Ann Arbor’s 7th Annual P.E.A.C.E. (Promoting Ethnic And Cultural Equality) DAY will take place on Sunday, September 23rd from 12-4 p.m., outdoors on the University of Michigan’s Central Campus Diag.
This fun-filled celebration of diversity, free to the public, is hosted by a University of Michigan volunteer student organization, Students Empowering Students, (SES) and is expected to draw several thousand attendees throughout the day. Along with face painting, chalking, an interactive penny poll, Japanese calligraphy, ‘Peace Momma’ (a 9 foot Puppet), a Peace Parade and other activities for the kids, a variety of live entertainment including local speakers, painters (www.picardoart.com), break dancers, beat boxers, hip-hop artists, bands, poets and singers will be highlighted. Free iced tea will be provided by Peace Iced Tea (www.peaceicedtea.com) and free pizza will be donated by Domino’s Pizza (www.dominosu.com) throughout the day.
The intention of the yearly event has been to encourage further connection, tolerance and acceptance of diversity in all life aspects ranging from race to color to ethnicity to age to gender to religion. Pro-peace in nature, P.E.A.C.E. DAY looks to create a welcoming atmosphere and provide an excellent opportunity for people from different backgrounds to network with each other.
“By highlighting an appreciation for diversity, by promoting a greater respect and awareness of diversity, and by addressing issues of peace, love and unity, this, in turn, will help serve as a continued step toward sustaining a lasting change across our campus and community,” says Kevin Szawala, SES Alumni Advisor, known by many as ‘Mr. Peace’. “P.E.A.C.E. DAY is not a cure-all by any means to achieving greater equality. It is though one of many programs we as a society will have to consider in closing the cultural injustice gap.”
Several other Michigan-based peace and justice organizations from all across the state will also be present including the Congo Activists of Michigan, U.S. Department of Peace campaign, Citizens for Peace, Great Lakes Peace Jam, Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice, Institute for Global Education, Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War, Michigan Peaceworks, Michigan Peace Team, Pax Christi, Peace Education Center and Peace Zones for Life.
See: P.E.A.C.E. DAY Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/PromotingEthnicAndCulturalEqualityDay; or email kszawala@gmail.com; or call 734-395-2065; for more information.
Source: Ann Arbor’s 7th Annual P.E.A.C.E. Day