University and high school students are seeking help to turn their campus "sign wars" and "taking sides" into Dialogue and relationship-building.
     And two youth teams are offering that help, as described below.
     Each has created a Web site with practical resources to assist students everywhere to initiate Dialogue on campuses.
     Here are the two stories of:

1.  ConversationPeace

2.  "Just Like You" Online

     Other resources -- Dialogue how-to, guidelines, articles, videos, links -- can be found on the Web at:

http://traubman.igc.org/peace.htm

     Now read about the two youth-teams who've constructed Web sites, and offer personal assistance, to help Palestinian and Jewish students listen, think, and work creatively together on campuses everywhere.

===== 1 =====
ConversationPeace:
Students for Peace and Mutual Understanding through Dialogue


     ConversationPeace, created by and for young people, is an international effort to contribute to conflict resolution and sustainable peace in the Middle East.  It is on the Web at:

http://people.ucsc.edu/~searose/

     The creators are Sarah Davidson at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UrbanMermaid@hotmail.com) and Shana Kirsch, New York University (SLK228@nyu.edu).
     The general e-mail address for ConversationPeace is ConversationPeace_Youth@yahoo.com .
     The mission of Conversation Peace is to creatively address increased tensions felt on college campuses related to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
     In a new interactive Web site, open-forum listserv, and online network, students assist and support one another by participating in this online network, as they create safe places on campuses where people from all "sides" can share their emotions, reactions, and opinions, across the United States and abroad. Then they can begin to strengthen positive relationships among previously polarized students and groups, increase understanding of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and recognize their common humanity.
     Friday, January 17, 2003, the Jewish Bulletin of Northern California published at article about Shana and Sarh, at:

http://www.jewishsf.com/bk030117/sf09.shtml

     It begins:  "When Sarah Davidson and Shana Kirsch tried to organize dialogue sessions on their college campuses, they pitched the idea to the Jewish and Muslim student organizations on campus. And because neither group wanted to be associated with the other, they both declined.
     "So the two students circumvented the organizations and sponsored the sessions themselves."
     The article closes:  "And while a strengthened Web site and online dialogue are all right, nothing can replace sitting down with someone else, face to face, and having a discussion.
     "Sitting in a room with people and talking things out face to face changes relationships, brings new understanding. I don't want to underestimate the value of that," said Kirsch.

===== 2 =====
"Just Like You" Online


     Peacebuilders Michael Bavly and Forsan Hussein met and began a Dialogue when students at Brandeis University.
     On campus, they even created their own radio program -- Just Like You!
     Forsan and Michael -- an Arab and a Jew; one Palestinian, both Israeli citizens, presently live in the northeast United States. Forsan works for The Abraham Fund, and Michael is a law student.
     Now they offer you a new Web site -- Just Like You! Online.  It's at:

http://www.shalam.org/

     Their site name combines shalom and salaam.
     Michael and Forsan hope that by visiting their Web site you will be inspired to act on your own campus and community, to contribute to peaceful coexistence between all people.
     They intend to help change the mindset of people in the Middle East conflict from adversarialism to mutuality, from one-sidedness to inclusiveness, and from a zero-sum to win-win paradigm.
     They will make themselves available to students, to offer advice and personal encouragement to begin Dialogue at your school.
     Here's how to reach them by e-mail:

Michael Bavly --  MBavly@shalam.org

Forsan Hussein  --  Forsan@shalam.org