newsletters
February 2025
Seek peace within yourself and others • Reach out in service • Protect the environment • Respect diversity • Be a responsible citizen of the world
John F. Kennedy: “Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.”
PEACEMAKER MINNESOTA'S PROGRAM FOR K-8 SCHOOLS
PeaceMaker Minnesota’s Safe School Initiatives service provides reimbursement payments up to $1,000 to elementary and K -8 partner schools to help youth grow in empathy, kindness and conflict resolution skills. Entering into a partnership is free. There is a $100 service fee if awarded funding.
Suggested projects include a Youth Frontiers Kindness Retreat, a student leadership program on peacemaking, a peer mediation program, purchasing the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire, or paying for a teacher training by Denny Smith on creating a positive learning environment or developing emotional intelligence.
Apply now. For more information visit PeaceMaker Minnesota.
JANE ADDAMS PEACE BOOK ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS
World Citizen Peace is happy to announce that the selection committee for the Jane Addams Peace Association has chosen winners in their Children’s Book Award. Awards will be presented to the winning and honored authors and illustrators in person on April 24, 205 at 5:30 PM CST at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
You can find details about the award event by contacting the Jane Addams Peace Association at infor@janeaddamspeace.org.
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE USA
The 2025 Black History Month theme, “African Americans and Labor,” highlights and celebrates the significant contributions of African Americans in all occupations and public service while acknowledging their past labor struggles.
Originating in 1926 as Negro History Week by historian Carter G. Woodson, the observance was expanded to a full month in 1976 when President Gerald Ford officially recognized it, urging Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor.”
Beyond the United States, Black History Month is now celebrated in countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands, demonstrating a global commitment to recognizing and celebrating Black excellence, culture, and historical significance.
Need some children’s books to help celebrate Black History Month? Try these!
Barracoon, by Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi and illustrated by Jazzman Lee-Johnson
Freedom Braids, by Monique Duncan, illustrated by Oboh Moses
I Heard: An American Journey, by Jaha Nailah Avery, illustrated by Steffi Walthall
PEACE AMBASSADOR VIVEK GOYAL
AND ROTARY DISTRICT 3056 TEAM - INDIA
The Peace Bench Project was inaugurated at IIS World School in Jaipur, India on 17th January 2025. This is a Joint collaboration between Barrington RC (RID6440) and RC Jaipur Round Town (RID3056).
It all started at a RAGFP zoom meeting when Rtn. Vivek Goyal met with PDG Suzanne Gibson. Both of them agreed on an idea to do a collaboration peace project together and soon their clubs and districts got involved in this esteemed project.
On 17th January 2025, The Barrington Peace Committee Members travelled to Jaipur, India from The USA to inaugurate the Project. The “Peace Benches” A beautiful monument of peace with the “Rotary Action Group for Peace” name permanently engraved. This is a one of a kind project, hand engraved artistic and beautiful peaceful monument of pink stone. Project Chair Vivek Goyal told WCP that It will directly impact 2500 students of age group 5-18.
Peace Bench Project’s Timeline:
09th August 2023, the project was designed by Rtn. Vivek Goyal
21st February 2024, Rtn. PDG Suzanne Gibson and Rtn. Vivek Goyal met each other in the RAGFP Global Peacebuilders Zoom Meeting. Their club was paired with Barrington Rotary Club. Vivek shared the idea with PDG Suzanne. They continued the discussion and later decided to do this collaboration project.
18th April 2024, Suzanne and Vivek arranged an online zoom meeting for both club’s members to come together. Vivek presented the project PPT.
03rd May 2024, they were invited to present the project in the Cadre Activator Meeting attended by Notable Rotarians from different countries. Vivek presented the project.
19th April 2024, The Barrington Peace Committee unanimously approved the project.
17th January 2025, the “Peace Bench Project” was inaugurated in presence of the Barrington Peace Committee members at Jaipur, India. The team from Barrington travelled to Jaipur for two reasons. One was a friendship exchange between both the rotary districts and the other reason being the inauguration of the peace bench project.
The design of the Peace Benches are exactly as it was shown in the PPT. Specially made in Pink Stone hand carved and engraved. The name of both the clubs and districts, RAGFP, Peace Slogans all have been permanently engraved in the stone benches and the name board.
I was honored with a pin of Rotary District 6440, I’m very grateful for all the love and affection received by our Rotarian friends.
I would like to mention the commitment of PDG Suzanne Gibson. PDG Suzanne and I have been in touch for one year now. In the inauguration ceremony, we came to know about her serious health condition. She has been a strong pillar of support. We wish for her speedy recovery soon. (Rotarian Vivek Goyal
BECOME A PEACE AMBASSADOR TODAY!
Feeling inspired by the great actions of our Peace Ambassadors? Want to join World Citizen Peace community and create a just and peaceful world?
You can do that by becoming a Peace Ambassador! It is easy to do and is always free. Go to our website and register today to become a Peace Ambassador.
DID YOU KNOW?
Peace and art often go together. War and Peace was one of Pablo Picasso’s largest projects, a themed output of hundreds of paintings and preparatory drawings. A series of murals were created for a chapel in Vallauris, France. In spite of their stripped back, minimal appearance, emblematic works like this have become closely associated with the work of Picasso as well as peace in our world. Picasso produced a series of paintings that protest war and promoted peace. You can view an image of Picasso’s famous work here.
To secure a world of peace, we must find a calm state; the uplifting qualities of tranquil natural environments have been depicted by artists throughout centuries. This form of peace is embodied in the first of World Citizen Peace’s Five Peace Actions — Seek Peace Within Yourself and Others.
The calmness of a tranquil mind is often reflected in the peace and calm of the natural world — far from the hectic and often stressful world of our daily life.
WORLD CITIZEN PEACE THROUGH TIME
World Citizen Peace has a long and proud history of helping educate children on peace. In an event for students hosted in part by J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet School in St. Paul and World Citizen Peace on February 21, 2004, was attended by President Carter!
A special song was created and performed for President Carter titled, “Thank you, Jimmy Carter” by Valley Crossing School in Woodbury. The following chorus was repeated between verses which included President Carter’s many accomplishments:
You give people chances to build their own lives.
You give people voices to choose their own paths.
You bring us together, all nations and faiths,
Waging peace, fighting disease, building hope.
All of this reflects a love fest all around as President Carter was introduced by a student. President Carter then shared with us what he has been doing in his retirement. Thank you President Carter for your inspirational life well lived.