Below is a quick short report for this amazing all day event in Chicago.

For a much fuller report see: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/usa/news/2010/week14/0726e

 

Olympians Brian Hansen, 2010 Silver Medalist, Team Pursuit, Speed Skating and Diane Simpson-Bundy, 1988 Olympian and Pan Am Games Gold Medalist in Rhythmic Gymnastics and Midwest Olympians President, met us at Lincoln Park Zoo to run into downtown Chicago to finish at the "Bean."

Charlie Rose, General Counsel, for U.S. Department of Education also joined us for the three mile run.

Chicago World Harmony Run Coordinator Mary Landi made sure we knew exactly where we were going.

The Chicago City scape provided an exciting backdrop and the morning commuters saw a rather unique sight on their way to work.

Tall buildings were a dramatic change to the corn fields we have been running through for the past few weeks.

We were honored to have Megan Mawicke, CBS - WBBM Sports Anchor, and Tom Schnecke, CBS - WBBM Vice President, Director of Broadcast & Engineering who both accompanied us on our three mile run into downtown Chicago.

Renowned 3-time Grammy nominated singer and song writer Joan Armatrading met us at the "Bean" and commented how this run was an excellent example of the yearning for peace and harmony the majority of humanity has in their hearts.

Olympic great Jessie Owens' daughter, Gloria Owens Hemphill greeted us and offered her sincere appreciation, commenting on the deep friendship her father enjoyed with World Harmony Run founder Sri Chinmoy. Gloria established Jesse Owens Foundation with her sisters and close family friends. She serves as scholarship chairperson and vice chairperson of the board of the Foundation which seeks to instill Owens' spirit in youth and provides scholarship assistance to students from around the country.

Olympian Tom Pukstys, 1992, 1996 Javelin, American Record Holder and 6-time US Champion expressed how important initiatives such as these are in promoting international harmony and understanding.

Alderman Scott Waguespack representing Ward 32 of Chicago, who served in the Peace Corps, offically welcomed the World Harmony Run team to Chicago, expressing his heartfelt support for the initiative.

We then headed over to the Grove in Grant Park to meet with children from the Chinese American League, Chicago Area Projects and and Chicago Park District Day Camps.

The children had prepared posters for each of the seven continents.

The Exodus Drum and Bugle Corps made sure the city knew something big was happening.

Children ran around the Grove symbolizing running from one continent to the next until they had circled the entire globe.

Olympian Diana Williams Muhammad (Track 1980 and 1984) joined us and shared her enthusiasm with the children.

Chicago Area Projects CEO, Ricky Williams, encouraged the children to make the right choices in their lives to realize their fullest potential.

Chicago Event Coordinator, Prakhara Harter, was delighted to have all the special guests join in the spirit of the World Harmony Run.

Premik Russell Tubbs entertained with his Alto-Sax.

Adhiratha Keefe, former UNICEF staff member, introduced the UN and UNESCO designated year 2010 International Year for the Rapprochment of Cultures and how we are honored to support it by promoting culture sharing and understanding.

To complete the days activities we had a reception at a gallery displaying World Harmony Run founder Sri Chinmoy's paintings for World Harmony. We were honored to have the presence of representatives from the consulates of Poland, Croatia, Indonesia, Austria, Serbia attending the reception as well as the Acting Director and Curator of the Permanent Collection of Loyola University Museum of Art, Jonathan Canning.

Executive Director, Salil Wilson, welcomed everyone to the gallery and introduced the ideals behind the Run.

We were honored to present our Torch-Bearer Award to Revati Natesan - Founder and President of ThinkGlobal Arts Foundation, a philanthropic non-profit organization that aims to promote peace and understanding via global arts. She is active in her community of Naperville, IL promoting affirmative action and diversity programs as well as an accomplished artist, vocalist and musician who strives to inspire peace through artistic expression.

Our second Torch-Bearer Award recipient was - Mary Peery, Co-founder of the Austin Green Team, whose motto is "Propagating Beauty in Austin, Lot by Lot". The organization has brought pride to a struggling inner city neighborhoods by providing beautiful gardens and gathering places for the residents that includes children and young people in their projects.

Mary and her team beautifing Chicago - Lot by Lot!!

Everyone had a chance to hold the torch and offer their own hopes and dreams for a more harmonious world.

Sukantika Donavan (right) made sure her siblings all held the Torch.

Special thanks to Pradhan Balter, owner of Victory's Banner, a big supporter of the Run and who made sure we were very well fed during our stay in Chicago.

Special thanks to the entire team in Chicago for all your support and for a fantastic event.

=================================================

Above was  a quick short report for this amazing all day event in Chicago.

For a much fuller report and many more photos see: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/usa/news/2010/week14/0726e

 

– Salil

---

Distance: 3 miles

Team Members:
Atulya Berube (San Diego), Jagadhata Amrhien (Chicago), Drsalu Gruenstaeudel (Austria), Vladimir Salnacov (Moldova), Mark Collinson (England), Kokila Chamberlain (England), Surya Smolennikova (Russia), Kshetragna Ulanova (Russia), Dima Grygorievski (Ukraine), Sukhada Korshunova (Russia), Prakhara Harter (Washington DC), Mary Landi (Chicago), Haribala (Czech Republic), Salil Wilson (Australia)

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.

Gallery: See more images!

< USA 25 July

USA 27 July >

USA 26 July