By ANNE GREGORY
Media Relations, Manchester University

Manchester University observes Peace Week 2015 with a number of activities, including a peacemaker who will speak about establishing partnerships for non-violence around the world; a Holocaust remembrance service; and an Earth Day tree-planting celebration.

The keynote speaker for this year’s Peace Week is Sarah Thompson, executive director of Christian Peacemaker Teams, a multifaith international organization committed to building partnerships to transform violence and oppression. As a community organizer, Thompson crosses lines of difference to build positive social change. She has traveled across several continents doing activist work for anti-war and feminist movements.

She will speak about “Moving Toward Conflict: Connecting Struggles for Self-Determination Around the World” at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Cordier Auditorium The program, free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Peace Studies Institute.Established in 1948, the Peace Studies Institute and Program for Conflict Resolution at the North Manchester campus pioneered as the first undergraduate peace studies program in the United States.

A Yom HaShoah service will be offered at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at the Petersime Chapel, led by Rabbi Javier Cattapan of Fort Wayne’s Congregation Achduth Vesholom. Refreshments will be served after the Holocaust remembrance service and rededication. All Peace Week observances are open to the public.

Other events on campus for Peace Week:

• 9 p.m. Monday, April 20, Kenapocomoco Coalition will meet in the Peace House with Joyfield Farm residents.
• 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, there is an art auction at Link Gallery Wine Recital Hall, to benefit Change for Change. http://www.changeforchange.org
• 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, there will be a tree planting to celebrate Earth Day, outside the JO Young Switzer Center on East St. Refreshments provided by Chartwells.
• 5 p.m. Sunday, April 26, there will be a “Food for Thought” dinner at the Oakwood Hall great room, featuring Justin Lasser from the Manchester University religion department. Power hour starts at 7 p.m. at the Intercultural Center on College Ave. The subject is, “Is war necessary for peace?”