The 4th anniversary of the 9/11 attack is fast approaching. To commemorate the anniversary, the World Trade Center Survivors' Network has planned a weeklong schedule of events beginning Wednesday, Sept. 7 through Wednesday, Sept. 14.
(PRWEB) August 29, 2005 -- An ambitious schedule of events before, during and after the upcoming 9/11 anniversary has been announced by the World Trade Center Survivors' Network, Inc., in conjunction with St. Vincent's World Trade Center Healing Services and St. Andrew's Church.
"We are offering a series of events that are geared toward both remembrance and renewal in the days before and after the anniversary, as well as the day of the anniversary itself," reported Tania Head, South Tower survivor, Survivors' Network Co-Chair and coordinator of the anniversary event schedule. "We know that the anniversaries can be very difficult times for survivors, so we are trying to provide anyone who needs one a range of events and opportunities to get together with others who share their feelings and experiences."
Formed in September 2003, the Survivors' Network is a community of interest which seeks to bring together survivors, witnesses and others profoundly affected by the events of 9/11. In the two years since its inception, the Network has grown to almost 400 registered participants.
Besides offering peer support, the Network has undertaken or is planning a number of other activities for its members, including an exchange with survivors of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, a speakers' bureau drawn from among its members, various therapeutic activities such as healing arts and creative writing, support for a military platoon in Afghanistan and Iraq and opportunities for community service and community building.
The Network is also active in the rebuilding process at Ground Zero. Network members have served on the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation's Memorial Center Advisory Committee, the advisory working group for the planned Tribute Visitors' Center at Ground Zero, in the Section 106 historic preservation process for the site and Co-Chaired the 9/11 Living Memorial Survivors' Committee.
The Network has also been active advocating for the preservation of what has been dubbed the "Survivors' Stairway," the last remaining above ground remnant of the World Trade Center complex. The Stairway, located along the northern boundary of the site across the street from the new & World Trade Center building, formerly connected the street with the plaza level of the Trade Center complex. It was a significant escape route for survivors leaving the plaza on 9/11.
The complete schedule of events follows. For more information about the Network, please visit www.survivorsnet.org.
Day of Recollection – Wednesday, Sept. 7
Healing Creative Writing Workshop offered by Aaron Zimmerman, Executive
Director of NY Writers' Coalition.
Join us for an afternoon of writing with Aaron, published author, and
experienced writing workshop leader. Aaron will takes us through “The
Healing Power of the Written Word," which focuses on constructive
self-expression through writing. The workshop is designed to help writers
and non-writers explore writing that promotes stress reduction, healing,
insight, and a richer life experience.
6 – 8 PM
St. Vincent's WTC Healing Services
170 Broadway, 12th floor
Day of Tribute - Thursday, Sept. 8
Second Annual Healing Community Concert and Healing Art Exposition promoted
by St. Vincent's WTC Healing Services
The Church of St. Andrew's and Saint Vincent's WTC Healing Services will
host their second annual healing concert and art exposition of survivors
and rescue/recovery workers of September 11th. The art from those who
participated in Janice Cilento's Healing Art Workshop will be shown. The
concert starts at 5 PM and the art viewing at 6.30. Everyone is welcome.
5 – 8 PM
St. Andrew's Church
20 Cardinal Hayes Place at Police Plaza, New York, NY 10007
Directions:
1, 9, A, or C train to Chambers Street,
2 or 3 train to Park Place,
R or W to City Hall, or
4, 5, 6, J, M, or Z train to Brooklyn Bridge
Day of Healing - Friday, Sept. 9
Come and Relax! Ear Acupuncture, Hypnosis, Massage Therapy and Reiki
Offered.
Join us for an excellent opportunity to connect with other survivors and
try some of the wonderful relaxation and stress treatments to be found
in alternative healing. Licensed therapists and practitioners can help
you cope with day-to-day and long-term stress. Refreshments will be served.
2 - 7 PM
St. Vincent's WTC Healing Services
170 Broadway, 12th floor
Become a Resilient Survivor! A workshop by Resiliency Expert Dr. Al Siebert
Dr. Al Siebert is internationally recognized for his research into the
inner nature of highly resilient survivors. His new book, The Resiliency
Advantage was released in June 2005. His previous book The Survivor Personality
is now in its fourteenth printing, and has been published in six languages.
For more information visit http://www.survivorguidelines.org/
7 – 9 PM
St. Vincent's WTC Healing Services
170 Broadway, 12th floor
Day of Observance – Saturday, Sept. 10
Voices of Sept. 11 Information Forum
The WTC Survivors' Network will be present at the Information Forum organized
by Voices of Sept. 11. Come by our table and learn more about our on-going
programs and events.
