The Chico Peace and JusticeCenter will no longer offer its garden or ordained Handsministers to the public for wedding ceremonies. With the passage of Proposition 8, same-sex couples have lost their right to express their commitment and acquire legal status as a married couple. Ordained ministers that have performed same-sex marriages at the center are no longer willing to offer their services.

After the California Supreme Court declared that the state Constitution protected a fundamental "right to marry" extending equally to same-sex couples, and the Butte County Clerk-Recorder Candace Grubbs refused to perform civil marriages, the Chico Peace and Justice Center stepped in. Services were offered to the public free of charge.  

On February 14, 2009, Chico became the 2nd Fair Trade Town in California and 10th in the nation! Then on August 10th, Chico Fair Trade Town Steering Committee became one of six Fair Trade cities to join the National Fair Trade Town Steering  Committee, which on the same day launched their brand new campaign that you can link to:www.fairtradetownsusa.org.
Becoming a Fair Trade Town required our City Council to pass a resolution in support of Fair Trade principles, businesses and organizatons to offer fair trade products, and local citizens pledging to use those products.

Another requirement is that we form a Steering Committee to continue educating our community and assist businesses in becoming a part of this fast growing movement.  The Steering Committee is open to anyone interested in educating and promoting the use of certified Fair Trade products.  If you are interested in getting involved with this work, send an email to our Volunteer Coordinator at activists@chico-peace.org.

The Chico Peace and Justice Center Board of Directors is seeking nominations for a person or group of people who, either behind the lines or in the headlines, contributes to the causes of peace and non-violence, and works to make the world a better place for future generations.

The Peace Award is given annually in honor of Wilhelmina Taggart, Helen Kinnee and Florence McLane, founders of the Chico Peace Endeavor, which became the Chico Peace and Justice Center.  The award honors those who work toward peace and social justice.

If you would like to nominate someone for this year's award, please supply a description of 300 words (no more than 300 words, please) describing why you think the person or people deserve the award. The deadline for nominations to be considered is October 1st.

Send nominations to:

Chico Peace and Justice Center

October 2nd marks 50th anniversary of the Chico peace movement.  In honor of this anniversary, the Chico Peace and Justice Center will prepare a timeline and photo display of citizen activism in the North State. Organizers are seeking names of people and organizations that have been especially influential in our community as well as memorabilia--photos, posters, clippings, letters--that show citizen activism at work. Names will be inscribed on a timeline to be unveiled in October.

Memorabilia will be handled with tender loving care and scanned to create a digital archive.  Please send your suggestions for this project to newsletter@chico-peace.org.  Memorabilia can be dropped off at the Peace and Justice Center, 526 Broadway, M-F, noon-6 pm, and will be returned promptly.