GLOBAL NETWORK CIRCLE STORY

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA and GAZA CITY, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
An exchange that began slowly blossoms and grows

Although the connection between these two Sister Circles began with a few stops and starts, they stuck with it - checking in and reaching out as often as they could. A year later, both groups experienced a strengthened bond within their own Circles and a growing sense of connectedness, friendship, and compassion with their Sister Circle on the other side of the globe.

The Laguna Beach Sister Circle was established in June 2004 by women who work in the fields of psychology, teaching, health, marketing, and the arts. As a self-described "expressive group," they have grown to become a warm and welcoming family of sisters.

Circle member Barbara McMurray recounts the experiences of the Laguna Beach Circle from its initial formation through its growing connection with a Sister Circle in Gaza through the Global Network:

"When our Circle formed, all of us were very concerned about what we saw as a wrong-headed war in Iraq, and by the time of the November 2004 elections, we found we needed one another for support in a tumultuous, polarized time, not only in our country but in our neighborhoods. Besides the election, we saw one another through a number of personal tragedies, so it was a gift to have several months to meet, come to know each other, and become a cohesive Circle. We spend much time discussing how to keep open minds, remain clear on the vision of peace, and constructively make a difference - in the world and in the cul-de-sac.

The Laguna Beach Sister Circle meeting with Hekmat Bessiso from Gaza

We are now eagerly connecting with a PEACE X PEACE Sister Circle in Gaza. By means of introduction, we crafted a small, spiral-bound booklet, in which we each created a descriptive page about ourselves. Jennifer Green, the Global Network Coordinator, carried this booklet with her on an outreach trip to the Middle East and hand-delivered our gift to our sisters in Gaza. We look forward to hearing their reactions upon receiving this snapshot of our Circle and to revisiting this booklet in the coming months and years as our Circle connection strengthens and grows.

In the coming months, we hope to meet one of our sisters face to face when she travels to a nearby conference in Los Angeles. Our excitement borders on giddiness as we look forward to welcoming her with open arms.

By participating in our peace Circle with open hearts and minds, we've discovered that, like most endeavors, we get out of it what we put into it. The rewards of connecting with our sisters in Gaza are innumerable; we are committed to keeping the connection strong and rich."