Presenter/facilitators Walter Brueggemann, John McKnight and Peter Block and musician Barbara McAfee challenged and inspired eager participants by modeling the process to change conversations to engage others and narrate change for the common good.  Conference attendees met in small circles to share thoughts around topics of need and interest, challenging one another to identify personal gifts and lift long-held dreams.  In conversation on these areas of need, narrating positive change now seems possible!

More than 50 organizations committed to hosting six monthly conversations in their own locale between May and October.  In November Prairiewoods will welcome Peter Block back to facilitate the culmination of activity, learning, challenge and next best steps.

We remain grateful for the overwhelming response to the conference, and now we are ready to focus on the next step.  Do you want to be a part of it?  If so, check back here soon … we will post details about how you can start your own small group or join an existing group.

Reaction to the Postville Raid from Fight Back! News

Public invited to remember tragic event

On Friday, May 10, a gathering commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Postville, Iowa, Immigration Raid will take place in Cedar Rapids.  The purpose of the event is to remember the 389 people who were arrested on May 12, 2008, to reconcile with those who contributed to the injustices and to advocate for the reform of immigration policies.

The event will begin at noon with a remembrance ritual at the park across from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa (111 7th Ave SE in Cedar Rapids).  A “Walk for Justice” at 12:30 p.m. to Immaculate Conception Church (857 3rd Ave SE) will follow.  Here an interfaith prayer for reconciliation and a call for reform of our immigration policies will take place at 1:15 p.m.

The assembly is being planned by a wide coalition of those involved in the response to the raid as well as those affected.  It will include immigrants who were part of the 2008 raid, church representatives who ministered to the immigrants and their families, lawyers who saw the injustice of the system and others who are concerned about immigration reform.

The Postville Immigration Raid was the largest single-site immigration raid at the time in the history of the United States.  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials raided Agriprocessors, the main producer of kosher meat in the United States, handcuffed immigrants and bused them to the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo.  Most detainees were charged with identity theft and were shipped to prisons across the country where they spent five months before being deported.  Immigration charges against the CEO of Agriprocessors were dropped.  In a matter of hours on that fateful day, Postville lost a significant amount of its population, and worse yet, hundreds of families were torn apart.

For more information about the fifth anniversary commemoration and call for the reform of our immigration policy, as well as for resources for organizing events in communities or congregations to coincide with this commemoration, please contact Rockne Cole at rocknecole@gmail.com or (319) 358-1900 or Sister Mary McCauley, BVM, at mmccauley@bvmcong.org or (563) 583-8989.

Prairiewoods is not a sponsor of this program, but we are happy to share the information with our friends.

Prairiewoods board and staff, area environmental leaders and politicians, and a representative of USGBC were all present for a plaque presentation ceremony on Friday, December 14. (See pictures.)

“We are proud to earn the LEED Gold Certification. This is a testament to the commitment and respect for the environment that the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration had when they built Prairiewoods in 1996. We look forward to educating and engaging families, schools, churches and businesses in our community on green practices they too can implement,” said Prairiewoods Director Laurie Harris. “Our eco-friendly practices not only protect God’s creation and provide utility cost savings, but also contribute to a healthy and comfortable space for our staff and guests.”

While many newly constructed buildings are LEED certified, achieving certification for an existing building is much less common. Only seven existing buildings in Iowa are LEED certified. Of these, only one other existing structure has received Gold, and Prairiewoods is the only nonprofit to do so.

Prairiewoods achieved LEED certification for energy efficiency; use of renewable energy; and green practices for lighting, water and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

“Building operations are nearly 40% of the solution to the global climate change challenge,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “While climate change is a global problem, innovative organizations like Prairiewoods are addressing it through local solutions.”

LEED certification of Prairiewoods was based on a number of green policies and practices established over Prairiewoods’ 16-year history. These features include:

• solar panels that generate 24,600 kilowatt-hours (kwh) of energy each year, which is 50% of the energy used in the main building at Prairiewoods
• 100% of light bulbs, 48% of food, 73% of cleaning materials and 100% of ongoing consumables that meet USGBC criteria for green products
• an Energy Star rating of 91 for energy efficiency

Due to overwhelming interest in this conference, lodging at Prairiewoods is completely booked. Please call 877-751-5111 to book lodging at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center.

Click here to download a registration brochure.

The work of “building community” is a complex and life-long journey; relationship resides at its core.  This work is challenged by our culture.  Though individuals are very connected technologically, many experience enormous isolation.

