Join the San Antonio peaceCENTER, Northwest Vista College and NOWCastSA for the 17th annual Blessing of the Peacemakers at 3 p.m. on Jan. 30, 2022.
The theme this year is “What Do We Hunger For.” The ceremony marks the 64 days of the Season for Nonviolence spanning the anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination Jan. 30, 1948, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination April 4, 1968. At each blessing, the San Antonio community comes together in an interfaith ceremony featuring music, story, and ritual, to honor local peacemakers. (Watch past blessings here.)
This year’s Peace Laureate is the San Antonio Food Bank. Dr. Junda Woo of San Antonio Metro Health, and Dr. Rev. Kenneth Kemp, from Antioch Missionary Baptist, were selected as the Golden Rule recipients.
Thanks to underwriting from the peaceCENTER, you can watch for free, live or later right here:
From a news release from Northwest Vista College:
The peaceCENTER is reimagining its future and transitioning its leadership and location to Northwest Vista College. After being in the San Antonio community for nearly 30 years and advocating for peace initiatives, NVC will help move the organization forward.
This historic transition this spring is a culmination of shared vision and values for San Antonio. In 2017, the peaceCENTER was the catalyst to have San Antonio recognized as a Compassionate City. The City Council unanimously voted on a resolution affirming the Charter for Compassion and the International Campaign for Compassionate Cities. The International Campaign for Compassionate Cities is a global movement inspired by the Golden Rule, or Ethic of Reciprocity, which calls on each person to treat others as they would want to be treated.
“San Antonio is a city whose residents have shown time and time again that they will choose acceptance over fear and unity over division,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
“The peaceCENTER at Northwest Vista College within the Alamo Colleges District will have the institutional and organizational support to ensure sustainability and future growth,” said NVC President Dr. Ric Baser. “This shift in leadership and location is an opportunity to share and replicate the collective wisdom with the next generation of peacemakers.”
This new partnership will help strengthen NVC’s existing Peace and Conflict studies program and expand its programmatic offerings. The transition and opening ceremony will take place this spring.