A message of condolences and solidarity from Iraqis to Americans. 

Photo credit: Sami Rasouli and the Muslim Peacemaker Teams. View on Facebook.

On January 24, 2013, IARP co-hosted a reception with Iraqi and American veteran authors and filmmakers. The featured authors and filmmakers were refugees, immigrants, and veterans who created books and videos about their stories in Veterans Book Project workshops with IARP and The Advocates for Human Rights in 2012.

The reception was co-hosted by IARP, The Advocates, and the International Leadership Program at the University of St. Thomas. To view the books and videos online, visit http://iraqiartproject.org/bookmaking-and-videomaking/.

Photos below were taken by Rebecca Jean Lawrence Photography (facebook.com/RJLawrencephoto):

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By Steve Clemens, IARP Board Member
Clemens is currently in Iraq with a delegation from Minneapolis

The day started with Kathy getting fashion tips from Hiba. She fixes Kathy’s hijab first and then goes to adjust Joan’s but decides Joan has already learned how to do it the proper way! Although Fr. David has a lot of experience in Palestine, Iraq, and other Middle Eastern locations, one of the staff at the guest house insists on wearing the keffeyah differently. David allows for the adjustment although I’m sure it was just a matter of local preference.

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Thank you to everyone who came to Crescent Moon Banquet Hall on Tuesday night, July 17 to help honor Iraqi-American peacemaker Sami Rasouli. Below are photos from the event, taken by Alex Kay Potter.

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Here are a few of the people affected by IARP’s work in 2010. Thank you to all of our supporters.

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All photos by Alex Potter

In the spirit of promoting nonviolence among Iraqi youth, IARP and its partner the Muslim Peacemaker Teams (MPT) have arranged friendly football matches for its soccer team with other teams in Iraq.

The goal of the soccer team is to build friendship between the various sects and regions of Iraq. Along with matches, MPT coordinates social events for the teams and communities where the matches take place. The events provide an opportunity for MPT to talk about its work for peace and nonviolence in Iraq and for participants to interact and build relationships.

Below are some images of children at Al-Kufa Kindergarten in Kufa, Iraq, where a small water purifier unit was recently installed by the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project and its partner in Iraq, the Muslim Peacemaker Teams. The school has 235 kids. Thanks to donor St. Augustine Church for providing clean water for these kids.

The delegation from Najaf to Minneapolis headed home to Iraq on October 2nd after a productive 2 weeks. The delegates met with hundreds of Americans and set a strong foundation for further connections and peace-building activities between the two cities and countries. You can read about their visit here and here. Below are photos from the delegates’ visit.

One of the delegates, Dr. Najim Askouri, writes,”Thank you very much for your hospitality towards us during our visit to Minneapolis. We spent beautiful days to be remembered for a long time. We hope that the sister city relationship will be promoted and fulfilled for the benefits of people and the cause of peace. God bless you all.