Friends Forever, a program that brings Jewish and Arab teens from Israel together for an intensive, two-week experience, will host a talk at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 21, at the Bowling and Billiards Center Activity Room at Illinois State University. The event is free and open to the public.

During the event, youth leaders will speak about their own experiences in the program, and the impact of the year-long program in Israel that focuses on community service, self-exploration, and leadership training. Students taking part in the Bloomington-Normal Friends Forever will work on projects that include building a motorcycle together, taking part in a social media workshop, and creating a photo collage with University Galleries.

The goal of the program is for participating teens to return to their communities in Israel, prepared to be ambassadors for peace. Friends Forever works around the globe to help those who live in conflict-prone regions to build lasting friendships across cultural, religious, and political divides. Through the program, Friends Forever brings groups of young peacemakers to New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Louisiana, and Illinois.

Find out more about the Bloomington-Normal chapter of Friends Forever.

Note: We ask that television crews notify us prior to appearing at the event.
Tim Mejudhon, Friends Forever communications director, (773) 621-4598
Roger Schmidgall, Friends Forever coordinator, (309) 826-9491