Encinitas, March 2022 -The need for peacemakers has never been greater. The Encinitas Rotary Club annual Peacemaker Award recognizes community members making a significant difference in promoting tolerance, understanding, conflict resolution, and peace, locally or globally. Kim Lande of Cardiff is the 2022 Encinitas Rotary Club Peacemaker.
Lande is a Board member of Hands of Peace, a non-profit organization that empowers American, Israeli, and Palestinian youth to be agents of change. The Hands of Peace Summer Program brings together teenagers from the United States and the Middle East for a three-week dialogue-based experience. In sessions led by professional facilitators from the Middle East, participants learn about “the other.” They share complicated and sometimes painful stories about the conflict and explore peaceful solutions to foster equality, freedom, and justice.
Lande’s volunteer work with Hands of Peace includes media relations and media training for youth during the Summer Program. Additionally, she has chaired three Hands of Peace Benefits, written and produced three videos highlighting the program’s impact, and co-chaired the recent reimagining of Hands of Peace and its mission.
“Kim is an integral part of the success of Hands of Peace in San Diego” said Gretchen Grad, who founded Hands of Peace in 2002 in the aftermath of 9/11 to address the widening gulf between east and west, particularly along religious lines.
Grad added, “As Hands of Peace celebrates its 20th anniversary, more than 700 Hands of Peace alumni have taken the transformative journey from dialogue to action. Kim has been there every step of the way, hosting young teenagers in a safe “home away from home” during Summer Programs while inspiring her daughters and other North County families to participate. Her videos have told our story, motivating supporters worldwide. And her creative influence in the Hands of Peace Benefits helps raise the funds to continue our progress.”
Lande explained, “One of my greatest passions in peacebuilding is in the potency of compassionate conversations to advance understanding and open possibilities to heal individuals and communities. Experiencing Hands of Peace over four summers inspired me to dive deeply into learning and leading dialogue. It also taught me to listen more and put myself into others’ shoes, even when I disagree.”
Encinitas Rotary Club President Sherry Yardley emphasized, “The world has never been in more turmoil than today. We are proud to recognize the Peacemakers of our community!”
For more information, visit www.EncinitasRotary.org and www.HandsOfPeace.org.