January 2002

Dear Friends,
What a momentous time to reflect on the Teachable Moments of the past year and the promise of the new one. I began my New Year's resolutions early, about a two weeks after September 11th, while standing in a closing circle of a community development and healing retreat at beautiful Francis Lake, Yukon with First Nations elders and community workers. At the end of the retreat, each of us shared a gift we were taking and a commitment we were making. We had learned about the tragic events of September 11th when a call came in by radio phone just as we finished our opening prayer circle that morning. My commitment the last day was to replace all lateral violence in my life - including backbiting, criticism and judgment - and to be a peace-builder in every word, thought and act. I have written an article about becoming "Islands of Peace" which appears on the media page on this website. What a satisfying experience it has been to hold peacefulness close in the months since then. My record isn't perfect, but I am far more peaceful now, not only in my relationships, but deep inside, where a new serenity has taken root. I felt very honoured by Ann Bayne, Director of Liard Aboriginal Women's Society for inviting me to Frances Lake, and especially privileged when I was so graciously included in the traditional meat cutting and drying at this wilderness tent camp. When a hunter would come in with a moose, we would stop the virtues workshop and start cutting up meat. No elder or needy family back in the village would go without meat for the winter. Hunting was good. Being in the midst of the laughter and deep sense of community there made me aware of what we all hunger for and what our world needs now as never before - true communities of caring.

In October I spoke at the Character Education Conference in Denver and had the pleasure of hearing and then meeting one of my heroes, Dr. Thomas Lickona, an icon in Character Education. I was thrilled to learn that he was seeking me out at the same time I was hoping to meet him. During his presentation, he used the word "virtues" constantly as the content of character - not "traits ", "values", "qualities", but virtues! I learned at the conference that we have entered a new era in character education, which requires pre and post tests to demonstrate the validity of a program. It is part of Dr. Lickona's Eleven Principles of Effectiveness for Character Education programs. An excellent assessment tool kit is now available from CEP on .character.org. I was thrilled when people pressed into my workshop "From Violence to Virtues", sitting on the floor, even standing in back of the room. They had to lock the doors and people still knocked to come in.

In late October, Dan and I departed for a three and a half month speaking, teaching tour including 80 educators in Brisbane, Australia, sponsored by faithful virtues advocates and now old friends, Borge Steen Hansen and Sheri Masroori Hansen, of Virtues Project Australia. We went on to a five-day Facilitator Training in Singapore, coordinated with great excellence by Lynette Thomas, attracting people from Malaysia and Indonesia, including Dr. Zen Udani, of the Character Alliance in Manila, Phillippines whom I had met at the CEP conference in Denver! What a small world it truly is. New Virtues Connections have sprung up in Asia already.

Our next stop was task force Saipan, where the Virtues Project Coordinating Committee, initiated by Roya and Artin Mahmoudi, with representatives from Youth Services, the Parent Education Coordinator, Health Department, Justice Department, and other community organizations. First Lady Sophie Tenorio was the first to fund the project followed by local businesses and foundations, and the school board. We were honoured by the presence of Governor Pedro Tenorio and the First Lady at the beginning of the Introduction to The Virtues Project. Workshops were presented on "Diversity in the Workplace", "Parenting and Suicide Prevention", a 2 day Introduction attended by approximately 150 people, and a Facilitator Training for 80 people representing all segments of society, including Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos, Judge Virginia S. Sablan-Onerheim, and Chailang Palacios of the Department of Public Health, principals, educators, parents, counsellors, people of many faiths, and business owners. A delegation from Guam attended including Senator Judi Won Pat. Plans are underway to launch an integrated community development project in Saipan, and there was discussion of legislation to bring The Virtues Project into all schools as a country-wide character education program.

Virtues Team presenting at the Saipan Facilitator Training

Dan and I were very moved by the spirit of Saipan when we stood at the site of Suicide Point where so many natives of Saipan chose "death before dishonor" in World War II. The memorials there are filled with words of peace, courage, honor and the phrase "Better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness."

We have had a wonderful visit in Sydney with our son Chris, his wife and our beautiful grandchildren before departing for a month in New Zealand, then on to Fiji. Everywhere we go, we see the impact of September 11th, not only in the local economies of even the smallest vendor but in the desire for sustainable peace, and a longing for a world of virtues.

Linda Kavelin-Popov

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