Riekes Center for Human Enhancement Announces 1st Annual New Century Peace Festival

Riekes Center Brings the Athletic, Artistic and Spiritual Communities Together for Sports, Music, Food and Friendship

Menlo Park, CA (PRWEB) September 3, 2004 -- The Riekes Center for Human enhancement, an internationally known sports and arts center is proud to announce that it will host a FREE intercultural, community event. This event will take place on September 11th from 4 PM to 7 PM.

The purpose is to encourage grassroots healing and promote non-violence, and greater community understanding. The featured keynote speaker will be internationally respected Imam Zaid Shakir of the Zaytuna Institute.

The goal of the event is to give various elements of the community access to one another on neutral ground

After the keynote speech by Imam Zaid there will be a short break with beverages, BBQ and international foods provided by the Riekes Center. The basketball courts, sprinting track and batting cages will be available for everyone to have fun on as well.

Next, a panel discussion will take place moderated by Director of the Riekes Academy of Hip Hop, MC Shamako Noble. Esteemed panelists include martial arts master Sensei Anthony Thomas, spoken word poet and lecturer AK Black with other special guests to be announced.

Following the panel discussion, attendees will be engaged by compelling thoughts from philospher and calligrapher Reverend Masato Kawahatsu from the Konko Church of San Francisco. AK Black, Shamako Noble and others will conclude the event with powerful spoken word and freestyle performances.

"What we are looking to do is to re-establish the bonds of trust and generate authentic healing using the power of non-violence," stated Shamako Noble. "The New Century Peace Festival will be the catalyst for building new trust across the various cultural bridges in the American landscape. The elders will educate the youth, and the youth will educate the elders. Our event, is an all ages family event and we expect a great turn out from across the Bay Area."

"The goal of the event is to give various elements of the community access to one another on neutral ground" said Founder Gary Riekes. "We all tend to be more inviting when sharing food. This is why we will have different kinds of sports, food, music, and poetry for people to see them selves in, and enjoy together. September 11th was a tragic event for humanity. But the New Century Peace Festival opens the doors of opportunity to take non-violence to a new level."

For more information visit www.riekes.org or email PR Director Adisa Banjoko at Adisa@riekes.org
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