Groups hope to give Capitol a hug
Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 10, 2008 12:00 AM
Can a big, loving embrace make the Capitol a kinder, gentler place?

Two local groups think so, and on Sunday, they hope to enfold the often partisan battleground at 1700 W. Washington in a massive group hug. The idea is to get participants to link arms and encircle the Capitol building in a symbolic group hug on the eve of the legislative session.

Such a gesture will help "envision the year 2008 as one of peace, prosperity, bipartisanship and cooperation for all elected officials, constituents and all Arizonans," according to the sponsoring group

They are the Arizona Interfaith Movement and the Arizona Department of Peace Campaign.

Organizer Colleen O'Donnell Pierce said the goal is to help foster a spirit of cooperation as the Legislature heads into another session.

"Arizona is symptomatic of what's going on nationally," she said. "There's definitely been a kind of adversarial relationship there."

For Sunday's event, organizers have scaled back their hopes to draw 1,000 participants to an event that includes religious leaders, musicians and lawmakers.

"If we're real lucky, we'll get 400 to 500," O'Donnell Pierce said.



Lawmakers were largely unaware of Sunday's event but applauded the idea.

"I would say it can't hurt," said Rep. Rick Murphy, R-Peoria.

THE ARIZONA EMBRACE 2008: PRAYERS OF PEACE
Over 1,000 Arizonans to gather, circling state capitol in symbolic hug
Jan 13, 2008
Phoenix, Ariz. - The Arizona Interfaith Movement (AIFM) and the Arizona Department Of Peace Campaign (AZDOP) invite all Arizonans to gather for one hour from 2 to 3 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2008, on the eve of the opening of the second session of the 48th Arizona State Legislature at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix - to envision the year 2008 as one of peace, prosperity, bipartisanship, and cooperation for all elected officials, constituents, and all Arizonans. After greetings, prayers, songs, and music are heard, all gathered participants will form a circle around the entire Capitol building - to place our collective embrace around the state capitol as a symbolic group hug for Arizona, its leadership, and all Arizonans. Welcome activities begin at 1:30 p.m., and the event program commences at 2 p.m. on the House Of Representatives Lawn of the state capitol at 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

The energy of this positive and uplifting action is intended to inspire our leaders and all our citizens to allow their highest selves to shine forth in 2008 and beyond, and to work together collaboratively to create the harmonious, prosperous and stable future that we all wish for our state and our communities.
Co-Hosts Terri Mansfield, Executive Director of the Arizona Dept. of Peace (AZDOP) Campaign and Dr. Paul Eppinger, Executive Director of the Arizona Interfaith Movement (AIFM) will lead the program. Guest speakers include Arizona State Representatives Mark Anderson and Kyrsten Sinema, and Jannah Scott from the Governor's Office. Music will be provided by First Institutional Baptist Church Choir, Renee Morgan Brooks, and Steve McCarty. Prayers will be conducted in the Jewish faith by Rabbi Robert Kravitz, in the Muslim faith by Imam Shamsid-Deen, and also in Sikh, Buddhist, Catholic, Baptist and Mormon faiths. Uqualla, a Havasupai spiritual leader, will perform a traditional tribal blessing.
“This event is an ideal representation of what our Arizona Department of Peace movement is all about - recognizing our common humanity and coming together to reach out in a caring spirit of cooperation to find solutions to community challenges, in an inclusive, pro-active way,” explains Terri Mansfield. “With this symbolic act, we are embracing our leadership here in Arizona, and everyone who lives here - and calling upon each person to be that positive change they want to see in the world."
“Like the Arizona Interfaith Movement, this event invites everyone to be a participant in helping to shape the world according to the highest values of each individual’s personal faith. At the heart of all of the Holy Scriptures of the world is the dictate to love one another and to practice the Golden Rule,” adds Dr. Eppinger.

The event will culminate in one big "hug" around the State Capitol Building from 1,000 people all at once, acting as one. This moving act of love and hope should make a great visual for media, especially as an aerial shot.
EVERYONE IS INVITED...PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

For more information on the hosting organizations, visit http://www.azdopcampaign.org and http://www.interfaitharizona.com.