We have developed a dependence on systems and institutions to solve problems and meet needs, rather than engaging ourselves collaboratively with others.  Currently, conversations about challenges in our neighborhood, workplace, church, city, state or country often start from what we do not have, what we lack, what we need.  Such conversations have limited power to create lasting change.

Come, experience a conversation that will offer and inspire new possibilities!  A new worldwide movement is emerging, made up of people with fresh vision.  Leaders, as understood within this new movement, call forth a capacity to connect people with people in the service of something greater than themselves, and with an overall goal to transform what currently exists.  They sense a calling.  They are called.  And together they invite us and one another to embody a culture of care that emerges by engaging conversations that can lead to an alternative future.

Sustainable, abundant community conversations shift the context from retribution to restoration; from problems to possibility; from fear and fault to gifts, generosity and abundance; from law and oversight to choice and accountability; from corporation and systems to relational life!  Experience how together we can co-create sustainable environments, welcoming and tapping the gifts of all.

Through Spirituality in the 21^st Century: Engaging Community, Narrating Change we will challenge and inspire people to change each and every conversation they have.  We will weave new insights into community to awaken a new vision of what our families, workplaces, neighborhoods, faith communities and cities can be.  Participants will experience these new conversations in real time and begin to understand how, as leaders, engaging everyone can help to transform community.

What will participants do?
The wonderful connections and collaborations established among people attending this event will linger long after and lead us each to something greater than any one of us can imagine.  Participants will learn to:
•     invite and convene conversations so that others commit to the success of community
•     help others and ourselves declare new possibilities with the faith that we can live out our personal intentions and also serve the community
•     create ownership by moving the conversations from complaining and waiting for others to change to ones in which we realize we have helped create the very place we thought was owned and operated by others
•     focus on strengths, assets and capacity rather than problem-solving or deficiencies
•     hold a stance wholeheartedly while accepting the diverse stances of others

Why might this appeal to you?
This conference will appeal to anyone interested in creating more powerful partnerships with people around them.  It is for individuals and organizations who are:
•     committed to helping neighborhoods grow
•     seeking pathways that promote connections and engagement
•     eager for new perspectives and approaches to advance communities
•     looking for ways to get started, gain momentum or renew
This conference is about caring for the whole, where the whole may be a community or family, government or education, nonprofit or for profit, church or volunteer association, or anything in between.

Who are the presenters?
This conference will feature internationally known speakers Walter Brueggemann, John McKnight and Peter Block—thought leaders from very different disciplines who have spent their lives illuminating a pathway toward creating a different future that emerges out of community, neighborliness and vision for the common good.  Music will be provided by Barbara McAfee.

Peter Block is a consultant and citizen of Cincinnati, Ohio.  His recent book, Community: The Structure of Belonging, and his work emphasize empowerment, stewardship, chosen accountability and the reconciliation of community.  Peter offers a methodology for shifting conversations from one of problems to one of possibilities.

John McKnight, emeritus professor of education and social policy and co-director of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University, has been a community organizer and serves on the boards of several national organizations that support neighborhood development.  John offers practical wisdom and experience building communities from the inside out using local resources, capacities and relationship.  Long-time colleagues and friends, Peter and John have walked numerous neighborhoods and communities to co-author The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods in 2010. 

Peter and John recently have become scholars of the work of Walter Brueggemann, a renowned Old Testament scholar and an important figure in Progressive Christianity, who most recently authored Journey to the Common Good.  Through his passionate exploration of the Old Testament, he inspires a deeper understanding and commitment to neighborliness.

Barbara McAfee is a singer/songwriter, keynoter, author and voice coach who merges lessons from 12 years in organizational development with the transformative power of music.  “She brings a quality to thinking and speaking that is fresh and accessible,” says Peter Block.  “Few others have so integrated organizational insight and profound speech.  Barbara gives great care to all she does.”

What resources are available?
If you are interested in more information about the presenters and theories behind the conference, more information is available:
•     Peter Block, Community: The Structure of Belonging (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2008).
•     John McKnight and Peter Block, The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2010).
•     “Abundant Community” website, http://www.abundantcommunity.com.

Tickets cost $65 for both days if purchased by March 15 (or $75 after March 15).  To register, download the registration form below or contact Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700 or www.Prairiewoods.org.

Are you willing to help us spread the word?  Download a printable flyer, brochure or registration form here!

Our doors will open at 8 a.m. so that you can enjoy a wide selection of baked goods and gifts for family and friends.  You will have until 1 p.m. to fill the Christmas stockings and the space under your tree.

