Local displays of tranquility during Peace Day Philly
Starting Monday, Sept. 15, for the third year, dozens of organizations and venues across the city will participate in Peace Day Philly, a week of concerts, gatherings and discussions, promoting peace.
Starting Monday, Sept. 15, for the third year, dozens of organizations and venues across the city will participate in Peace Day Philly, a week of concerts, gatherings and discussions, promoting peace. Culminating on Sunday, Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace, Peace Day Philly aims to bring the sentiment of the national event on a local level.
Eddie Conway and Dominique Stevenson, co-founders of the prison mentoring program Friend of a Friend will elaborate on prison programs that can help turn prisons into a more peaceful setting — and the politics that go along with it on Tuesday, Sept. 16. They speak from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the American Friends Service Committee (1501 Cherry St.).
Start the day on a green note on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at Philadelphia Urban Creators (11th and York Streets) as the community gathers to work on the garden from 9 a.m. until noon. Bring your garden tools and any other supplies — they're taking donations.
Later on Wednesday, Sept. 17, "Groundswell Rising," a film outlining ways to improve the overall health of humans and the planet, screens at 7 p.m. at American Friends Service Committee (1501 Cherry St.). After the viewing, stay for a Q&A with director Renard Cohen and producer Mark Lichty.
Explore the history of peace movements and discover how a small idea can be the impetus for change both nationally and internationally at the Free Library of Philadelphia's Central Branch (1901 Vine St.) on Thursday, Sept. 18 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
At 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 19 a talk on international peace and human rights will be held at Drexel University's (3218 Market St.) Pearlstein Room 101. For two hours, hear a panel discuss local and global strategies for individuals' rights to peace. You'll get lunch, too.
Tour Morris Arboretum (100 E. Northwestern Ave.) and see plant life that originated in Arab countries, learn traditional Arabic art and hear music from Al- Bustan Takht Ensemble on Saturday, Sept. 20 for a day of Arab culture, running from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
A big musical bash closes out the day on Saturday, Sept. 20 as the Second Annual International Peace Day concert brings performers like Ohad (Udi) Bar-David, Hanna Khoury, Hafez Javier Kotain and Jiebeing Chen and Maestro Reona Ito to the Verizon Hall stage at the Kimmel Center (300 S. Broad St.) at 7 p.m.
The official International Day of Peace, Sunday, Sept. 21, brings a morning of relaxation to People's Plaza (Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets). Starting at 9:30 a.m., stretch out with yoga, follow it up with meditation, a peace reflection and performance, a minute of silence for peace and an interactive drum circle, concluding at 1 p.m.
An all-day event also on Sunday, Sept. 21, features poetry readings, dedications and more, hosted by Philadelphia poet laureate emeritus Sonia Sanchez at the Penn Museum (3260 South St.). In addition, poetry and artwork from local schoolchildren will be displayed. Footprints of Peace runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
