Peacemaker Circle International
Through an investment from RSF, a true social innovator has found a new place to call home. In 1996, Roshi Bernie Glassman, Founder of the Greyston Bakery in Yonkers, New York, left Greyston to found Peacemaker Circle International, whose mission is to connect and train spiritually-based peacemakers around the world.
“Over the years we opened up offices in many countries and our members were involved in literally hundreds of social service and peace-building efforts in Europe, Latin America, the U.S., and the Middle East,” said Bernie Glassman. “What we lacked was a headquarters, a physical space that our members could come to for training and retreat, some place they could call home.”
Glassman and his peacemakers were offered a 35-acre farm in Western Massachusetts, including 12,000 square foot, century-old barn. They began to renovate the property in 2003 in order to create a meeting and conference facility that would provide important programs in peacemaking and social service, trainings in Zen and Zen-based models for business and social action, and multifaith events.
It took the organization over two years to gut and renovate the big barn into a central conference facility, and they needed additional financing to complete the project—which was provided by a loan from RSF.
“After working so hard we could see the light at the end of the tunnel, but how to get to that light was the question,” said Roshi Glassman. “With RSF’s help, we expect to be open for programs in September. Our membership has waited for this moment for a long, long time.”
“This project demonstrates the critical need for social finance,” said Joe Glorfield, vice president of RSF. “Investment in RSF provides loans like this and enables social pioneers like Roshi Glassman to advance his vitally needed work.”
For more information, please visit their website at www.peacemakercircle.org.
Thursday, June 30th, 2005