Hostelling International Chicago

Peace Conference

HI-Chicago is pleased to announce its first annual Peace Conference!

 

October 27th and 28th, 2012

at Hostelling International Chicago

24 E Congress Pkwy

You must register on our Eventbrite page at http://chicagopeaceconference2012.eventbrite.com/

 

This conference promotes peace through innovative thinking, pushing traditional boundaries, and active participation in our communities.  Conference registrants will have the opportunity to attendworkshops and roundtable discussions with diverse local experts and community leaders; visit a local urban farm; attend a film screening and discussion presented by the Peace on Earth Film Festival; cultivate inner peace with a certified yogainstructor; enjoy an interactive, multicultural music and dance showcase presented by Old Town School of Folk Music; and benefit from built-in networking time.

Workshop topics will include peace through travel, sustainable agriculture, gun violence in Chicago, women’s empowerment and peace; art and social justice; Israeli-Palestinian peace; and innovative international connections.

Keynote presentation by disruptive thinker Dr. Norman G. Finkelstein: What Gandhi Said.

Dr. Finkelstein received his doctorate in 1988 from the Department of Politics at Princeton University.  For many years, he taught political theory and the Israel-Palestine conflict, and is a sharp critic of American-Israeli relations.  You may know him as the professor who was denied tenure at DePaul for his controversial research, and whose students conducted a two-week hunger strike following the university’s decision.  

Don Atapattu described the unconventional thinker in his 2001 article as such:

“Professor Norman Finkelstein is one of a dying breed of American mavericks that relentlessly defies any attempt at easy categorization. He is the son of Holocaust survivors but an unremitting critic of Holocaust reparation claims; a Jew but is a life-long anti Zionist; and though very much a Leftist, he is often praised by far Right revisionists of the Third Reich, such as Hitler-admiring historian David Irving.Dr. Finkelstein is the author of six books that have been translated into more than 40 languages.

Often lambasted for his intemperate approach, Finkelstein is unlikely to win popularity contests in America for the language he employs, as much as his arguments. Like his close friend and mentor Noam Chomsky, Norman Finkelstein is not one to mince his words.”

Stay tuned for a final schedule and all speaker bios.  Other participating speakers and organizations include, but are not limited to:

  • Plant Chicago
  • Peterson Garden Project
  • Ceasefire Illinois
  • Vaudezilla Productions and Burlesque
  • Women Advancing Microfinance
  • Venevevhu
  • Global Alliance of Artists
  • North Branch Projects
  • WorldChicago
  • CCI Greenheart
  • Dr. Donald Wagner
  • Amy Weber (certified yoga instructor)

The music and dance showcase is presented by Old Town School of Folk Music.

The mini film festival is presented by Peace on Earth Film Festival.

Your registration is good for both days.  There will be workshops on both Saturday and Sunday mornings, followed by interactive activities.

Space is limited, so get your tickets now!  Don’t miss this chance to interact with community leaders and your peers while advocating for peaceful change in Chicago and the world!  For more information or any questions about the conference, contact HI-Chicago Community Liaison Sharday El-Assar at [email protected] or 312-583-2227.

 

FAQs

Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?

If you purchased a student ticket online, you must bring a valid and current student ID to check-in on the weekend of the conference.

 

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

There is no parking lot for Hostelling International Chicago.  We recommend you take CTA.  The hostel is services by many buses and “el” lines.

 

What can/can’t I bring to the event?

We will be providing breakfast for you on both days.  We recommend you bring a bag lunch, however there are several restaurants within walking distance.  We will provide you with a neighborhood map.

 

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Contact Hostelling International Chicago Community Liaison Sharday El-Assar at [email protected] or 312-583-2227.

 

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

Yes.