‘Creating a Culture of Peace’ forum scheduled Wednesday evening

'Creating a Culture of Peace” is the theme of a free forum at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Fairfield Public Library.

Recognizing that we live in a time when life is increasingly insecure, this forum aims to inspire participants to respond by working together to create a culture of peace that nourishes mental strength and resilience.

One impediment to 'working together” is the divisive polarity that has arisen in the political sphere, making it difficult for people of opposing views to communicate. Forum speakers Joe and Julie Mandarino, both PhDs, address this problem in their talk 'Distressed Couples; Divided Communities: How a Marriage Therapist is Reducing Political Polarization.” Their presentation is based upon their work as Red/Blue Workshop Moderators.

Following their presentation, Dr. Scott Terry, clinical director of the Ardent Counseling Center, will discuss different aspects of the increasing incidence of suicide, in his talk 'Addressing the Real Challenges that Suicide Doesn't Resolve.” An opportunity for audience discussion will follow.

Fairfield's forum is part of a nationwide initiative co-sponsored by several humanitarian organizations and centered in Denver, Colorado, in memory of the tragedy at Columbine. The Denver event, entitled 'America Meditates,” features a Mental Health Summit that aims 'to expand the vision of what is possible in community mental health systems” by gathering the diverse perspectives of over 30 prominent contributors, including Marianne Williamson and Bob Roth, CEO of the David Lynch Foundation.

The Denver program concludes with a mega-meditation, coordinated with parallel forums around the country, and led by Global Humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Fairfield participants will join the live-streamed nationwide meditation, which is open to everyone, at 8:30 p.m.

Learn more about the Denver events at americameditates.org