RACHEL CORRIE FOUNDATION FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

Local Projects: RCF educates through arts and culture hosting Social Justice Block Parties at the Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural during spring and fall Olympia Arts Walks an outdoor Nakba display with historical information about the 1948 destruction of Palestinian villages and a Holiday Bazaar featuring Palestinian arts crafts and educational materials. RCF partnered with the Center for Community Based Learning and Action at The Evergreen State College the Olympia Film Society Palestine Action of South Sound and Jewish Voice for Peace-Tacoma to provide film screenings and discussions of multiple films including Where Olive Trees Weep Imprisoning a Generation Returning to Zarnouqa Foragers and Israelism. RCF joined the Arab community in Seattle for educational tabling at the two-day Seattle Arab Festival. RCF activities for children included a local Palestine at the Farm event and a diverse panel of community members sharing their personal connections to social justice issues and efforts relevant to Palestine and our community with one of our local high schools.

Education of the public and of local state and federal government officials about the issue of Israel and Palestine and the Middle East and the impact of events there on our own communities: As demands have increased due to the Gaza Israel war RCF has expanded its education networking and organizing efforts to respond to the significant emergent interest in the Middle East Palestinian rights and universal basic rights - interest that surfaced in our own community and region and across the U.S. and world. RCF has sponsored cosponsored and participated in multiple educational events and has helped to lead educational and advocacy efforts with city council members state legislators and members of Congress calling for ceasefire resolutions an end to the violence and freedom equality and peace with justice for all. RCF joined with and supported the development of two new organizations in our region the Washington Coalition for Peace and Justice which hosted a first-ever Palestine Advocacy Day at the state capitol in Olympia and Palestine Action of South Sound which engaged in education and advocacy on the issue of Palestine throughout Thurston County. RCF resources supported educational efforts through electronic newsletters social media and print materials. RCF personnel were featured in local national and international media and appeared as public speakers.