Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project

IARP has joined forces with the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, a large coalition of activist groups and citizens of conscience based in the Wisconsin area. The mission of WNPJ is to facilitate “activities, cooperation and communication among Wisconsin organizations and individuals working toward the creation of a sustainable world, free from violence and injustice.” IARP is excited to begin working for peace and justice with our neighbors to the east!

EngageMN, an online project aiming to give voice to Minnesota’s Muslim community, recently published an article about the new Sister City relationship between Minneapolis, USA and Najaf, Iraq. The article also highlights the upcoming delegation visit to Minneapolis from Najaf. To read the article, click here.

Below is a copy of the resolution passed unanimously by the Minneapolis City Council on Friday, July 31:

Resolution

Of the City of Minneapolis

Hodges

Accepting an invitation from the City of Najaf, Iraq, to join in a Sister City Agreement, inviting the citizens of Najaf and Minneapolis to participate in the activities outlined in the agreement, and approving the plans of the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project to develop the Sister City Agreement.

More »

After more than a year of moving toward this goal, the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project (IARP) and our partner in Iraq the Muslim Peacemaker Teams (MPT) are celebrating the beginning of a formal Sister City relationship between Najaf, Iraq and Minneapolis, MN USA. On Friday, July 31st, the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution by unanimous vote establishing the two cities as official Sister Cities.

More »

Mariam and Yousif (Mary & Joseph) are niece and nephew of Malka Ali Al-Haddad. They put together a beautiful heart-to-heart artwork to express their love and excitement for the possible Najaf-Minneapolis sister city relationship. Malka is joining the Najaf delegation representing Najaf Cedaw Women Group.

This is an interesting story from the blog Daily Kos:

“We are not disturbing the peace, we are disturbing the war.”
by Bjorn in MN
Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 09:46:11 PM PDT

Every Tuesday afternoon a small group of peace activists stand at the busy intersection of Burnsville Parkway and Nicolet Avenue , just a couple blocks away from the largest park and ride in the southern suburbs and outside the offices of Republican Congressman John Kline. For over two years now they have been coming to this spot in Burnsville , Minnesota to exercise their first amendment right to speak out against the war that Kline is a big supporter of. Over the course of those two years the peace vigil has received a great reception from many in the community and the protesters have received a large number of honks of support from those who pass by. More »

St. Paul, MN—July 4th, 2009—A new art shop displaying Iraqi, international, and U.S. veteran art opens on July 4th on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. The Wolves Head will open with an exhibition featuring art by Iraqi citizens and local international students. The show is also supported by a local non-profit organization, the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project (IARP).

Chukouma, the owner of the new shop, says, “Some art works exhibited in the store are from Iraqis and some from international students at a local school… The art will show the international talents of the students and hopefully people will come due to curiosity of what the art is about.” The Wolves Head is located at 1665 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul and is open from 2:00pm to 6:00pm this Saturday, July 4th. Its hours are 10:00am to10:00pm on Sunday and 10:00am to 7:00pm during the week, and the show will be open until July 25th.

The Iraqi paintings will be available for sale. The proceeds transferred to the artists are then shared with their sponsoring organization in Iraq, the Muslim Peacemaker Teams. On Sunday evening at 7:00pm there will be an informal, free jazz concert by local guitarist Rick Figucroa. Visitors to the Wolves Head may also sign up for future art classes such as jewelry making, bead weaving, quilting, a men’s sewing circle, and other fiber arts.

IARP Art Director Jessie Witte says, “The show will be a unique combination of artists in the community getting together.”

The Iraqi Art Project, a program of IARP, helps bridge American communities with Iraqi artists to enhance cultural exchange between the two peoples. It promotes a deeper understanding among Americans about the Iraqi culture, people and land through the transformative power of art.

For more information please contact:

Luke Wilcox, IARP Communications Director, at:

lukewilcox@mpt-iraq.org

IARP’s website: http://reconciliationproject.org

The Iraqi & American Reconciliation Project, in conjunction with the University of Minnesota; Meet Minneapolis: Official Convention and Visitors Association; Twin Cities Peace Campaign: Focus on Iraq; Friends for a NonViolent World; Women Against Military Madness; and others are hosting a delegation of 12-15 Iraqis visiting the Twin Cities in the second half of September. They will be traveling here with Sami Rasouli, Iraqi-American and Muslim Peacemaker Teams Director when he returns for an extended stay.

Coming as peacemakers and visitors, these professors, former city council members, business professionals, NGO directors and members of the Muslim Peacemaker Teams (MPT) are like us, curious, smart and interested in making friends.

More »