What do coffee and peace have in common? They are both topics of keen interest, dedication, and passion throughout the world. They are both related to our personal responsibility to take care with our intake—whether we are taking in food, information, or imagery. They are both at their best when created with a high degree of caring and service.

On Thursday, February 13, the Institute for Individual & World Peace sponsored a fundraising lecture event with Urth Caffe, a Los Angeles purveyor of some of the finest organic coffees, teas, and foods in the world. Urth Caffe founder Shallom Berkman joined John Morton, a member of IIWP’s Board of Directors, for an uplifting, educational evening of peace and good brew.

John Morton introduced the event, noting that Shallom and the staff at Urth Caffe caught his attention through their willingness to change the way they prepared food to accommodate their customers’ needs. John noted that the food is not only really good and delicious, it is also prepared according to a philosophy dedicated to moving us toward a better world.

Shallom then took to the stage, and took us on a highly educational tour of the coffee industry and the philosophy & standards of Urth Caffe. Shallom’s presentation aides were second to none: A slide show illustrating practices from coffee-growing regions around the world, and a “coffee-tasting” of Urth Caffe’s five top brews—while Shallom spoke with us, Urth Caffe staff prepared (fresh!) sample cups of wonderful brews to sip during the presentation, accompanied by a table laden with some of the caf