2023 6th UN International Day of Peace
Event Flyer (PDF) | Register for Free Event
Saturday, September 16, 2023
10 am to 1:30 pm
Lake Chabot Regional Park
17600 Lake Chabot Rd.
Castro Valley, CA 94546
This is our sixth year celebrating the UN International Day of Peace. At this free event, there will be a host of activities and reflections on the 2023 theme, Actions for Peace. Our active collaboration and empathy is needed in these times to build a world of peace, understanding, respect, equity, and safety for all peoples. After the delivery of the peace messages, there will be a gathering around the Peace Pole – a symbol of hope for Bay Area communities and peace on Earth for the global family. The 12-foot-tall Peace Pole showcases 31 languages, including Chochenyo, Nahuatl, American Sign language, and Braille.
View highlights from the 2021 event (archived): photos | video.
» 2022 UN International Day of Peace (archived)
Activities: Peace messages, singing, arts and crafts, an-hour Peace Walk alongside lake. Light lunch provided.
Wear and Bring
- Your favorite multicultural outfit (dress, shirt, vest, a scarf, shawl, hat, accessories)
- A pen or pencil to write down the Actions for Peace you can take, personally and collectively. We will supply the index cards.
- Light jacket as temperatures may vary through the day
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Face mask
- Sunscreen
- Plenty of water (Bring your own bottle!)
Sponsors: Regional Parks Foundation and East Bay Regional Park District
Community Partners: Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center, UNA East Bay Chapter, GirlTrek, Eden Area Interfaith Council, Samuel Merritt University – Ethnic Health Institute
Our Community's Pledge for Peace
- We pledge to build a just, loving, compassionate, and inclusive world that embraces diversity, including age, race, gender, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientation, religions, and political leanings.
- We pledge to see and respect each other. We welcome and value diverse cultures, faith traditions, and perspectives.
- We pledge to do more listening to better understand one another - siblings, children, parents, colleagues, neighbors, and community members.
- We pledge to reject violence including bullying and racism; and we stand in support of anyone or community being targeted.
- We pledge to protect and heal our life-giving lands, forests, rivers, oceans, wildlife, and habitats.
- We commit, every day, to do our best to be active peace builders in our schools, workplaces, communities, parks, cities, and our world.
2023 6th Annual UN International Day of Peace
Saturday, September 16
10:00 am to 1:30 pm
2023 Theme: Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals.
2023 UN International Day of Peace PROGRAM. Saturday, September 16.
9:00 am to 10 am | Registered attendees check-in. Young Musicians Choral Orchestra (YMCO) provides Jazz music. |
10:00 am | Welcome by EBRPD Board Director Dennis Waespi |
10:06 am | Land acknowledgment read by Community Relations Manager Mona Koh Introduces co-emcee Jennifer Hernandez, Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center |
10:08 am | Regional Parks Foundation Board Member Keith White |
10:10 am | United Nations Association-USA, East Bay Chapter, Board Member Sandra Williams |
10:12 am | Song: Respect Yourself by the Staple Singers. YMCO with introduction by Music Director Geechi Taylor |
10:17 am | Peace messages, Marcel Patterson, Jr., 6th grade; Christian Patterson, 2nd grade |
10:22 am | Peace message, Omar Mejia, 11th grade, Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center |
10:26 am | Peace message, Zuri Wright, 6th grade |
10:30 am | Peace poems and song: Light a Candle for Peace. Students, 4th to 6th grades, American International Montessori. Introduction by Akiko Troutman. |
10:43 am | Peace message, Mufaddal Bohri, 10th grade |
10:47 am | Peace message - Jonathan Lee, 11th grade |
10:51 am | Peace message and song: Hold us Together. Joe Ellison, Regeneration |
11:56 am | Peace message, Sophia Sanchez, 10th grade, Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center |
11:00 am | Peace message, Anye Dios, 11th grade, Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center |
11:04 am | Song: Pure Imagination by Leslie Bricusse (1931-2021), YMCO |
11:10 am | Form small groups to discuss peace actions we can practice and sustain, personally and collectively |
11:40am | Sharing from groups |
11:55 am | Song: Choose Love, Joe Ellison |
12:00 pm | Adjourn to PEACE POLE |
12:10 pm | Director Waespi introduces Lake Chabot park staff |
12:12 pm | Land acknowledgment read by Mona Koh |
12:14 pm | Reading of Community's Peace Pledge |
12:19 pm | Peace song: This Little Light of Mine, Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center As We Leave This Place, Joe Ellison |
12:24 pm | Group Photo |
12:30 pm | Light lunch* served after Group photo *provided by Regional Parks Foundation. |
12:55 pm | Peace Walk led by Director Waespi |
1:30 pm | May Peace Prevail on Earth. Peace be with you till we meet again on Day of Peace 2024. |