Peace Awards

DeKalb Interfaith Network honors graduates at 21st birthday bash

SYCAMORE - The DeKalb Interfaith Network for Peace & Justice celebrated its coming of age at a recent picnic under a big tent at the home of John and Ginny Omerod.

New officers were elected for the coming year, with Dan Kenney and Maylan Dunn taking the reins as coordinators. Retiring coordinator Cele Meyer was recognized in a poem by Frances Loubere for her service to the Network.

Dunn and Kenney, who will be married later this month, shared stories and photos of their recent trip to Africa in connection with the Kenya Literacy Partnership.

Honored guests at the picnic were Vanessa Baie and Oleksandra Zatserklyana, two of four DeKalb High School recipients of the Network's total of $2,500 in 2006 Peace Awards.

Awards included the Brian Slavenas Memorial Peace Scholarship of $1,000, two $500 Helen and Jim Merritt Peace and Social Justice Scholarships and a $500 Al and Cele Meyer Scholarship.

Students were asked to address the question “What Can I Do To Help Bring About Peace and Justice In My Community or In The World,” with creative ideas about nonviolent ways to build a peaceful community, free of racism, discrimination and economic injustices in an essay.

On hand to meet the winners were several donors of the awards - Rosemarie Slavenas and Al and Cele Meyer.

Other donors, Jim and Helen Merritt, were unable to attend, as were recipients Tiffany McCall and Evan Stravers.

Also attending were political candidates John Laesch, who is running for Congress in the 14th Congressional District, and Chuck Sauer, a candidate for Illinois State Representative.

Each candidate fielded questions from the group. Laesch was asked for his position on ending the war in Iraq, and Sauer was asked about funding for public schools.

Laesch indicated support for the nonbinding resolution, which will be on the November ballot in DeKalb, “Shall the United States government immediately begin an orderly and rapid withdrawal of all its military personnel from Iraq, beginning with the National Guard and Reserves?”

Sauer sees an equitable state income tax as the solution to improving funding for education in Illinois.

Some 40 to 50 guests attended the picnic, which was livened by music by Howard Solomon and his guitar.