Grassroots Action

In Arkansas there are many miles between peace groups, though there may be some hiding out there in the hills we haven't found yet. Last week a racial justice worker from Pine Bluff told me "Arkansas gets lonely for this kind of work."

Because we just didn't know who was out there, five years ago we started giving an award to peace and justice "Heroes." We spend a couple of months phoning all over the state tracking down people doing good stuff. We don't always find peace people, but there are lots of Arkansans doing righteous work for justice. We've awarded food pantries in Fort Smith, and youth empowerment groups in Jonesboro, and ACORN activists who can tell a darned good story.

It's almost time to give the awards again. June 14 we've invited a slew of people to come to a very nice banquet, where we present four Peace and Justice Heroes with medallions, like olympic stars. They deserve it. They're the people who really keep the nation going while our good 'ol boy institutions fold in on themselves. Maybe that's not fair. They're trying hard. It's a tough thing to meet human needs in the face of change on the scale we're living with.

But on June 14, Omni Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology in Arkansas will be honoring peace and justice heroes. We'll hear some great stories and go home energized to keep up the good work. It's a blast every year. Stop by if you're in Fayetteville.