Prairiewoods will offer special items from its Gift Shop and kitchen.  Other vendors will offer an array of goods prepared by local artisans.  You will have your choice of freshly baked breads and pies, Trappistine caramels, scarves, handcrafted aprons, denim wear, bags, baby blankets, mittens, jewelry and much more.  You also can enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee or cider and a cinnamon roll at our Coffee Corner.

Want to do more than just shop?  You are invited to help make the bazaar a success!  We appreciate any baked goods, craft items or volunteer time you want to donate.  If you are interested, please contact Helen Elsbernd, FSPA, at 319-395-6700, ext. 208, or helsbernd@prairiewoods.org.

We hope you will join us for the official start of the season at the Prairiewoods Holiday Bazaar!

Please help us spread the word! Click here to print a flyer to post at your business, church or favorite hangout!

Since 2010, the Prairiewoods grounds have housed a Training Facility for the Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew). This solar-powered Training Facility is off the grid, and it often has a lot of unused solar energy.

Prairiewoods, I-Renew and RJ Construction teamed up to put that solar energy to work in the garden, which sits adjacent to the I-Renew Training Facility. The solar energy now flows through tubes below the garden’s surface, heating the roots of the vegetables growing above it. This, combined with a new hoop house, is allowing Prairiewoods to grow fresh produce year-round.

Last year, Prairiewoods served more than 7,600 healthy, local meals to its guests.

Mindfulness is an open, kind, non-judging attention to what is happening in the present moment as it is happening.  It shapes a wise and compassionate relationship with and response to experience as it unfolds moment by moment.  As Joseph Goldstein writes in A Heart Full of Peace, “Mindfulness is the quality and power of mind that is deeply aware of what’s happening—without commentary and without interference.  It is like a mirror that simply reflects whatever comes before it … Mindfulness also keeps us connected to the people around us, so we don’t just rush by them in the busyness of our lives.”

Scientific research shows that mindfulness can positively affect stress resilience, physical and mental health, the ability to sustain attention, self-regulation of emotions, interpersonal skills, and general well-being and happiness.

This retreat will be held at Prairiewoods (120 East Boyson Road in Hiawatha, Iowa) from 6:30 p.m. on Friday, November 2, to 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 4.  As a participant, you will cultivate mindfulness in silence throughout the weekend.  In the midst of the silence, there will be time for instruction, questions and guided meditative practices including sitting meditation, walking meditation, mindful movement and mindful eating.  The repetition of these practices establishes and strengthens the habit of mindfulness while enhancing the likelihood of its practice in everyday life.  You are welcome to participate if you are interested in beginning a formal mindfulness meditation practice or if you have been practicing for some time.

This retreat will be led by Chris Klug, who has practiced mindfulness meditation for more than 20 years, including seven silent extended mindfulness meditation retreats.  He is an instructor in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where he began teaching in 2001 following participation in a training with Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Chris is a grief counselor, educator and consultant in private practice in Iowa City, and he is a consultant to the palliative care staff at UIHC.  He has more than 25 years experience facilitating retreats and workshops on mindfulness, nonviolence, creative conflict resolution, and grief and loss.

For more information or to register, call Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700.  Click here for a printable brochure about this retreat.

Our lives are full of decisions to be made, from the mundane (Which flavor of cream cheese should I have on my morning bagel?) to the major (Which job offer should I accept?).  Some are easy to make, while others require serious discernment.  Where do we turn when we need help making these decisions?  What skills do we have to help us with the process?

Author and psychotherapist Father Anthony DeMello said, “So I can speak to you not of the Truth, but of the obstacles to the truth.”  Discernment requires us to clear away all those obstacles and distractions so that we can better understand the issues before us.  By learning to see clearly what is truly there, we can focus on life-enhancing thoughts, feelings and actions.

So this leaves me with questions:  What obstacles are in the way of my truth?  How can I see past the distractions along my life’s path to what really matters?  One answer is contemplative meditation.  For those of us who struggle to carve out significant chunks of time for quiet, meditative reflection, a designated weekend may be perfect for kick starting our meditation practice.

On October 12 to 14, nationally renowned author and speaker Thomas Roberts, LCSW, LMFT, will host an experiential retreat at Prairiewoods focused on meditation and discernment.  Splendid Presence: The Path of Clarity, The Wisdom of Discernment Retreat will draw upon the teachings and practices of mindful discernment from various traditions to be relevant to all of us.

Tom Roberts’s retreat will be aimed at meditation masters and those of us who are relatively inexperienced.  It will teach us to clear away life’s distractions in order to make more aware decisions, whether they are mundane or major.  For more information on this retreat, contact Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700 or check out the attached brochure.  I hope you will make the decision to join us!

