
 The International Cities of Peace initiative is focused on
understanding and fostering the notion that our nation's cities -- and cities
around the world -- should think about where our billion dollar economies are
leading our children.
A vast majority of our communities are focused on peace:
academic, faith-based, the arts, safety and security, sports and entertainment,
business, wellness, environmental, and civic. Safety, prosperity, and quality
of life are the components of the American Dream, indeed, the World Dream.
Yet one fact is certain. We can't
live our lives in peace with a polarized, violent culture. It's time to stop
looking for culprits and victims and focus on directing our $33 billion economy
on what can help us reach our goal -- leveraging the billion dollar power of
peace. We can literally self-define ourselves through how we work and play as people who value peace.
Today, we see much hope in the world. This is a critical moment in
our global history. Though the news is clogged with images of violence,
we look to our cities and neighborhoods for what is really happening on
our planet -- people working in their neighborhood, teachers teaching,
mothers nurturing, artists creating, peace officers keeping us safe,
sports figures inspiring greatness -- the cause of peace is carried by
billions of people celebrating life and working for a better world.
Join
the celebration of community! Get involved in this regional and global transformation. Let the
world know -- and more importantly, our children -- that our
communities can become true Cities of Peace. Please get involved today!
We thank you sincerely,
J. Fred Arment, Executive Director
Steve
Fryburg, Director of International Programs
Advisory Committees
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A
Global Initiative Begins in Dayton
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 An international initiative based in Dayton, Ohio, is
creating a loose association of Cities of Peace. From the legacy of the Dayton
Peace Accords, we are expanding the definition of peace from traditional
"peace" organizations to a culture with working toward creating peaceful homes
and lives is at the core of our ethos. Projects of the organization include: - Launch tools
to emphasize progress in the Dayton region toward positive revitalization, including exhibits, website, newsletters, and social networking.
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A Peace Economy Roundtable, a group researching how our we
can make Dayton an international hub of peace.
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"The Dayton Peace Trail," a visitor's destination
emphasizing Dayton's legacy of citizens working for a better world.
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Cities of Peace Awards for
recognizing everyday citizens for contributions to safety, prosperity and
quality of life.
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Global Kickoff
Party! First Friday in February!
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Mark Your Calendar: February 5, 2010
International Cities of Peace Exhibit: showing how Dayton is
an international hub of peace. In addition, the exhibit will kickoff a
global "Cities of Peace Awards" initiative for every city and village
around the world. More details next newsletter.
And look for a major
announcement: Dayton chosen as the new location of an International Art
Consortium with over 1000 artists, worldwide! Details in next newsletter.
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For Local and International Recipients...
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Send us your stories!
Do
you have a positive story or a comment? Want your city to become one of
the world's Cities of Peace? Do you know people who deserve to be
recognized for contributing to safety, prosperity, or quality of life?
info@InternationalCitiesOfPeace.org
Cities of Peace, Inc. is a
501(c)3 organization. Your donations are tax exempt. Thank you!
The International Cities of Peace organization appreciates the
many who have contributed to it's development, including advisory committees.
If you want to help, please go to our website:
www.internationalcitiesofpeace.org
facebook - click here and become a friend!
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