CENTER FOR LIVING PEACE OPENS AT UNIVERSITY CENTER
Groundbreaking New Facility Promotes Peace
Irvine, California, May 07, 2010 – The Center for Living Peace, a unique new facility dedicated to promoting peace, personal development and safeguarding the environment, has opened at University Center in Irvine. Mayor Sukhee Kang and Councilmember Dr. Steven Choi will help celebrate the facility’s opening at a private ribbon cutting on May 14, and the community is invited to a weekend of fun festivities and free workshops on Sat., May 15 and Sun., May 16.
The Center for Living Peace will offer a variety of classes and workshops for children and young adults, in areas such as peace-making and effective communication, environmental awareness, exploration of self and the world through arts, culture and technology. Some of the classes available include Non-violent Communication workshops; Smiling Monkey Yoga for Kids; Meditation; Tapping the Body’s Wisdom for Girls; Safeguarding the Environment; Video Production Classes for kids, art classes by the Orange County Museum of Art and much more.
In addition, for every person who signs up for a class between May 15 and June 15 and mentions either the Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) or Irvine Unified School District, The Center for Living Peace will donate 10% off the total class fee to IPSF.
“Our slogan is ‘good happens’ and we strive to promote inner peace and help people make good happen within their community,” said founder and Newport Beach resident Kelly Smith. “We will inspire and teach through our diverse classes and programs that help people develop the skills to bridge their positive intentions to conscious and positive action.”
According to Smith, her goal is to establish a place where people can achieve a greater sense of well being and the desire to be of service to their community.
“To me, this is what ‘living peace’ is all about. We start with ourselves and our own inspiration and then extend our help and care to others. And we most definitely start with the children. Our scholarship program is just one way to achieve that.”
To celebrate the opening on Sat., May 15 and Sun., May 16, The Center for Living Peace will have free cupcakes and lemonade from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as a street painting exhibition and workshops, an arts and crafts play area for the kids, and tours of the Center. The weekend’s free classes and workshops will include:
SATURDAY, MAY 15
10 - 11:30 a.m. Open Door Communication Presents: A Nonviolent Communication Workshop - Learn How to Communicate More Effectively and Compassionately With Others
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Acclaimed Artist Melanie Stimmell Presents: Fun with Soft Pastels - An Art for All Ages
12 p.m. Team Kids and The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity Presents: Service Inspired Story and Art Activity (kids ages 3 and up)
1 – 3 p.m. The Ecology Center Presents: Creating Terrariums - A workshop for families and kids of all ages.
2 – 3 p.m. Acclaimed Artist Melanie Stimmell Presents: Fun with Soft Pastels - An Art for All Ages
4:30 p.m. Making Peace Possible - An exploration of living peace and introduction to meditation by international human rights advocate Richard Reoch, former Media Chief of Nobel Prize Winning Amnesty International
SUNDAY, MAY 16
10 – 11 a.m. Tapping the Body's Wisdom. An Exploration for Girls Through Dance, Creative Writing, and Art. (For girls aged 8-12.)
10:30 – 12 p.m. The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity Presents: Peace and Carrots - Discovering Creativity through Art
11 – 12 p.m. Acclaimed Artist Melanie Stimmell Presents: Fun with Soft Pastels - An Art for All Ages
1 – 4 p.m. The Orange County Museum of Art Presents: Solar Portraits - Harness the Power of the Sun to Create Art
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Smiling Monkey Yoga for kids aged 3-6
2 – 3 p.m. Acclaimed Artist Melanie Stimmell Presents: Fun with Soft Pastels - An Art for All Ages
3 - 4pm Smiling Monkey Yoga for Kids aged 7-12
The Center for Living Peace will also promote community involvement by sponsoring service projects, encouraging volunteerism, and educating the community on how they can give back to the world. The Center will also offer a full scholarship program in partnership with other Orange County non-profit agencies. Currently, The Center for Living Peace is offering free classes to women and children through Human Options, a domestic violence women's shelter, and teens through Boys Hope Girls Hope, a residential program for at risk teens.
The Center for Living Peace is located in University Center, at 4139 Campus Drive, in Irvine, between Lee’s Sandwiches and Focus Dance Studio. For more information or a complete class schedule, please call The Center at (949) 854-5500 or visit www.goodhappens.org.
University Center, owned and managed by Irvine Company, is located on Campus Drive at Bridge Road, directly across from UC Irvine. The center is anchored by 24 Hour Fitness, Edwards Cinemas and Trader Joe’s, and has 45 stores, services, restaurants and casual dining spots.
Irvine Company is a privately held company based in Newport Beach, California. The company’s retail portfolio includes Fashion Island, Irvine Spectrum Center, The Market Place and neighborhood and community centers. For more information, visit www.shoptheirvinecompany.com.
