Steadfast 09 –Another Success! Eye-opening, truly awesome, exciting, refreshing, powerful, the purest form of communication I have ever experienced, from my heart! These are a few of the comments from enthusiastic participants following the Steadfast three-day workshop held earlier this month in Nicasio. For the second year, demand exceeded space. Fourteen participants worked with seven horses to experience how to use the conflict in their lives to create greater connection to themselves, to others and to their communities. Stay tuned next Newsletter for comments by enthusiastic participants and to learn more about Steadfast's future plans.

Founder Maja Ramsey and RockRose friend Patty Duetting will donate all Steadfast profits to RockRose. We are grateful to both of them for this generosity and for furthering RockRose's mission in such a creative and powerful way.

The Professional BusinessWomen of California. In May, the Founders of RockRose Institute presented a conflict resolution workshop at the 20th Anniversary of the Professional BusinessWomen of California conference in San Francisco. The program, “From Conflict to Connection,” interactively engaged 300 attendees in four communication practices - listening, emotion identification, truth-telling and remaining open - designed to stretch their comfort level and strengthen their skills in working with conflict. To hear a recording of this presentation, please contact RockRose at office@rockroseinstitute.org. To read the associated "From Conflict to Connection, 6 Principles for Success at Work," published in the PBWC Connections Magazine, go to http://www.pbwcconnections.com/text/DeptConnect/connect_conflicttoconnection_rockrose.html.

Global Majority. RockRose Institute and its Youth Dialogue Project are proud to sponsor two youth scholarships for Global Majority's "Promoting Peace through Dialogue" seminar and conference being held June 15 through July 5, 2009 in South Africa. Participants in the seminar will receive training and background in conflict resolution with an emphasis on conflicts in Africa, and a focus on transitional justice. Upon return from the conference, the scholarship youth will convene and facilitate a group of 30 or more people on an issue of conflict of concern to the group. To make a donation toward scholarships, contact lejla@globalmajority.org. For additional information, view the website at www.globalmajority.net.

Joe Orrach, participant at the World Forum, is presenting a solo show entitled "In My Corner" to benefit the Oakland School for the Arts through June 28, 2009. This show has a great story of leaving violence for a passion in the arts, played out in story, song and dance. For a review, visit http://www.contracostatimes.com/patcraig. For tickets, visit joeOrrach.com or brownpapertickets.com.

Opportunity Impact will be the beneficiary of a fundraiser sponsored by My Own Two Hands on Friday, July 10, 2009 , 9:30pm-2:00am at 330 Ritch nightclub, 360 Ritch Street, San Francisco. All proceeds will go directly to Opportunity Impact (www.OpportunityImpact.org.) Founder Silena Layne was a participant at the World Forum.

"Making a Difference Spiritual Peace Walk" will be held August 8 and 9, 2009 starting in Corte Madera and ending in Olema, Ca. For additional information on this 17-Mile Peace Walk, please contact John Malloy at 650-941-4341 or email at johnthunder1022@yahoo.com. John Malloy was a participant at the World Forum.

RockRose Founder Rebecca Westerfield assisted the New Israel Fund (www.nif.org) in having Hagai El-Ad, Executive Director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (www.acri.org.il/eng), speak on Equal Rights Under the Law in Israel at a program on May 6, 2009 held at The Law Offices of Farella Braun & Martel. Rebecca currently serves as Chair of the International Human Rights Committee of the San Francisco Bar Association.

Human Rights Center - UC Berkeley. The Soul of the New Machine: Human Rights, Technology, and New Media, a two day conference held at UC Berkeley on May 4-5, 2009, explored a wealth of topics at the intersection of human rights and technology, from technology success stories and overarching ethical and security issues, to the implications of conducting human rights advocacy and research online. To view conference proceedings, visit the Human Right Center's channel on FORA.tv or click here.

Search for Common Ground will be holding its Annual Fundraising Brunch on Saturday, October 24, 2009. For additional information, contact Philip Hellmich at 202-777-2202 or phellmich@sfcg.org.