Category: News

Peace in Action 2023

Join Hands to Support Volodymyr Bieloshytskyi and His Family Amidst Challenging Circumstances 

We invite you to be part of an incredible journey of resilience and compassion as we rally together to support Volodymyr Bieloshytskyi, his wife Tatiana, and their young daughter Aviheia. This courageous family, hailing from the Odessa region in Ukraine, has overcome immense challenges and now seeks our assistance to rebuild their lives in Tacoma, far away from the conflict that shattered their homeland. 

A Life of Dedication: 

Volodymyr Bieloshytskyi’s lifelong commitment to his family and his esteemed career as a certified sailor for international companies exemplify his unwavering dedication. Born and raised in the town of Izmail, he embodied the values of hard work, integrity, and compassion that guided him throughout his life. 

In February, when war unexpectedly erupted, Volodymyr immediately abandoned his planned trip to be by his family’s side. He fearlessly navigated the dangers of their heavily targeted hometown, ensuring Tatiana and Aviheia’s safety as they escaped the violence that engulfed their community. Volodymyr’s unwavering presence amidst perilous situations saved countless lives as he spearheaded the evacuation efforts for those trapped in the occupied territories. 

Volodymyr’s moral compass, deeply rooted in his strong religious beliefs, propelled him to remain steadfast in his principles. Despite the imminent danger surrounding him, he chose a path of non-violence, refusing to use weapons even when faced with grave threats. His unwavering faith and moral strength serve as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. 

A New Chapter: 

Now residing in Tacoma, Volodymyr, Tatiana their three-year-old daughter and unborn child face the daunting task of starting afresh in a foreign land. As they endeavor to settle down and rebuild their lives, they require our collective support to meet their basic needs and secure a stable future for their growing family. 

Your Support Matters: 

By contributing to this fundraising campaign, you can play a vital role in helping the Bieloshytskyi family regain their footing. Your generous donations will provide them with the essential resources they need to establish a new home, access healthcare for Tatiana’s pregnancy, and ensure their kids well-being. Together, we can help alleviate their immediate financial burdens and provide a solid foundation for a brighter future. 

Let Us Stand United: 

In the face of adversity, it is the kindness and compassion of individuals like yourself that provide hope and inspire change. By joining hands, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of the Bieloshytskyi family, allowing them to embark on a new chapter with the support and stability they deserve. Together, let us rally around Volodymyr, Tatiana, and Aviheia, demonstrating the power of collective support in creating a brighter future.

Help our new neighbors by donating via the button below:

(100% of your donation will go to the family, and we will post the distributions on our site in the future)

Janet Ruud Announces Retirement from GTPP Board


Having been on the GTPP Board since its inception in 2005, Ruud retired in April of this year, after the Dedication of Bill Lincoln’s Peace Bench. Janet had informed the Board in early 2020 that she wished to retire, but when the COVID virus descended upon us and Zoom was the way to hold a meeting, she agreed to stick around for a while longer. The Board threw a surprise retirement party for her, where she expressed her deep gratitude to them all for their enthusiasm for peace and support over the years. She is happy to have some time for other interests now –  including support of gay rights, anti-racism, and refugee assistance, as well as reading, relaxing, and traveling. (Janet can be contacted at [email protected])

Photos from the Peace Bench Dedication

A Request from LCS Refugee Response

“We need your help. You have been following along with us throughout the Afghan refugee crisis. To date, we have welcomed over 620 to the LCS Northwest family. With so many arrivals in a short period of time, we are experiencing unanticipated needs in all three of our resettlement locations. Our community partners resources are unable to meet all of our clients’ needs.”

Read more about their specific needs here: https://api.neonemails.com/emails/content/LwMmK9Ot0lyn2oMygHnY1L6BeZfrb7O0U5bWzGI-HNQ=

Project Peace Bench

The purpose of this project is to recognize and encourage peacemakers in the greater Tacoma area through the manufacture and installment of a “Peace Bench” — a TANGIBLE symbol of dialog and diplomacy, a place where people can meet, connect, and communicate with each other. The Peace Bench will be situated in a peaceful serene location alongside the shores of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington (the Waterwalk at Point Ruston), and it will be dedicated in honor of and in memory of internationally known peacemaker, mediator, negotiator, trainer, conflict resolution guide, and long-time Tacoma resident William F. Lincoln.

 

Bill Lincoln, 1940-2020

Bill Lincoln was the 2006 Greater Tacoma Peace Prize Laureate, and he had been a member of the GTPP Board of Directors from 2015 until his unexpected death in March of 2020. Bill knew that peace begins with talking; “Let’s have a chat” was one of his standard opening lines to bring people of diverse and divergent opinions together. As Nelson Mandela said, “The best weapon is to sit down and talk.” The Peace Bench pays tribute to Bill’s efforts to bring people together to talk and make peace, to find effective resolutions for conflict. Widely acclaimed as a practitioner of negotiation and mediation, Bill found himself in diverse, critical, and often highly volatile scenarios involving international, governmental, private, community, and environmental sectors.

Bill loved Tacoma and was extremely proud of the progress the city had made since he arrived in 1984. He enjoyed walks along Ruston Way, and eventually, along the new Waterwalk at Point Ruston. When guests visited, they were treated to a “Sunday Drive” with Bill, during which he inspected and espoused upon the many construction sites at the University of Washington and the Museum District, as well as Ruston Way all the way to and through Point Defiance.

Description of Project

The bench, a “cleat bench”, will be manufactured by the Port Townsend Foundry, which uses 35% recycled sand in the manufacture of a line of concrete cleat benches. (See photos of cleat benches below.) This bench style was chosen because of the symbolism of its slightly curved shape and narrow ends, drawing those who sit on it closer together and insinuating that they should sit in the middle.

Timeline

The installation and dedication of the bench will take place in the Spring of 2022.

THANK YOU! to Kiwanis Club of Tacoma and to Loren Cohen and the team at Point Ruston (McBride-Cohen Management Group) for their assistance and generosity with this project.

It is the hope of the GTPP that the Peace Bench will be identified as the place to come where one can find not only the inner peace that comes when one has a beautiful quiet place for meditation and reflection, but also the peace that comes when two people “Have a Chat” and work out a knotty problem together.