Have you ever dreamed of a time when an Israeli would hands with a Palestinian, who would hold hands with an American from Chicago, who would hands with a Russian, who would hands with a Native American from Oregon who would hands with a Nigerian, who would hold hands with a young man from China, who would hands with a young woman from Cypress, who would hold hands with an African American from Los Angeles?  In that dream their voices would sing the song of peace that is in their youthful hearts. And as that song was sung, the walls in the room would disappear and the barriers and pain within hearts would melt.  As the pain melted into the earth, each soul would hear their own song and feel the interconnectedness and harmony to each hand being held across all time and in that magical moment, the world would know Peace. 

This moment is no longer a dream for me but a reality. It was a moment shared as 70 youths from 27 different countries sang the song "We Rise" at the International Conflict Resolution Conference held in Russia.  The song was written by Gemma, who is traveling around the world uniting a million voices singing from a million hearts, calling for one peace to create a wave of change in our world.  This was only one of many moments at the conference where peace grew so deeply in my heart that my own voice will forever sing the song of hope and magic I now know will be peace in our world one day. 

Michele Hofer,
Founder, Pathways to Peace

St Petersburg, Russia