By JoAnn Fields
San Diego, CA: The International Day of Peace is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution 36/37, the General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.” The 5th Annual International Day of Peace took place at Millennial Tech Middle (MTM) School under the leadership of Cynthia Gillliam, Co- Founder, Kids For Peace and Mr. Willie Neil, Principal, MTM.“Coming together with the message of peace is vital to our community. It is through events like this that the message of peace can be shared by people in the community from all walks of life and impress upon our students to be examples of peace each and every day — at school, at home and in the community,” states Sue Trisler, Americans For a Department Of Peace, San Diego CA State Coordinator – The Peace Alliance.
Children, youth, families and faculty that participated represented Porter Elementary School, MTM, Knox Middle School and Morse High School. The event was co-sponsored by the Kids For Peace, Americans for Department of Peace, The peace Alliance, Saint Stephen’s Ministries Church of God in Christ, Ground-Up Youth Foundation, Sirrius Fitness and The Best Kept Secret Stop The Violence San Diego Chapter.
“I’m honored to be a part of an international movement that is very crucial to our country right now. This my 2nd year participating in the International Day of Peace by demonstrating how fitness can assist us with making peaceful decisions by de-stressing and bringing us together. I thank Cynthia Gilliam for heading this movement in San Diego and I look forward to participating again next year,” shares Nassara Gargonuu, Owner, Sirius Fitness.
Additional community speakers include Principal Harry Shelton, Morse High School; JoAnn Fields, Chairperson, Morse Cluster, San Diego School Police Chief Ruben Littlejohn; Matthew Gordon, Council Representative, Office of Councilmember Myrtle Cole, Mela Pettis, San Diego Community College District. For information how to get involved in the International Day of Peace, contact Cynthia Gilliam via email at [email protected].
