SARANAC LAKE — When war broke out in Gaza last October, Amanda Craver felt a need to do something.

Craver, a Bloomingdale resident who has lived in multiple countries around the world, including her husband’s home country of Israel, began by joining the PS — Letters for Ceasefire group that meets a couple times per month at the Saranac Lake Free Library. However, she wanted to take the peace effort further and after finding World Beyond War online, decided to create a local chapter.

“Especially after all the political division in the country and in our community, I think people are looking for ways to connect and come back to the table and find things to unite around,” Craver said.

World Beyond War is global nonprofit organization with chapters and affiliates around the world. They work to empower local communities to work towards a world without war through a variety of resources.

The North Country chapter launched on Dec. 7 with a gathering at the Saranac Lake Free Library. They are currently the only chapter in New York, although the nonprofit has a network of affiliate groups, two of which are in the state.

So far, the group has been a refuge for likeminded community members who are tired of doing nothing about the conflicts abroad.

“I’ve been feeling this sort of magnetic pull towards conversations about peace,” said Anna Forsman, a Saranac Lake resident who is considering co-leading the chapter with Craver.

She saw a flyer for the first chapter meeting and knew it was something she “couldn’t miss.”

“I went to that meeting, and really felt a palpable energy in the room, of people who are just willing to put in the time and effort to make something in our small community, to make something meaningful that pushes us closer to peace,” Forsman said.

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Creating a space for conversation

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Craver and members of the WBW chapter know that the conflict in the Middle East is a politically-divisive topic, but they also hope it is something people can unite around, even across other types of ideological divides.

Steve McAuley started participating in the letter writing and subsequently with WBW because he was ready to join the conversation again.

“I completely blacked out of politics for, you know, the past four or five years because I was so discouraged,” McAuley said.

The North Country WBW chapter’s goal is to draw people in and create a place to have conversations about war, even when those conversations might be difficult. They hope to create a coalition of local organizations and mobilize the community through outreach efforts.

The mission of WBW goes far beyond the war in the Middle East. The organization takes a broad stance against all military conflicts, focusing wholistically on the impact it has on people and the earth. Their philosophy involves imagining what the world would look like if war wasn’t even an option — and eventually working towards that goal.

WBW describe its “theory of change” through a three-pronged effort that relies on local, grassroots movement. These three areas are media, education and direct action. The North Country chapter is still working out how they will approach each area, but for now, they are enjoying the camaraderie over a common goal, and holding out hope that a better reality is possible.

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Upcoming projects

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Plans are in the works for the North Country WBW chapter’s first project. The goal is to host a potluck for interested individuals and organizations to gather over food and an open mic.

Part of the goal is to remind themselves and the community that they are all part of something bigger. This is why local efforts matter, Craver said.

“Part of it is democracy — people being involved in their communities and connected, and feeling not isolated and helpless or useless, but feeling stronger,” she said. “Because we know there’s other organizations and people out there who are working on things.”

The fledgeling group has not experienced opposition yet, but say they are ready if and when it comes. To those who may be skeptical of their mission, or skeptical of the efficacy of local efforts, members ask them to consider how they are participating in a system that contributes to war, through tax money, for instance.

“What are the repercussions of this money that we’re sending over?” McAuley said. “It’s just devastation and and destruction — and we’re paying for it.”

The chapter’s regular meetings occur on the first Saturday of each month from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Cantwell Room of Saranac Lake Free Library. Aside from monthly meetings, they have a meeting for their first project planned for Jan. 16 and a vigil planned for Jan. 19. For more information about the organization or to find ways to get involved, visit tinyurl.com/4ye58epw.

Craver and her fellow WBW members have been encouraged by participation and turnout so far.

“Having this collective energy that was uplifting was, I think, indicative of the place that we are going in society, which is towards unity and community and harmony,” Forsman said. “If you are willing to show up to the library on Saturday and talk about these things, I think there’s really something there.”