The Interfaith Alliance of Champaign Urbana and Ministerial Alliance of Champaign Urbana and Vicinity have partnered with a host of local organizations to present three days of events dedicated to peacemaking and nonviolence.
At the center of the event is RAWtools, a national organization that takes in donated guns, and then melts them down and fashions garden tools from them. They also facilitate nonviolence training. Here is the schedule of events:
RAWTools Guns to Garden Tools Community Gathering to End Gun Violence
July 29th – 5 p.m. gather/food; 6 p.m. program begins
Randolph St. Community Garden, 1001 N Randolph St, Champaign
Free food, Jewish Shabbat and Muslim Maghrib prayers held.
Musical performances by DJ Silkee and Afro D. and Global Soundwaves.Community Circle & Peacemaking Training
July 30th – 10 to 11:30 a.m. Stratton Academy of the Arts
Stratton Academy of the Arts, 902 N Randolph St, Champaign
All are invited to attend interactive workshops on gun safety, trauma and resilience,
peacemaking, and community responses to violence.Afternoon Forge at HVNT Block Party
July 30th – 12 to 4 p.m.
Beardsley Park, 1006 N Walnut St, Champaign
Live blacksmithing demo at the block party!Self Care Community Repair Wellness Fair
July 31st – 2 to 5 p.m.
Cunningham Township, 205 W, Green St. Urbana (Rain: UCIMC)
*FREE* activities, food, plants, and garden supplies!
All events are free and open to the public, and are an opportunity to connect with community members, hear from those impacted by gun violence, and learn about the gun violence prevention work that is happening locally and beyond.
Top photo from RAWtools Facebook page.