10 – 4 PM
Marriott Financial Center Hotel
85 West Street
NY, NY
Remembrance BBQ
Join us for this informal get together on the eve of the anniversary.
This event will be potluck, please indicate on the sign up sheet what
you'll be bringing. We need salads, chips, dips, veggies, meats, drinks,
dessert.
6 -9 PM
500 W 56th Street (entrance on 10th Avenue)
Day of Remembrance – Sunday, Sept. 11
Anniversary Ceremony:
Anyone wishing to attend the official ceremony commemorating the events
of Sept. 11 should let us know before Aug. 30. We will post meeting times
and location later on. The observance will take place at the World Trade
Center site on the morning of September 11th. The ceremony will pause
at four moments - twice to mark the times that each plane hit the towers,
and twice to mark each time when each tower fell. The first moment of
silence will be at 8:46 AM and as always, houses of worship will be encouraged
to toll their bells at that time. While the names are read, family members
will be able to descend the ramp to the lowest level of the site where
they may lay flowers. The ceremony will conclude at approximately noon,
however, the site will remain open until 4:00 PM.
8 – 12 PM
World Trade Center Site
Post-Ceremony Reflections
Members of St.Vincent's WTC Healing Services will be available for post-ceremony
care. We will have a group session where can all unwind and share our
feelings and experiences of the day.
12 – 2 PM
St. Andrew's Church
20 Cardinal Hayes Place, New York, NY 10007
Anniversary Luncheon
Whether or not you decide to attend the official ceremony at Ground Zero,
please join us as survivors unite to observe this day together.
12 – 6 PM
St. Andrew's Church
20 Cardinal Hayes Place, New York, NY 10007
Day of Lessons Learned Monday, Sept. 12
The WTC Survivors' Network has contacted local schools so that our members can discuss with local students the significance of Sept. 11, lessons learned, and the importance of reaching common ground. All members are welcome to participate. Attendance to a planning meeting is required. Meeting time and place to be determined.
Day of Giving – Tuesday, Sept. 13
WTC Survivors' Network Spirit of Giving Day
Blood Drive organized by the WTC Survivors' Network and the NY Blood
Center
Last year, the WTC Survivors' Network participated in a Press Conference
to support One Day's Pay. This initiative aims to establish 9/11 as a
voluntary day of service, charity and compassion. To honor our commitment
to this initiative, we have contacted the Red Cross and have volunteered
to organize a blood drive. We wish to reenact the spirit of giving that
took over our nation in the aftermath of tragedy. Many lined up wishing
to donate blood but were turned away since there were no survivors. Also
some of our members were injured that day and received the gift of life
from anonymous blood donors. Everyone is encouraged to participate. You
can donate blood and/or volunteer. We need help promoting the event, welcoming
and tending to the donors, drawing in walk in donors, etc..
3 – 8 PM
St. Andrew's Church
20 Cardinal Hayes Place, New York, NY 10007
Volunteer with Homeless Connect NYC
Alternatively, or in addition, you can also help us celebrate the WTC
Survivors' Network Spirit of Giving Day, by signing up with us to volunteer
for Homeless Connect. Throughout the day Homeless Connect NYC will help
Midtown's chronically homeless people move off the streets and into immediate
permanent housing. Meeting the individual's needs and bringing together
the necessary resources, we will help get them off the streets for good!
Volunteers are needed in the following areas: Customer Services. Clinical
Services. Food Serving. Medical. Legal Services. General logistical support.
This event will take place throughout the day. Sign up for an hour, two
or as many as you like. During your lunch break, after work, any time.
Post Anniversary Care – Wednesday, Sept. 14
Survivors' Support Group offered by the WTC Survivors' Network and the
ST. Vincent's WTC Healing Services
Meets twice a month, and its objective is to assist survivors incorporate
their 9/11 experience with the issues affecting them today such as work,
family, dating, stress, security threats, etc.
5 – 7 PM
St. Vincent's WTC Healing Services
170 Broadway, 12th floor
Healing Creative Writing Workshop offered by Aaron Zimmerman, Executive
Director of NY Writers' Coalition.
Join us for an afternoon of writing with Aaron, published author, and
experienced writing workshop leader. Aaron will takes us through “The
Healing Power of the Written Word”, which focuses on constructive
self-expression through writing. The workshop is designed to help writers
and non-writers explore writing that promotes stress reduction, healing,
insight, and a richer life experience.
7 - 9 PM
St. Vincent's WTC Healing Services
170 Broadway, 12th floor
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