Posts Tagged ‘ny’

Youth UPF Commemorates International Day of Families

Written by on . Posted in Youth UPF

[widgetkit id=”72″ name=”Bronx Park Green I love you all (copy) (copy)”]

Bronx, NY – Participants gathered at Bronx Park East on a bright Friday morning for three hours of community service with the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) USA to commemorate the UN International Day of Families.  On Friday, May 29th 2015 a total of 12 happy and unified spirited volunteers showed up and picked up over 100 garbage bags of leaves, plastics and short wooden sticks.  Partnership for Parks Outreach Coordinator, Mrs. Ciara Gannon, was duly impressed by the quantity of garbage bags collected in such a short amount of time.

Pic 8

(Left, top): Alejita Jacobs, James Miguel, Jorge C. Espinosa, Brandon Miraz (Left, bottom): Sarah Falconi, Calisher Perry, Daniel Hamilton

Mr. Ricardo de Sena, President, UPF USA, had envisioned local, Youth UPF events and was happy to know that the event went well, while his assistant, Jorge Cuello Espinosa, coordinated this first service project.  “I thought I needed to do a lot of planning, thinking and talking to create good service projects, but actually the less talking I did the more results came about.”

My Son 1

Miguel James, a close friend of Jorge Cuello Espinosa, gathers the autumn leaves on the sides of Bronx Park East. Jorge is very grateful for him.

The basic plan was to pick up the fallen autumn leaves, discarded  plastic objects and wooden sticks. Passing Bronx citizens positively commented on the activity.  In the eyes of UFF Founder, the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, God’s ideal world is in fact, made possible “when humanity takes dominion over all things through love and service towards the creation (nature).”  

Jorge’s mother, Mrs. Luz Cuello, offered insights on the planning of the project and helped my prepare a sign in sheet and expense report for the event. “I knew it would have been difficult for anyone to do it alone,” said Mrs. Cuello helping him all along the way, which left Jorge deeply grateful. “I felt awed by the support of God, my mother and the volunteers.”

Smiling at the results that these “children of the world” accomplished,  Jorge is totally excited for the next project to begin and offered a personal “thank you” to all of the volunteers for their support.

[widgetkit id=”41″ name=”Bronx Park Green I love you all”]

American Leadership Conference: Building a Nation of Peace

Written by on . Posted in Ambassadors for Peace, American Leadership Conference

New York, NY – Universal Peace Federation, USA, in partnership with UNESCO Center for Peace, NY Chapter, organizes a phenomenal American Leadership Conference on December 19th in New York City.

The sixty participants who attended the event included a range between long-time established guests, to rising young adult leaders, all of whom were passionate about bringing change to America.

The program began with welcoming remarks from Dr. Thomas Walsh – President of UPF International – who gave the highlights of the work of UPF in 2014. Dr. Walsh was followed by Her Excellency Ms. Sire Dione Conde – President, UNESCO Centers for Peace, NY Chapter – who warmly welcomed the guests and thanked them for their attendance.

image018

Mr. Ricardo de Sena, President, UPF USA, spoke on the second session of the program regarding marriage and family. Mr. de Sena also congratulated Dr. Joseph Champagne, Mayor, South Toms River, New Jersey, alongside Secretary General Cynthia Shibuya, as Mayor Champagne was appointed to become an Ambassador for Peace.

A total of five sessions where held discussing and giving solutions for topics such as “A Vision for Peace: Universal Principle of Creation,” addressed by Dr. Thomas Walsh and “The Root Cause of Conflict and Principles of Reconciliation,” addressed by Her Excellency Mrs. Genie Kagawa, Chairwoman of UN NGO Committee on Spirituality.

UPF USA focuses four main areas, two of which include inter-faith activities and youth services. Both of these were addressed during the conference as Ashley Freema Weeks, President, Ghanaian Youth Education Outreach of USA, and several religious leaders attended including Rabbi Roger Ross, Executive Director, Rabbinical Seminary International, and new recently appointed Ambassador for Peace, Imam Konate, Vice President of the Imam Leadership Council in Harlem.

image016

Fourteen new Ambassadors for Peace were also appointed during this conference with a call to action as they embark to establish a nation of peace here in the United States of America.