2012 Seeds of Peace Annual Peace Market Set To Take NYC

In 1993, Journalist John Wallach realized their wasn't enough being done to bring conflict in the Middle East.  That's when he started an organization dedicated to empowering young people from places of conflict to give them skills to advance reconciliation and coexistence.

From 46 Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian teenagers in 1993, the organization has now expanded and now encompasses over 4,300 young people from around the world.

Every year, Seeds of Peace puts on a summer camp in Maine that brings people together from all over the world who open dialogue, encouraging participants to develop lasting empathy, respect, and confidence to other cultures.

The organization's biggest fundraiser of the year is their annual Peace Market.

Peace Market is an event unlike any other in New York City, drawing over 1,200 influential young professionals, an impressive line-up of celebrities and notable dignitaries, and a significant media presence.

The organization's biggest fundraiser of the year is their annual Peace Market.

Peace Market is an event unlike any other in New York City, drawing over 1,200 influential young professionals, an impressive line-up of celebrities and notable dignitaries, and a significant media presence.

This year's event will feature live celebrity musical entertainment and the hottest DJs, a VIP reception, and a live auction.

 The Metropolitan Pavilion is transformed for one night as guests are immersed in the tastes, sights, sounds, and smells of a Middle Eastern and South Asian marketplace.  Tickets include:

•         Open Bar all night
•         Middle Eastern and South Asian Cuisine
•         3rd Annual Hummus Taste-Off with celebrity judges
•         Live and silent auction
•        Celebrity guests and LIVE musical performances. Past celebrity guests include John Legend, Macy Gray, Bar Refaeli, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and Natalie Portman

Pre-sale tickets are available at www.seedsofpeace.org/peacemarket2012/tickets.  Pre-sale pricing will only be available through Wednesday, February 1st, or until the first 300 are sold. 

 All proceeds go to supporting the crucial work of Seeds of Peace. 

About seeds of peace and YLC: 


Seeds of Peace is a non-profit organization with a mission to empower the next generation of young people with the leadership skills and cross-border friendships to promote lasting peace in some of the world's most tumultuous regions of conflict. Since its inception in 1993, Seeds of Peace has graduated nearly 5,000 young people, called "Seeds", at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine, and supported them with year-round regional programming to help them pursue a life of coexistence and peace. 
 
To support the work of

Seeds of Peace and the young leaders who represent the organization, Peace Market 2012 will take place on March 1st at the Metropolitan Pavilion, New York City. Peace Market is one of New York's premier fundraising events hosted by the Young Leadership Committee, a dynamic group of socially conscious young adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s who are emerging as leaders in their respective fields, have an interest in international affairs, and are committed to supporting the work of Seeds of Peace.

Couples Only: The Hotel Booking

By: Kim R.

Over the Christmas holiday one of my best friends, Sarah got engaged to her longtime boyfriend Chris (and when I say longtime, I mean longgggggtime- 8 years…way to get on it Chris!)

Sarah and Chris are two of my favorite people so I was overjoyed with this news.  In over 15 years of friendship, Sarah and I have been through a lot. Between boyfriends (about 50 of them combined), driving past boy’s houses we liked (yes, stalking), working at the Hallmark store in New Jersey where our boss was not only a slave driver but made me cry on a daily basis, driving by those same boy’s houses again, and crashing her car into a snow bank, we’ve done it all!  

I should also mention that at the age of 14, Sarah gave me my first alcoholic beverage: a Malibu Bay Breeze. Yes, Sarah is that kind of friend.

The other day Sarah sent me an e-mail saying they picked the date and location for the wedding. 

The date: April 20, 2013

The place: Antigua

My first thought? Where the hell is Antigua and how the hell do you pronounce it? (It’s a small island in the West Indies and pronounced an-TEE-gwa. The national bird is the Frigatebird. Thanks, Internet!)  

My second thought?  A destination wedding- Sweet! Who doesn’t want to go to the Caribbean, or get a tan, or drink frozen drinks with a little umbrella?  

Even though the wedding's well more than a year away, the resort was having a one-day sale for 50% off the booking price.  

And that’s when things got complicated.

First, let me tell you a few things about myself (in addition to having worked at the Hallmark Store).  I am 28, live in New York City, have a great job, tons of friends...life is pretty good. You’re probably wondering why I left out the part about my “tall, handsome, successful, wonderful, amazing boyfriend with brown hair and blue eyes”.  

That's because he does't exist (yet).

But hey, that’s ok!  I’m totally content with the fact that the most stable relationship in my life recently is with my cleaning lady (Hi Alba!).  Plus…. I work like 58 hours a week so who has time for a boyfriend right?!!? … #SingleGirlExcuses.

So, I went on the resort website, excited to book my all-inclusive trip to An-TEE-gwa.  And have I failed to mention that World Travel Awards named the resort “World’s Most Romantic Resort” for the past 14 years in a row?  Quite an honor.

As I’m typing my name into the website, I realize it automatically assumes you're coming as a “couple” and charges you for two people.  Wait, what? How can they do that? How am I supposed to know what my relationship status will be 65 weeks and four days from now?  You can’t charge me for someone who doesn't exist! And this isn’t even a single girl’s problem.  Who knows who will be with whom in 65 weeks from now!

But it did. 

They wouldn’t even let me book the trip unless I gave them the name of my guest and I couldn’t pass on hundreds of dollars of savings.

I panicked. OMG Who’s name should I give? One of my friend’s?  My dog?  An ex-boyfriend?  Ryan Gosling?

I chose my Mom.

She's my emergency contact and the beneficiary of my life insurance policy, so it only seemed like the logical choice.

And then as I hit submit, I realized that the resort website was laughing at me. Chanting in Antiguan accent, “YOU ARE ALONEEEEEE  KIM HAHAHAHAHAH! LOSER”. 

I also imagined a voice saying, "JUST BECOME A CAT LADY AND DIE ALREADY KIM!!”. 

Ok maybe I'm being dramatic with that last quote but they totally probably said that. 

Believe me, I am used to the “why don’t you have a boyfriend?” question or the more subtle “sooo are you seeing anyone special?” comment, but it took booking a room on a website for a romantic resort to realize, “maybe, I should make this more of a priority in my life?"

I’d even recently taken pride in the fact that I don’t need a man to validate me or make me happy...and then here was this damn hotel trying to tell me that I was WRONGGGGGGGG.

It turns out I'm able to change the name of the second person on my reservation.

Sorry Mom, I love you and all but I'd much rather spend the weekend at the “World’s Most Romantic Resort” with Ryan Gosling (or at least someone who looks like him). 

And I have 458 days to find him. 

But, regardless if I do or not, I can’t wait to share a Malibu Bay Breeze with my best friend on her wedding day!

Follow Kim on her journey before Antigua as she writes updates on Eruptin.com!

Kim was born and raised in New Jersey. She currently resides in New York City where she works in the television industry.  She enjoys morning news talk shows, peanut m&m’s and Friday Night Lights.