Last Year Life Directions completed, Chicago’s first “Garden of Forgiveness” on the corner of Van Buren and Central Park in East Garfield Park. It was very successful and we dedicated the Garden to Hands of Peace Students visiting Chicago from Israel and Palestine. Hands of Peace provides our youth an opportunity to hear how teens from the Middle East are working to resolve long standing conflicts through dialogue with each other. It also gives our youth the opportunity to tell their story about how violence has affected them. Together they inspire each other to create alternatives to violence through the value of forgiveness, reconciliation and conflict transformation.
Our Goal this year is to create a second garden in Little Village at 2356 S. Sawyer and to expand our relationship with other peacemaking and community groups. The garden will be located on the grounds of the Amor de Dios Methodist Church which is across the street from Farragut High School. It will be the Amor de Dios Butterfly Garden. Butterflies migrate every year from Michoacan to Chicago. The butterfly Garden will be a way for the student to talk about the story of migration that is such an important experience for the Little Village Community.