Rumi Forum’s Charlottesville chapter held their Annual Peace and Dialogue Dinner and Art Contest Award Ceremony on October 20, 2016. The theme of this year’s dinner was “Overcoming Xenophobia: Acceptance of Others”. The art contest held the theme of “Living Together in Peace” for the middle and high school students of the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
The keynote speaker at the event was the founding President of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, Rob Vaughan. Mark Gibb of NVRCC spoke as well and final remarks were delivered by Pastor Ed of Charlottesville Methodist Church.
Virginia Senator and former nominee for the Vice Presidency of the U.S., Tim Kaine wrote to the Forum in congratulations for continuing to foster interfaith and intercultural dialogue to support peace stating that “appreciation and acceptance are vital to the success of the United States”