Although Saint Francis of Assisi was born more than 800 years ago, his joyful approach to life and love of all creatures remain a relevant example to us today.  Come celebrate Saint Francis at our annual Nature Fest at Prairiewoods (120 East Boyson Road in Hiawatha).

This family- and pet-friendly outdoor party celebrates our connection with animals, Earth and the Universe—which were important connections to Saint Francis.  Experience Prairiewoods in its natural fall splendor with guided prairie walks, eco-tours, live music, children’s activities, face painting, storytelling and much more.  And what would a celebration of Saint Francis be without a Blessing of the Animals?  Bring your furry, winged, scaled or other friends to be individually blessed by a pastor.

You also can participate in the Native American tradition of Gift Blanket Sharing.  In this ceremony, a blanket containing a few gifts is spread on the ground.  You may take something from the blanket or leave your own gift, such as a poem, a song, a small token from nature or an object you no longer need.  This ceremony serves several purposes: it allows you to consciously break habits of accumulation and share things you no longer need; it teaches that there is abundance in the world if people share; and it shows that we are part of ONE family and all have something to offer.

In addition to an item for the Gift Blanket Sharing, you may want to bring a blanket or chair for comfortable outdoor seating.  If your pet is joining you, please bring appropriate gear, such a leash or carrying case.  For more information, contact Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700.  We hope you will plan to join us for this free, festive party!

Schedule
1:00        Games, Prairie Walks, Eco-Tours, Outdoor Activities, Live Music by Deep Dish Divas
1:45        Ice Cream Social
2:00        Storytelling by Saint Francis
2:30        Blessing of the Animals
3:00        More Music, Games, Tours & Activities
4:00        Closing

Click here to download a printable flyer to share with your friends!

This year’s Garden Party will be held on Saturday, June 9, in the lovely Hallagan Education Center at Mercy Medical Center in downtown Cedar Rapids.

The party begins at 4:30 p.m. with a social hour featuring local wine and beer tasting.  As a guest, you can enjoy live entertainment by The River’s Voice, socialize with other guests and witness the official debut of Prairiewoods’ video documentary.  You will feast on a buffet dinner prepared by the chefs at Mercy Medical Center.

You also will have a chance to bid on a variety of exciting items in both a silent and live auction.  This year’s auctions include irresistible items, such as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share, tickets to community events, gift certificates for Prairiewoods programs and retreats, and a stunning handmade afghan … just to name a few!

In the coming months, you will be able to buy raffle tickets for a chance to win an iPad and a private ride in a hot air balloon.  (Check back in a few weeks for information about purchasing raffle tickets and for downloadable forms.)

Tickets to the Garden Party cost $40 for one  person or $250 for a table of eight (a portion of which is tax-deductible).  Start thinking about getting a group of friends together for this enjoyable evening!

We also are seeking sponsors to help underwrite the cost of the Garden Party.  Sponsorships are at the heart of making this event successful each year, and we would be thrilled to include any company or individual as a supporter.  To learn more about becoming a sponsor, please contact us.

The Garden Party is the main fundraising event of the year for Prairiewoods.  It helps to support the wonderful variety of spiritual and ecological programming we provide throughout the year.  We hope you’ll plan to join us!

For more information or to register, please visit www.Prairiewoods.org or contact Andi Lewis at 319-395-6700,
ext. 206.

Who:  All Friends of Prairiewoods
Where:  Hallagan Education Center at Mercy Medical Center
When:  Saturday, June 9, 4:30 p.m.
How Much:  $40 per ticket or $250 per table of eight

2012 Garden Party

The Garden Party is Prairiewoods’ largest fund-raiser of the year.  We couldn’t offer the variety of spiritual and ecological programming our guests have come to appreciate without your help!  The Prairiewoods board and staff would like to extend a special thank you to those who helped make tonight a success …

SPECIAL THANKS TO
Trish & Richard Bruxvoort Colligan for tonight’s entertainment
Libby Slappey for tonight’s live auction
The Cheesehead Cheese Haus for the cheese in tonight’s social
Milton Creamery for the cheese in tonight’s social
Millstream Brewing Company for the beer & root beer in tonight’s social
First Avenue Wine House for the wine in tonight’s social
Mercy Medical Center for the use of the beautiful Hallagan Education Center

SPONSORSHIPS
Bountiful Harvest ($1,000 and up)
Mike Billett

Garden Party Sustainers ($500–$999)
Anonymous
Steve & Kay Jackson
Mercy Medical Center
Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of the Presentation
Amy Starr
Mary & Don Thompson
Linda Toplikar

