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Casa de Paz (House of Peace)

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36th Avenue in the Fruitvale district of East Oakland, California, is the turf of four major gangs. The fourth one, according to Pancho Ramos-Stierle, who is one of the anchors of Casa de Paz (House of Peace), is the police, an institutionalized gang, and the most dangerous. Yet the residents of this house never lock their doors. Casa de Paz is part of a group of several homes that form an intentional community of peace and nonviolence in an area rife with structural and physical violence. In order to serve their community, they sit in receptive silence at least two hours a day and they live with the people - laugh with them, cry with them, and eat with them. They embody "giftivism" - practicing radical acts of generosity that changes the world, one heart, one home, one block at a time.
Be The Change
1
Read more about Pancho Ramos Stierle, now known worldwide as one of the men arrested for meditating to reduce the growing tension between the police and protesters during Occupy Oakland.
2
Casa de Paz is part of the Canticle Farm community. Learn more about the founders, their philosophy, and the practices that anchor the community.
3
Who constitutes your community? How can you better nourish and support each other?
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Reflections (51)

Vinod
All my love to these deeds!
Dae-ah
What you believe in and know should be put into action. Actual practice of what you believe in and know is the key to all. It inspired me and reminded me that 'put it into action' is the key to making this
world a better place to live!!! Thanks to all the volunteers and participants at Casa de Paz.
They are the ones who bring the good energy and positive spirit to all.
Kay
So inspiring! Can we imagine pockets of communities all over the world like this? What would the word look like?
Greg Acuna
Really inspiring. Hoping to visit some day.
Sheila Edwards
The beautiful smiling face of the man with dreadlocks was inspiring and the way that these people have committed to changing their community through peaceful actions
Admin
Those wishing to join the Friday meditations at Casa de Paz may RSVP here: http://www.awakin.org/local/oakland/
puneet
Please share the Rsvp link for evening meditation at casa de paz. We would like to attend.
Judy
everything my heart opened wide! I want to replicate this act of giving in some manner. Blessings
Lin
A piece certain of my long forgotten dream...for the 1st 20 years of my adulthood, I thought turning each residential block into intentional community was THE answer to everything that ails us. Obsessed I guess. My physical design idea was to remove the alleys, building community gardens in the merged back yards. Then communally purchase an empty house on the block & make it the communal dining hall. Then I moved to the city and my new friend said to my idea "I would not want to get that close to some of my neighbors". A foreign concept for me since I was a flower child from small mountain towns where oneness is just how it was by nature. But a little time in the city made me "realize he was right"...best to keep a certain distance from some folks...a lotta folks. So I am over the moon to see this group forging thru the distance keeping iissue. I say they are the bravest spiritual warriors and I hope their army grows. This soundsto like Quaker style social action. Which brings to mindand movement the enormous spiritual commune movement in the US during the 1800's. But a lot of that so was about separating from the harsh world. I so would love tothe go apprentice with these folks awhile!!
Patrick
Activism with Wisdom and Compassion!!
Sweet and Positive!!
Nancy
Seeing people who know that one by one we can transform our world!
Otis
The poem featured in this amazing tribute is called, All the Time in the World, and it is by Anthony Manousos

It takes all the time in the world
to enter the water and the wind wholly,
to let fall the imaginary boundaries
and return to the source and the destination.

It takes infinite patience to be the forest,
to cry with the chickadees and crawl with the ants,
to stalk with the cat, and forage with the bear,
to let the slow, timeless sap flow through your branches,
and feel roots and tubers pierce you like a lover...

Nothing begins or ends here: there is only the circle,
widening, calling back its own.
When you walk the path, you must be the path.
Do not be proud. Even the centipede knows this.

Everything that you touch changes
and changing, changes you.
Everything you think fill the air with its smell.

As you build you tipi or your city,
remember that knowledge and skills cannot save you.

When night falls, you must be the night.
When day breaks, you too must be broken.
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