Pathways To Peace is counting down the days by featuring an innovative Pathway To Peace every ten days.
Today's featured Pathway is a Peacebuilding program -
Peace Day Philly is a Pathways To Peace partner that models, promotes, and builds a city-wide
Culture of Peace
Vision of Peace: Consciousness and Action in Philadelphia
"If we foster peace on all levels within Philadelphia, we will be that much closer to obtaining the peace that is so desperately needed across the globe. In a time of division, we must continuously strive for peace for all human beings." - Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, 2017
Through a commitment to bring global Peacebuilding into local action, Peace Day Philly's mission is to Empower all people to collaboratively build a more peaceful and just world. Founded in 2011, Peace Day Philly is a grassroots and volunteer-led organization that focuses attention on the annual UN International Day of Peace, September 21st, and pursues its mission through encouraging programs and engaging in collaborations related to Peacebuilding on personal, local and global levels. The Founder of Peace Day Philly, Lisa DiNardo Parker, believes that "Peace Day belongs to everyone, everyone can get involved in a way they find meaningful that contributes to a Culture of Peace. Lisa believes one key to the growth of Peace Day Philly has been the process of making Peace Day an invitation - a day to focus on peace in ways that are meaningful to individuals, organizations and communities.
At Peace Day Philly, we ask the question, 'What can you do?' You may not attend an activity or an event for International Day of Peace. But perhaps you choose to do something that advances peace in your own life. Perhaps you have greater consciousness of relating peacefully within your organization. Personal and relational peace are essential to building peace on broader levels."
In addition to continually working to cultivate more peace in her own life, Lisa advocates for demonstrating Peacebuilding values: "As I learned from an original member of Peace Day Philly, it's essential to 'build peace in peace.' That means that we demonstrate our commitment to Peace through our approach to our work and our interactions with others. Peace is open, generous, kind and inclusive - it's so important that in all that we do, we make an intentional effort to work in a spirit of Peace." Lisa conveys gratitude to those Peacebuilding organizations that so generously gave support when Peace Day Philly was developing, like Chicago Build the Peace. She is grateful to those that have paved the way and have for many years helped create the conditions for Peacebuilding efforts to take hold. She is committed to "paying it forward" by sharing information and support with other new and developing Peacebuilding initiatives around the world - more and more each year!
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
Peace Day Philly is a story about how one person's vision can ignite a city-wide movement. Lisa came to the International Day of Peace as a social worker and a mom. In her own words, "the inspired energy I experienced eclipsed my many fears about not being enough for the task. From a spark of inspiration, we've created and developed something together. Now it's about deepening and sustaining it."
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney (and Michael Nutter before him), as well as the Philadelphia Police Department, recognize and stand in support of Peace Day Philly. Since 2012, there have been Mayoral Proclamations and State Senate resolutions in support of Peace Day. Peace Day Philly continues to
garner support and gain momentum.
"Peace Day provides an important opportunity for cities around the world to strengthen our communities, celebrate our diversity, and take local action for a more peaceful world." - Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, 2017
As we count down the days to International Day of Peace, Peace Day Philly is promoting and collaborating on many peace-related opportunities for participation. Offerings for 2017 will include music, mindful activism, youth peace skill-building, peace crane folding and a student march, as well as workshops on interfaith understanding, awareness about refugees and undoing racism. Peace Day Philly also observes, and encourages everyone to observe, the Minute of Silence at noon on Peace Day: September 21st. "We invite everyone to close their minute, and any Peace Day gathering, with "May Peace Prevail On Earth!"
Whether you are in Philadelphia, in other parts of the United States, or in other parts of our world, you're sure to find something of value on the Peace Day Philly website. It offers a wealth of information, resources, programs, and activity ideas.
We all need a little inspiration. The following is a music video of a song called "What If" that was written for and produced by Peace Day Philly. The video is about having compassion for people who feel the deep effects of war and conflict, and it relates to this year's global Peace Day theme, Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All":
"What If" by Farah Siraj - for the UN Intl Day of Peace
What is Your Pathway To Peace?
We'd love to hear about it! Pathways To Peace honors, celebrates, and supports Peacebuilders around the world. You can contact us by emailing:
[email protected]
About Pathways To Peace
Incorporated in 1983, Pathways to Peace (PTP) is an international organization dedicated to making peace a practical reality in our world today, is an official Peace Messenger of the United Nations and has Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. PTP works locally and globally, inter-generationally and multi-culturally to promote Peacebuilding, Peace education, and to collaborate with other organizations in initiatives that help further the Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI).
PTP works with the UN Centre for Human Rights, UN Centre for Human Settlements, UNESCO, UNICEF, refugees and other agencies. Founder of PTP, Avon Mattison, developed CPI with then-Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations Robert Muller in 1983. An annual focus for PTP is the International Day of Peace (Peace Day), held annually on September 21. For more information about Pathways to Peace, please email [email protected]
or visit
www.pathwaystopeace.org
.
About the International Day of Peace
The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.
http://internationaldayofpeace.org/
"Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All"
Is the theme for the International Day of Peace -
September 21, 2017
Download the IDP poster at
Please Make a contribution today, thank You.
|
