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What is the Citizen Circle / Global Renaissance Alliance connection?
Welcome!
The Citizen Circle is the "heart and soul" of the Global Renaissance Alliance. Citizen Circles are an
informal society of two or more citizens who wish to fully engage the democratic process using spiritual principles in their
political actions. Citizen Circle meetings are forums of openness, understanding, and action. We join to create a safe and
sacred space that grounds us in love and provides everyone the opportunity to express themselves, and gain informed awareness
about today's social and political issues.
As anyone who has tried a program of weight loss, or battled with an addiction can tell you, there are no quick fixes
to the problems we face in life, or in politics. In whatever circumstances we face, our power is drawn not from what we do
once and drop, but from that which we do consistently as we fully engage ourselves in the power of process -- whether that
is the process of spiritual growth, physical development, or political awareness. From our adherence to the principles of
process, and our willingness to work with them, we find great strength and expression and ultimately -- we will be shown the
path to personal, spiritual and political change.
The Global Renaissance Alliance is a non-partisan, non-religious, non-profit organization whose focus is to empower citizens
to re-discover democracy by engaging in spiritually-based political activism.
It is our goal to re-awaken more Americans to the principles of non-violence and the need to infuse spiritual values
into our political system.
With your support, we can provide every citizen with the encouragement and tools to fully engage the democratic process
with, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "tough minds and tender hearts."
Peace Citizen Circle Format:
There are three parts to a Peace Citizen Circle: Sacred Silence, Holistic Conversation, and Inspired Action.
First is Sacred Silence: 20 minutes of meditation envisioning what we want (focusing on positive) to see or could be in
Portland, Oregon, United States of America, and World and if moved to, to verbalize those images.
Second is Holistic Conversation: allows a topic or article to be discussed. This is also the time where we share our
Citizen Story if we haven't done so or there is a new member. The most amazing thing is when we speak from our hearts (due
to the meditation time) we respect each other and find comfort in being able to speak freely, knowing while we may not agree,
we can attempt to discover a deeper understanding, accept differences, or just pray, because we just don't know what is best
or right.
Third is Inspired Action: allows the circle members the opportunity to work on short term or long term projects together,
or at least find supportive ears. Writing letters and/or making telephone calls about an issue, and cleaning up a park or
neighborhood are three of many short term actions. Three long term examples are writing a piece of legislature for submission
(and the whole process till passed or different method introduced), a community project that involves renovating and landscaping
a park or garden, and saving its school from being eliminated. People feel good when doing something constructive that has
a result. It builds a foundation for people taking more risks of being themselves and standing up for what they believe.
The key to a successful Citizen Circle is that we speak from the heart about subjects that matter. Come join the adventure!
Join Baltimore's Citizen Circles!
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