The Peace and Social Justice Center lives on—the peace house will go->

By SJ Otto

The future of the Peace and Social Justice Center of South Central Kansas has been in limbo for some time now, as members discussed weather to end the organization, or just to sell the house. The house has been a source of autonomy. For years we did not have to worry about being evicted because of controversial issues that the organization was involved in.

This is a military town. Lot’s of wichita’s citizens join the military. The military is very popular in this town, opposing militarism. Many of us felt that owning our own house helped us to be an institution in this town. Now the cost of keeping up that house has become too much. It now drains the budget of The Peace and Social Justice Center.

There has been an overwhelming concenses that the house needs to go. The next issue was weather or not to keep the The Peace and Social Justice Center going here in wichita.

since that time, members of the Peace and Social Justice Center decided that the organization needs to go on. One of the problems with this group is that amost all the members are senior citizens. The director of the organization is under 40. There are a handful of people who are under 50. It is for that reason that some members considered just shuttilng the group down. But that has not been the outcome. At the monthy board meeting, this last Saturday, board members discussed having days for working on the house to get it ready for sale. They also plan to have weekend days where people can take artwork and momentos from the house. They also plan to have days where yard work and cleaning and fixing of the house will be done.

One thing members of the board made clear, this is the end of the Peace House, but not the end of the Peace and Social Justice Center. Members are determined to keep the group going.

October 7 is the anniversary of the beginning of the Afghanistan war. So far we have tentative plans to have an anniversary event at noon, for one hour. There will also be a letter sent to The wichita Eagle to address this occations. The organization will also focus on actions against Iran.

The Peace and Social Justice Center will continue to focus on such events and opposing such wars. That is the reason we can’t just close down the Peace and Social Justice Center. The house will go, the organization lives on.