ALLMEP and members showcase grassroots peacebuilding at J Street Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC

Earlier this week, ALLMEP and many of our members represented the peacebuilding field at JStreet’s Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC. The weekend event, culminating in JStreet’s Advocacy Day on December 6, 2022, was an incredible opportunity, bringing together members of congress, private philanthropists, activists, and other key stakeholders.

The occasion brought together representatives from member organizations like Abraham Initaiatives, Parents Circle, Neve Shalom, Tech2Peace, Roots, Jerusalem Youth Chorus, Women Wage Peace, Standing Together, Combatants for Peace, Extend, A Land for All, Palestinian Internship Program, and others. We were thrilled to see so many of our members at the event and to see J Street put the voices of Palestinian and Israeli peacebuilders and their grassroots efforts at the forefront of the conversation. Our network was featured on panels, discussions, and throughout the exhibitors space.

On MEPPA and support for their work, Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, remarked in his speech, “We’re also investing more resources in trying to build trust, confidence, and understanding between the two sides at the grassroots level. Thanks to bipartisan support from Congress, the Nita Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act will allocate up to $250 million over the next five years. These funds will be used to support local projects that bring together Israeli and Palestinian teachers, nurses, entrepreneurs, climate scientists, and leaders from countless other fields to tackle the shared challenges affecting their communities.”

ALLMEP and B8 of Hope’s MidEast Storytellers program was featured prominently at the conference, as a central art exhibit in the main hall. The exhibit featured 18 Palestinian and Israeli activists and their digital stories in a multi-media format. To listen to all the stories, click here. ALLMEP’s Executive Director, John Lyndon, was also featured on a number of panels on peacebuilding, economic development, and the field more broadly.

Thanks to JStreet for hosting such an incredible event and for all their support of peacebuilding in the region. We were honored to be so prominently featured and to see so many of our members’ work on display in Washington, DC.