Ninth Annual Peace Week
October 19-27, 2024

Peace Action News: A blog for promoting peace in our community.

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The Peace Book by Todd Parr

Peace Week Delaware has been distributing copies of The Peace Book to children who come visit our Open Streets exhibit. The book has wonderful illustrations which support its important message.  We share the text here for kids of all ages:

Peace is making new friends
Peace is keeping the water blue for all the fish
Peace is listening to different kinds of music
Peace is saying you’re sorry when you hurt someone
Peace is helping your neighbor
Peace is reading all different kids of books
Peace is thinking about someone you love
Peace is giving shoes to someone who needs them
Peace is planting a tree
Peace is sharing a meal
Peace is wearing different clothes
Peace is watching it snow
Peace is keeping the streets clean
Peace is offering a hug to a friend
Peace is everyone having a home
Peace is growing a garden
Peace is taking a nap
Peace is learning another language
Peace is having enough pizza in the world for everyone
Peace is keeping someone warm
Peace is new babies being born
Peace is being free
Peace is traveling to different places
Peace is wishing on a ster
Peace is being different, feeling good about yourself, and helping others. The world is a better place because of YOU!
Love,
Todd

Sincere thank you the Kiwanis club of Wilmington for their generous contribution of $1,017 to buy 300 copies for distribution to the younger members of our community.

Three Collaboration Workshops to Plan Peace Week Delaware 2023

COLLABORATION – a primary objective of Peace Week Delaware when it began in 2016. The founders believed that the good work toward building peace in Delaware could be strengthened by bringing together organizations and ideas in a concentrated week to focus on peace.

You can join in this effort. Bring your ideas to one of the collaboration workshops listed below. Meet others who have the same passion for peace that you do. Consider ways to work together. Learn from others who have experience in organizing events. Add your “half-baked” ideas to those of others and together create a “loaf” that can nurture all of us. 

  • Thursday, May 11, 2023, 6-8 pm at New Ark United Church of Christ, 300 E. Main St., Newark DE
  • Saturday, May 13, 2023, 10 am -12 noon at Georgetown Public Library, 123 W. Pine St., Georgetown DE
  • Saturday, May 20, 2023, 10 am -12 noon at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 1301 N. Broom St., Wilmington, DE

There will be:  FOOD      CONVERSATION       INFORMATION    BRAINSTORMIING   TECH SUPPORT     CONNECTIONS

JOIN US: Let us know what workshop you will attend: info@peaceweekdelaware.org

Listing of Event Organizers 2022: Thank you!

Event Organizers 2022

A sincere “Thank you” to all event organizers and thank you also to the organizations that you represent for the support that they give to your efforts. Your selfless passion for helping our community advance peace is truly remarkable.

Akoben Israel United Methodist Church
Alternatives to Violence Project Kingswood Community Center
Awakened Heart Spiritual Center Ministry for Black Catholics: Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
Bethel United Methodist Church MLK Voice 4 Youth
Center for Spiritual Living Moms Demand Action
Central Delaware Interfaith Alliance NAMI
City of Wilmington Park & Recreation New Ark United Church of Christ
Congregation Beth Emeth Ninth Ward Interfaith Coalition of Wilmington
Delaware Art Museum Peace Week DE – Sussex County
Delaware City Library People to People Delaware
Delaware Interfaith Power Rank the Vote Delaware
Delaware Pacem in Terris Resilience Mastery, LLC
Epworth United Methodist Church Rising Phoenix Healing Center
Faith United Methodist Church Seaside Jewish Community
First & Central Presbyterian Church St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
First Unitarian Church of Wilmington St. Stephen Lutheran Church
Friends Committee on National Legislation The Academy for Peace
Hockessin Friends Meeting The Baha’I Community
Islamic Society of Delaware The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew
Islamic Society of Central Delaware The Wilmington Children’s Chorus
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark

Proclamation from the Office of the Governor

STATE OF DELAWARE
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
PROCLAMATION
IN OBSERVANCE OF PEACE WEEK DELAWARE

Whereas, a growing number of individuals and organizations have recognized the imperative, “If you want peace, work for justice;” and
Whereas, the many challenges that face Delawareans in the areas of economy, the environment, in education and
employment call for creative, nonviolent solutions; and
Whereas, it is important for individuals and organization to collaborate and expand the peace-promoting activities that they
pursue throughout the year by sharing their message in a week of special events.

