Welcome to the blog of our first PeaceStorming event! What is PeaceStorming? It is a concentrated version of the experience we know so well through life at the Monastery and many retreats: that working together, being of service, meeting needs in ways that are beautiful and useful, creates peace and deep connection within us and among us. And, as Cheri often says, it is the most fun human beings can have.

Broadway Village II, a home for low-income people in South Central Los Angeles, offered us this first PeaceStorming opportunity. Their invitation: would we help them create an organic garden and build shelves for their library? And could we do it in one weekend? The residents were willing to work, and we were willing to work, so we said, yes, we would give it our best.

The following are reflections from several Sangha volunteers (in italics), the blog, and photos of the weekend.

Broadway Village II is a beautiful building organized around a two-story central courtyard. There are 50 apartments, including several three- and four-bedroom units – unusual for low-cost housing. It is clearly a labor of love; you feel that just walking in the door. Most of the residents were homeless before they moved here. There are 175 children living at BVII. They are full of energy and were ready from the get-go to dive into the Peacestorming projects.

When we began, we were aware that “anything could happen,” as we had no idea what the weather would be or how the ingredients of the weekend would mix. We knew the residents were excited by the idea of starting a garden, transforming the library, learning some construction skills, and learning meditation. We also knew their concern over the lack of community feeling at Broadway Village II. One of the results of PeaceStorming was that a number of folks participated who were never involved in the community before.  

A few of us arrived a day early to set up. Picture the monks and Living Compassion volunteers gathering in South Central LA, collecting supplies and tools and organizing work projects, all without ever having done this type of work in LA. 

With a smaller Monastery crew than we had planned and LOTS to do, we kept plugging away, working with willing BVII assistants. Friday, we drove all over the city, acquiring materials for the garden structures, library shelving, and food for the community breakfast the next morning.  

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