Garden Party Sowers ($250–$499)
Coldwell Banker Hedges Realty
Jim & Diane Daubenmier
Bob & Mary Ellen Dunford
Jack & Beverly Gales
Louise Gisolfi
Healthcare of Iowa
Norb & Suzanne Hemesath
Dr. Linda Railsback, MD
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Jean & Gary Wenisch
Elaine Young

Garden Party Seed Starters ($100–$249)
Fred & Joan Althoff
Daniel & Marianne Arndorfer
Rev. Ardel Barta
Lois Bartelme
Mary & Gary Crandall
Sally Boyle & Rick Engelman
Bruce & Lorrie Erusha
Ron & Pat Gonder
Vern & Rose Jackson
Rev. Neil Manternach
Patricia McPherson
Fran Morrissey, FSPA
Rev. Melvin & Rev. Barbara Schlachter
St Matthew’s Church
St Pius X Social Justice Committee
Alan & Elizabeth Swanson
Dirk & Adele Ver Steeg

DONORS
Lisa Baker
Rose Blank
Marty Bruns
Jim & Evelyn Colbert
Darlene Elsbernd
Delmarie Gibney, FSPA
Joyce Hanson
C. Jean Hayen BVM
Nancy Hoffman, FSPA
Vern Hunstad
Linda Lumsden
Dale & Carolyn March
Steve Meehleder & M.L. Folkedahl-Meehleder
Kathryn & James Miller
Shirley Morris
Ione Nieland, FSPA
Irene Nieland, FSPA
Jim & Colleen Nieman
Barbara Oberhauser
Margaret R. Polson
Dolores Riepe
Sheila Rouse
Mary Schneider
Jeanette Schwartz
Vayla Waddington
The Waldinger Corporation
Tony & Gaylen Wobeter

IN-KIND DONORS
Amana Colonies Golf Club
Anonymous
Lois Bartleme
Sue Bergman
Best Western Cooper’s Mill Hotel & Restaurant
Dian Boysen
Dianne Brenneman
Brucemore
Richard & Trish Bruxvoort Colligan
Cedar Hills Auto
Cedar Rapids Bowling Center
Cedar Rapids Marriott
Cedar Rapids Toyota Service Department
Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity
Cecilia Corcoran
The Class Act at Kirkwood
Jim & Diane Daubenmier
Dubuque River Rides
Mary Ellen Dunford
East Iowa Heirloom Quilters Guild
Helen Elsbernd, FSPA
Clare Fass
First Lutheran Church
Four Seasons
HyVee Edgewood Road
Frontier Gardens
Fruitzen
Joann Gehling, FSPA
Louise Gisolfi
Laurie Harris
Christine Heires
Rita Heires, FSPA
Indian Creek Nature Center
The Iowa Children’s Museum
Ann Jackson, PBVM
Andrea Jilovec
Dave & Julie Johnson, Zach Johnson Foundation
Jill Jones
Kirkwood Community College
The Kirkwood Hotel
Carol & Dick Lensing
Gary Lenz
Andi Lewis
Linn County Conservation
Denise Hodgden Maier
SOMA Health Center Therapeutic Massage
Michelle, Urban Trends Salon
Cindi Minehart
Dr. Colette Murphy
NewBo City Market
New Pioneer Food Co-op
Joan Oeltjen
Clara Oleson
Orchestra Iowa
Oscar’s Family Restaurant
TriYoga of Cedar Rapdis
Pat McGrath Dodge Country
Peck’s Flower and Garden Shop
Pierson’s Florist
Playstation
Prairiewoods
Delores Riepe
Nikki Robertson
Larry Robinson & Kay Landuyt
Suzanne Rubenbauer, FSPA
Mel & Barbara Schlachter
Nancy Schrimper
Science Center
Scott’s Family Restaurant
The Secret Cellar
Sisters Health Club, Inc.
The Sisters of the Presentation
Janet Specht
Michelle Stafford
Theatre Cedar Rapids
Arlene Thome
Mike Thome
University of Iowa College of Nursing Faculty Practice
Ushers Ferry Historic Village
Vino’s Ristorante
Wednesday Women
Wildlife Habitat
Wright Touch Bake Shoppe
Elaine Young
Zach Coaching LLC
Zins

Garden Party Planning Committee
Katie Giorgio, Chair
Sue Bergman
Dian Boysen
Joann Gehling, FSPA
Laurel Gladish
Theresa Keller, FSPA
Carol Lensing
Andi Lewis
David Minehart
Mike Thome