 

Now, Therefore, We, John Carney, Governor,
and Bethany Hall-Long, Lieutenant Governor,
do hereby declare October 8th – 16th, 2022

PEACE WEEK

   in the State of Delaware, and urge all citizens to recognize the essential role that Peace Week Delaware plays in encouraging a
culture of peace in our state.

Matt Meyer Proclaims October 8-16, 2022 as Peace Week in New Castle County

PROCLAMATION
Be it hereby known to all that The Honorable Matthew Meyer,
New Castle County Executive, recognizes
Peace Week Delaware 2022

WHEREAS, Peace Week Delaware is an expanded vision of peace led by the Movement for a Culture of Peace, which began organizing annual peace marches in Wilmington in 2014 and has held monthly public forums on how to achieve peace and address the impact of violence; and
WHEREAS, all Delawareans seek a more peaceful society, free from escalating gun
violence, poverty, systemic racism and environmental disaster, and there are organizations tackling these problems; and
WHEREAS, the overwhelming stress of the COVID-19 pandemic has required
neighbors to support each other and to address the needs of specially vulnerable populations; and
WHEREAS, the first step to achieving more peaceful communities is to join together in fellowship; and
WHEREAS, Peace Week is intended to encourage participation by Delawareans in a week of activities designed to help neighbors work  together to make Delaware a more peaceful place; and
WHEREAS, Peace Week Delaware invites Delawareans to join its sixth annual week-long celebration; and encourages a coordinated search for alternatives to a culture of violence; and
WHEREAS, Peace Week Delaware works to raise awareness, hope, and action for peace, equality, and justice all across Delaware; and
WHEREAS, Peace Week celebrations are marked by events organized to educate Delawareans on how to get involved and work together in advocating for peace.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Matthew Meyer, County Executive of New Castle County, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby proclaim

October 8th to October 16th, 2022, as
Peace Week in New Castle County

and command the organizers for hosting multiple events to promote a more peaceful community.

 

Mayor Purzycki Proclaims October 8-16, 2022 as Peace Week in the City of Wilmington

        City of Wilmington
Delaware
Office of the Mayor

Proclamation:
WHEREAS, efforts to overcome the more serious problems facing the City of  Wilmington are based on the principle, “If you want peace, work for justice,” and
WHEREAS, I have stated on many occasions that I am committed to helping  Wilmington become “a just city where our aspirations can flourish and the means  to reach them are available,” and
WHEREAS, reducing gun violence, providing safe, affordable housing for all,  identifying and combating institutional racism, and addressing climate change are  all priorities of City government as part of our effort to promote justice, equality,  and strong, healthy neighborhoods, and
WHEREAS, Peace Week Delaware offers free, nonpartisan, collaborative, and  peace and justice-building events that address issues facing our City, and  promotes outreach and collaboration among those working for peace and justice,  thereby increasing their effectiveness;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL S. PURSZYCKI,
Mayor of the City of Wilmington, Delaware, do hereby declare
October 8-16,  2022, as
PEACE WEEK DELAWARE 

in Wilmington and encourage all residents to join with neighbors to participate in  a week of events to promote harmony, equity and justice in our community. 

PeacePaper: a newsletter about peace in Delaware

PeacePaper is a newsletter-mailchimp published periodically by Peace Week Delaware and originally edited by supporters: Pamela Finkleman and Stephanie Cloud. These newsletters contain a lot of useful information about local peace-related community initiatives and provide a valuable resource for continued  peace activism.  They contain many fine interviews and many insightful, in-depth articles.  Below are links to the individual newsletters. 

