Eden’s Echo — Join us on an Audacious Quest for Peace

Utopia or Dystopia?

During this precarious time, it seems that history could easily shift towards dystopia or utopia. “Peace” may at times seem like a distant concept or idea. To achieve peace as a lived reality, our task is first to create workability for all parties involved.

Imagine the True Possibility of Peace

Recall for a moment a time in your life when the experience of joy, ease, and laughter filled your being. Transport yourself to a moment when you held deep compassion and care for a fellow human, wanting only what is best for them. Though we may have felt these moments on an individual level, the experience of being deeply connected, loving, and compassionate towards one another is scarce at the level of humanity. 

Can you imagine what the world would look like if it were characterized by harmonious living and genuine, peaceful relationships? At the Middle East Peace Civic Forum (MEPCF), we stand in this future. It is from here that we designed our newest initiative: Eden’s Echo. Eden’s Echo is not intended merely as an event; it is a catalyst for a radical global shift. Our commitment is to plant a seed that alters the popular imagination, and resonates beyond any borderline. Read on, and if you are so moved, join us. 

About Eden’s Echo

Hosted amidst the serene beauty of the Caribbean island of St. Croix, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Eden’s Echo is a nine-day, eight-night working peace retreat for a select group of individuals. Our intention is to spark a conversation about the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Muslims, and the human family, in a way that shows that peace is within our grasp, not merely a pie-in-the-sky concept. 

Eden’s Echo is a unique opportunity for those deeply concerned about the future of the Israeli-Palestinian relationship. Participants will include twelve thoughtfully chosen, kind, and decent people from a diverse range of backgrounds who are close to the conflict and who are dedicated to finding a positive way forward. Virgin Islands residents, including Jews and Muslims, will be invited to participate as well.  

Facilitating an Impactful Public Statement

Our professional team of facilitators and organizers from the Middle East Peace Civic Forum will play a critical role in supporting participants in the creation, alignment and release of a moving public statement that represents a visionary stand for a transformed Israeli-Palestinian relationship, and all who stand to be impacted by this historic shift. Our intention to release this statement is only the beginning. 

The path to understanding can hit a roadblock if we lack a common language. Music can serve as a powerful path to a new and shared experience, in which it is possible for us to connect as humans beyond words. This is why a public concert will deepen and broaden the impact of Eden’s Echo, casting forth an echo that emanates around the world. 

Follow Up Efforts to Make a Global Impact

The conclusion of this peace retreat is only the beginning. Once Eden’s Echo is complete, we will lead an effort of artists and musicians to embrace and expand on the vision, including through locally organized events around the world.  

Eden’s Echo and it’s Impact Depends on You

While we are standing in Eden’s Echo as a “done deal,” this depends on you. Will you take action to make this initiative a reality? We actively seek partners and investors to make Eden’s Echo and its impact a reality. The road ahead does not offer a guarantee of success, and time will tell if those good people in St. Croix successfully align on a powerful and compelling public statement.

Our Team: Guided by Integrity and Possibility

What we can say is that we are a committed team, dedicated to operating with integrity, and united in an elevated possibility for humanity. With your partnership, we are confident that a ripple effect will go out from the island of St. Croix with the potential to bring humanity closer together, from the Middle East to the Caribbean, and beyond. 

A Vision for Humanity

While the scope of this endeavor is framed through the lens of the Middle East conflict, our vision of peace extends to everyone. When one of our brothers or sisters are in conflict, everyone in the house is impacted. Likewise, reconciliation in one relationship creates a collective healing that benefits all. ‘

For more information and to get the conversation started, please reach out MEPCF directly, or make a donation today!

This page was written by MEPCF team members Tywreh Nelson and Matthew Lakenbach with 100% human intelligence.