COMMUNITY & CLUBS:

Tour China with the Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council Oct. 30 to Nov. 7 for $1,659 as more than 550 youth and adults have done in six previous trips. Participants will visit Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai. The trip includes a visit to a Protestant church in Beijing, a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Shanghai and a lunch in the home of a Chinese family.

The price includes round-trip airfare, four- and five-star hotels, deluxe tour buses, English-speaking tour guides, three meals a day and fees for all attractions. A valuable pre-tour briefing will be 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18 at Harbor Christian Church, 2401 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach. More info and tour applications are available at www.nmiinterfaith.org or (714) 921-8665.

  HEAR ON AFRICAN AMERICANS

The Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council March luncheon meeting will focus on “Understanding the African American Community in Orange County” with speakers the Rev. Don Oliver of Hoag Hospital and Rev. John McReynolds of Second Baptist Church Santa Ana. The meeting will be at Irvine United Congregational Church, 4915 Alton Parkway, Irvine. Reception begins at 11:45, lunch at noon with the program at 12:40 p.m. and adjournment by 1:30 p.m. Reservations at $10 can be made at (714) 921-8665 or [email protected]. It is $12 at the door.

  PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES

The Rotary International Peace and Conflict Studies Program was established to provide professionals from around the world with the opportunity to be trained in conflict resolution and mediation strategies, according to John Brainerd, Dist. 5320 governor. Offered in English, the program is aimed toward mid- to upper-level professionals in governments, nongovernmental organizations, and private corporations.

The intensive three-month course is housed at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. Rotary will accept up to 30 program participants per session for two sessions annually. Participants receive up to $5,000 for travel, tuition and room-and-board expenses.

Each session will include academic learning and practical fieldwork components. The program aims to inspire people to work for a culture of peace and offer advanced international educational opportunities to participants chosen from different countries and cultures on the basis of their potential as government, business, education, media and other professional leaders.

To find out more about the program, Brainerd invites interested persons to contact your local Rotary club or visit www.rotary.org and click on Student & Educational Programs.

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to [email protected].