The Everyday Global: Women Creating a More Peaceful World
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- By Gail Sandlin, USA, Communications Committee Co-Chair
What does it mean to work for peace in a world that can feel increasingly divided and uncertain? Perhaps it begins closer to home than we imagine.
In this issue of the ICUUW newsletter, we encounter our members creating peace and possibility in many different ways: from dancing together, cultivating community gardens, caring for mental health and finding healthier ways to navigate the demands of our digital lives. We also learn the similarities of nurturing gardens and our own budgets! These may seem like very different activities, yet each reflects something essential to our work: the recognition that our local and extended communities are built through relationships, care, creativity, and the everyday choices we make about how we live with one another.
Our stories begin with the local and then extend far beyond our immediate communities. The United Nations remains an important arena in which women’s voices, leadership, and commitment to peace and justice can shape global priorities. In this newsletter we look at developments within the UN, including the recent activities concerning nomination of the next Secretary-General. We also look ahead to the upcoming 2027 Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), where women from around the world will again gather to address the challenges and possibilities before us.
For ICUUW, these dimensions are not separate. Peace is both a global aspiration and a daily practice. It is found in the ways we care for ourselves and one another. Take a few minutes to scan our library of recently categorized YouTube videos and discover ICUUW members creating resilient communities, protecting the earth, nurturing dialogue, and insisting that women have a meaningful voice in the decisions that shape our shared future.
With a Community Garden We Grow More Than Vegetables
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- By Sylvie Nyiramana, Canada, ICUUW Board member
When I moved from Africa to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada about two and a half years ago, as a newcomer, everything was new to me, and I wanted to find a place where I could meet people and feel welcome.
Soon I learned about The North Grove, a community whose vision it is to create a safe and inclusive space that fosters community connection, well-being, and support. A place where the sounds, smells, and feel tell people they belong. Joining North Grove gave me a sense of belonging. It was nice to be part of a friendly community in a new country.
The Magic of the Dances of Universal Peace
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- By Sally Mabelle, New Zealand
During the closing ceremony of ICUUW’s 4th convocation 2024 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, we endorsed a Peace Declaration and committed ourselves to personal and institutional actions towards peace. Sally is a Universalist Sufi minister and Dances of Universal Peace leader. She explains how Dances of Universal Peace contribute to peacebuilding.
There is something almost impossible to explain about the Dances of Universal Peace until you have experienced them. They are not performances, and there is no audience. We stand in a circle, move together, sing sacred phrases from different spiritual traditions, and allow the music and movement to connect us. The simplicity is part of the magic.
- Where to Start Watching ICUUW Videos?
- Making Mental Health Support More Accessible
- Entrepreneurs in Uganda
- CSW71: Women Moving from Surviving to Thriving
- Is a Madame Secretary General possible?
- Three Tips for Dealing With Email
- Share-The-Plate and Glow Warmly!
- Tending the Garden of Our Organization
- Successful Annual Member Meeting - June 24, 2026
- Including Men is Essential in Advancing Gender Equality
- UU Women in the Philippines - Annual Conference
- Crimes Against Humanity Treaty
