[MCN] 2017 Peacemaker Announced

Fri May 12 08:12:13 EDT 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RLEASE

Jeannette Rankin Peace Center Announces the 2107 Peacemaker

Contact: Betsy Mulligan-Dague, peace at jrpc.org or 406-274-6171

Available for interview: Mary Poole: info at softlandingmissoula.org or
406-493-0504

Betsy Mulligan-Dague, peace at jrpc.org or 406-274-6171

The Jeannette Rankin Peace Center and the Missoula Peace Quilters are
thrilled to honor and celebrate Mary Poole, founder and director of Soft
Landing Missoula. It started with a picture -- the one we all saw of the
small body of Alan Kurdi, a 3-year-old Syrian boy who drowned as he and his
family were trying to reach Europe in the midst of the refugee crisis.
Mary, the mother of a small boy herself was moved. But Mary went further
and acted. She is the fire behind Soft Landing Missoula which began in the
fall of 2015 to make sure Missoula stands alongside communities across the
world to welcome and protect other "Alan Kurdi's". Today Missoula has an
International Rescue Committee office and several families from Congo,
Syria, and Eritrea call Missoula home thanks to the leadership of Mary. But
unlike other cities welcoming refugees, Soft Landing Missoula provides
another level of support to the refugees and the community so the
resettlement is successful. Caring about the welfare of these families is
good, but the real inspiration in Mary's work is her care and concern for
those in our community who are opposed to the work of Soft Landing. It is
true peacemaking to seek to understand one's opposition. Mary has shown
courage and compassion to listen to the fears, the anger, even the threats
of those who don't believe in the mission of Soft Landing. And even to call
them friends. In the world we live in today, this is a great portrait of
peacemaking.

The peacemaker award is given each year to individuals or groups who
demonstrate a long-term commitment to peace and justice and take a
leadership role in creating a better world. We look for people who “walk
the walk” in their personal and professional lives. Join us as we welcome
Mary to the list of honored Missoula Peacemakers and celebrate her work at
an awards celebration on Sunday, Saturday, May 20, 3-5 pm at Har Shalom.
The Missoula Peace Quilters have just completed a very special quilt for
Mary, as they do for each of the award recipients.  The quilt will be
unveiled and presented at the celebration on May 20, and a reception will
follow.  The event is free and open to the public.

We accept nominations for this award throughout the year and the choice is
made each fall. For more information about the award, please visit our
website at www.jrpc.org

PRIOR PEACEMAKER OF THE YEAR WINNERS

1986    Flo Chessin

1987    Jim Ranney

1988    Butch Turk

1989    Connie Skousen

1990    Perry Gliessmann

1991    Pat Ortmeyer

1992    Anita Doyle

1993    Beth Sirr

1994    Scott Morgan & Tom Javins

1995    Julie Grant

1996    Alice Campbell

1997    John Agner & Tammy Elser

1998    Pete Lawrenson

2000    Jim Hogan

2001    Liz Rantz

2002    Scott Nicholson & Bryony Schwan

2003    Rita Jankowski-Bradley

2004    Amy Martin

2005    Ethel MacDonald

2006    Peter Shober

2007    Josh Slotnick

2008    Carel Schneider & Women In Black

2009    Jim Caron

2010    John Baugh

2011    Jane McAllister

2012    Dan Gallagher

2013    Meyer “Mike” Chessin

2014    Claudia Brown

2015    Kathi and Glenn “Woody” Wood

2016    Patrick Weasel Head

Betsy Mulligan-Dague, Executive Director
Jeannette Rankin Peace Center
...working to build a world that is nonviolent, socially just and
environmentally sustainable...
519 S. Higgins
Missoula, MT 59801
Phone: 406-543-3955
Fax:  406-541-3997
peace at jrpc.org
www.jrpc.org
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