  • https://mailchi.mp/peaceweekdelaware.org/september-21-is-international-peace-day-2023
  • https://mailchi.mp/peaceweekdelaware.org/saving-nature-one-lawn-at-a-time
  • http://mailchi.mp/peaceweekdelaware.org/if-you-want-peace-work-for-justicejune-2022
  • https://mailchi.mp/peaceweekdelaware.org/art-as-as-agent-of-change-july-2022
  • http://mailchi.mp/peaceweekdelaware.org/peacepaper-september-21-2021
  • https://mailchi.mp/peaceweekdelaware.org/testing-positive-july-2021
  • http://mailchi.mp/peaceweekdelaware.org/peacepaper-april2021
  • https://mailchi.mp/1522d28c76a5/peacepaper-december-2020
  • https://mailchi.mp/fa4eb3626a29/pwd-peacepaper-september-2020
  • http://mailchi.mp/9a48ff673610/pwd-peacepaper-may2020

 

Mayor Purzycki Proclaims October 2-10, 2021 as Peace Week in the City of Wilmington

City of Wilmington
Delaware
Office of the Mayor
Proclamation:
WHEREAS, I Have stated on many occasions that I am committed to helping Wilmington become “a just city where our aspirations can flourish and the means to reach them are available;” and
WHEREAS, reducing gun violence, providing safe, affordable housing for all, identifying and combatting institutional racism, and addressing climate change are all priorities of City government as part of our effort to promote justice, equality, and strong healthy neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, COVID0-19 has exposed economic and earth-related inequities in our City, our aim is to provide accurate health information and sufficient resources to our underserved populations; and
WHEREAS, Peace Week Delaware offers free, nonpartisan, collaborative and peace and justice-building events that address issues facing our City, including gun violence, safe neighborhoods, institutional racism, climate change, and losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL S. PURZYCKI
Mayor of the City of Wilmington, Delaware, do hereby declare October 2-10. 2021 as
PEACE WEEK DELAWARE
in Wilmington and encourage all residents to join with neighbors to participate in a week of events to promote harmony, equity and justice n our community.

Matt Meyer Proclaims October 2-10, 2021 as Peace Week in New Castle County

New Castle County
Delaware
PROCLAMATION
Be it hereby known to all that the The Honorable Matthew Meyer,
New Castle County Executive, recognizes
PEACE WEEK DELAWARE 2021
WHEREAS, Peace Week Delaware is an expanded vision of peace led by the Movement for a Culture of Peace, which began organizing annual peace marches in Wilmington in 2014 and has held monthly public forums on how to achieve peace and address the impact of violence; and
WHEREAS, all Delawareans seek a more peaceful society, free from escalating gun violence, poverty, systematic racism and environmental disaster, and there are organizations tackling these problems; and
WHEREAS,  the overwhelming stress of the COVID-19 pandemic has required neighbors to support each other and to address the needs of specially vulnerable populations; and
WHEREAS, our children have the right to learn about conflict resolution and peacemaking in order to make a better future for themselves and their children; and
WHEREAS, the first step to achieving more peaceful communities is to join together in fellowship; and
WHEREAS, Peace Week is intended to encourage participation by Delawareans in a week of activities designed to help neighbors work together to make Delaware a more peaceful place; and
WHEREAS, Peace Week Delaware invites Delawareans to join its sixth annual week-long celebration and encourages a coordinated search for alternatives to a culture of violence; and
WHEREAS, Peace Week Delaware works to raise awareness, hope, and action for peace, equity, and justice all across Delaware; and
WHEREAS, Peace Week celebrations are marked by events organized to educate Delawareans on how to get involved and work together in advocating for peace,
NOW THEREFORE, I, Matthew Meyer, County Executive of New Castle County, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby proclaim
October 2nd to October 10th, 2021 as Peace Week in New Castle County.