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The InterRelations Collaborative, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) research and educational organization.  Since it was established with a start-up grant from The United Way of New York City in 1991, the Collaborative has been dedicated to building intergroup relations among rapidly diversifying populations in New York City.  The IRC uses the power of art to build integroup knowledge and understanding among student populations in immigrant and multi-ethnic communities across New York City. 

The IRC has conducted nationwide research documenting inter-community-building models in major gateway cities (e.g. New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco).  IRC's cooperative research models included a cross-cultural arts model which used the power of art and narrative to build cross-cultural understanding.  Faith Ringgold, Distinguished Professor of Art at the University of California, San Diego, and Lisa Yi, New York City visual artist, collaborated on a “story quilt" (genre of art originated by Ms. Ringgold).  The celebrated Ringgold-Yi cross-cultural story quilt focused on aspects of their respective cultures and personal experiences.  In Yi’s words: “We created a bridge of time and place.” 

Following tragic events on September 11, the Collaborative brought together young people from across the City to document their experiences on 9/11.  In their own words and images, they produced an empowering book titled What Will You Do For Peace? Impact of 9/11 on New York City Youth.  Their powerful artwork caught the eye of acclaimed New York City artist, Faith Ringgold, and they were honored to publish their book in association with her. 

In her introduction to the "Peace Book," Ms. Ringgold writes: "When I was shown the layout for a new book titled What Will You Do For Peace? my heart filled with joy. What a beautiful collaboration, a perfect response from New York City's young people, aged 11 to 19. This gracefully poetic account of that frightening day in their young lives is a gift of sensitivity and love. I was amazed at their generosity of spirit. I found the paintings and expressive verse in the book deeply inspiring."

The Peace Book authors got their voices out sending their message of hope and healing across the city.  The Peace Book now resides in more than 100 branches of the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Borough Public Library.  The Peace Book is available at Amazon.com

Peace Story Quilt in the Grossman Gallery at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The IRC commissioned Faith Ringgold to design a Peace Story Quilt inspired by the Peace Book which was constructed in collaboration with students, ages 8-19.  During a series of master classes, Ms. Ringgold mentored Peace QuiltMakers on transferring their 9/11 images from hardcopy to canvas.  The Peace Story Quilt, composed of three panels each measuring 72”x 50” was completed for the 5^th anniversary of 9/11.  The Peace Story Quilt was exhibited at ACA Galleries in Lower Manhattan and launched on its journey to spread young New Yorkers’ call to peace and understanding across their “global city.”  The Peace Story Quilt will also bring its healing message to other cities affected by tragic events on 9/11.  The Peace Quilt will travel across country to educational venues on its peace-building journey coast to coast.  The Peace Story Quilt's itinerary is posted below.

IRC’s Peace QuiltMaking Model is currently being replicated at schools, colleges, museums and community organizations serving increasingly multicultural student populations in boroughs across New York City.  IRC's Peace Quilt Workshops are also conducted for pre- and in-service teachers at undergraduate, graduate and professional levels.  Our Peace Quilt Workshops are conducted in collaboration with Patricia Maunder, Director of Stories Through Art.

The Peace Book has also been adapted to visual format in order to capture the attention of young audiences and set an empowering tone for cross-cultural dialogues.  The Peace Video was produced in collaboration with media artist, Rafaela Capellan of Areyto Productions.  The soaring youth anthem, Can You Hear, featured on the audio-track was composed by award-winning composer, Jim Papoulis of Sounds of A Better World, and was performed by The Young People's Chorus of New York City.

Jim Papoulis will hold master classes for young PeaceMakers who will compose both lyrics and score for their own Peace Songs.  Their peace songs will be professionally recorded in a state-of-the art music studio and performed in-concert at school and community peace-building events.

IRC's Post-9/11 PeaceMaking Initiative has used New Yorkers' shared public history to promote cross-cultural exchange.  The Collaborative's arts-driven inter-relations-building programs carve out creative space where young New Yorkers can come together, interact, and discover the common ground that they share.

The Peace Quilt's Itinerary

If your conference, school, university, gallery or museum is interested in exhibiting IRC's Peace Story Quilt for educational purposes at a multicultural event, please Contact Us

The InterRelations Collaborative gratefully acknowledge the generous support of:  The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The FAR Fund, Lutheran Disaster Response of New York, United Methodist Committee on Relief, The United Way of New York City. 

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