Purpose:
I created a new blog to serve as an informational resource of peace and social justice advocacy organizations in the Waterloo Region. It will support the greater purpose of increased awareness of peace-building, social justice, and the organizations who would collaborate on the project, as well as create some publicity for these organizations. The audience of this website will be the general public, especially students of Peace of Conflict Studies, other organizations which focus on peace-building and social advocacy, and people who are looking to contribute to such organizations.The blog format is intended to be a more accessible format for displaying this information. The blog format also allows people to not only explore, but it is a space to ask questions, make comments and start conversations.
In Waterloo Region, there are so many places in where people of different faiths and backgrounds gather and build community together. Many of the organizations who collaborated on this project were founded by a particular religious group, or based heavily on the teachings of a particular church. But today, they are all organizations who welcome people of all faiths, and no matter what their primary purpose is, they foster understanding and create an environment where relationships and and bridges are built.
For example, The House of Friendship has numerous community housing projects, where neighbours are sometimes from countries that are at war with each other. This can sometimes be a source of conflict, but The House of Friendship becomes a place where peacebuilding and understanding can begin. Another example is Anishnabeg Outreach, which often perform ceremonies based on First Nations faith traditions during community events. This is meant to create a positive view of First Nations people in a time where many people’s opinions are polarized.
