Our meeting began with refreshments being served. Mrs. Wendy Stovall, Utah Ambassador for Peace coordinator was the emcee for the program. She began by welcoming the guests to the program and then invited Rev. Langes Silva of the Salt Lake Catholic Church Diocese to give the opening invocation.

We continued with the topic “Interreligious, Interracial and International Harmony and Cooperation” by inviting Mr. Nicolas Valero who is currently a PhD student at the University of Utah to give a presentation. His topic was the “The Myth of Races.”

Mr. Flynn presents the 5 AFP Principles

The first meeting of the Northern Virginia Ambassadors for Peace Association was held at a restaurant in Falls Church, Va., on March 25 with 26 people attending.

The keynote speaker, Mr. Jim Flynn, secretary-general of AFC-USA, presented the vision of the Ambassador for Peace movement and its current status across the United States and around the world. Following the presentation, a number of Ambassadors for Peace suggested specific projects that could be performed in the northern Virginia area to foster reconciliation.

Seeking peace within and peace in the world, modern-day pilgrims see themselves and others anew by walking the purposefully meandering paths of labyrinths.

To the uninitiated and skeptical, a labyrinth isn’t much to look at—just a long, winding path filling a circle laid out on a flat surface. Watching an individual walk slowly along that path with downcast gaze gives little indication that something transformative may be happening. Even when the person exits the labyrinth, there may be little sign of change or difference.

Ambassadors for Peace in Prince George’s County, Maryland, initiated the first of a series of seminars with community leaders on February 25, 2006. Held in a home in Greenbelt, MD, a suburb of Washington, D.C., the seminar included readings of quotes by Rev. Sun Myung Moon on “Bridge Building and Peacemaking,” responses from the community leaders, discussion groups, and a panel on “Rolling Up Our Sleeves,” ie. how to apply the principles of “bridge building.” This program was a forum providing Ambassadors for Peace an opportunity to meet each other, exchange ideas based on a common theme, and enhance their efforts by inviting other Ambassadors for Peace to work with them in their peace-making initiatives.