Peace Paper Project At MCC Coming Weekend

McHenry County College (MCC) Student Veterans of America (SVA) and Student Life will host the Peace Paper Project from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October 5-6 in the MCC Art Department studios, Rooms A141D and A149. The college is located at 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14 in Crystal Lake.

MCC’s Student Senate voted for a grant to support this event in collaboration with TLS Veterans of Lake and McHenry County.  The workshops will offer MCC and community veterans the opportunity to create art and tell stories about their experiences. 

The Peace Paper Project uses traditional hand papermaking as a means of engaging communities in art practices that bring people together, broadcast their stories, and transform their fibers into meaningful art pieces. The project operates everywhere from private workshops to public demonstrations to promote the art of hand papermaking while adapting to the needs of each specific community. Peace Paper merges its skill set of papermaking, bookbinding, printmaking, and creative writing with the unique practices and concepts of host communities as a way of empowering collaboration.

TLS Veterans was founded in 1996, and since 2001 has owned and operated New Horizons, a center in Hebron, IL for homeless veterans who want a chance to rebuild their lives. Veterans from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm and other conflicts have participated in TLC’s services and have gone to find employment and rejoin their families.  Graduates are encouraged to enroll in TLS-Aftercare, a program that offers ongoing support and crisis intervention within the community.  TLS also operates a resource center where veterans, military personnel and their families can address challenges related to deployments and reintegration.  Peer-to-peer mentoring, group sessions and professional counseling are available.  The center is part of a joint Lake/McHenry County initiative to engage those who have sacrificed for our country.

This event is free and open to students and the veterans’ community of McHenry County.  Art will be on display in conjunction with the Veterans Day Ceremonies on November 8 at MCC.  Registration for this free event is required and 20 spaces are available each day.  Contact mchenrycc.sva@gmail.com to register, or call (815) 455-8947.