International Day of Peace Celebration
Sat. September 23, 2023
Time & Location
Saturday, Sep 23, 10:00am - 8:00pm
This event will be held at Keystone Heritage Park, El Paso, 4200 Doniphan Road, El Paso, TX 79912, USA
About the Event
Unity Through Creativity and InterFaith Alliance of the Southwest invite you to El Paso's International Day of Peace Celebration.
The festivities will be part of over 4500 celebrations nationwide of the 41st anniversary of the UN’s Peace Day holiday.
It will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Declaration of the Universal Rights of Man. The focus of the day at Keystone will be on Peace Within, Peace With Each Other and Peace with the Earth with family friendly activities; exhibition; music; art exhibitions; art-making; short and exciting talks; dancing; practical skill development and ceremony. The gathering will also commemorate El Paso as the Veteran’s Capital of the U.S. and becoming an International City of Peace.
To register to be a vendor click here. To register to speak or perform click here.
El Paso County Commissioner's proclaimed El Paso as part of the International Cities of Peace network with Unity Through Creativity's support. The language of the resolution was crafted by an intergenerational, intercultural team made up of people from the Interfaith Alliance of the Southwest, Eco-El Paso and Unity Through Creativity. Please take the time to read the Resolution here.
Speakers, Performers, and Artists
Hal Marcus
Hal Marcus is an artist who has been painting for over 40 years and has been a long-term supporter of the Vegetarian community in El Paso. Hal will be speaking at 6:00pm.
Melissa Rosado and Mitzy Lira
Melissa Vera Rosado is pursuing a BFA in dance as well as studying theater tech and production at UTEP. Mitzy Lira is a current undergraduate student studying dance and studio art with a concentration in graphic design. They will both be performing a dance piece called Meliorism.
The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Social Dancers
The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Social Dancers are a tribal dance group which aim to educate audiences about Tigua heritage and culture.
Neema Soratgar
Neema Soratgar was an instructor in higher education for 20 years in Afghanistan. Narrowly escaping with her life, she brought her two children to El Paso to be a visiting Research Scholar in Women’s Studies.
G'beda T. Lyles
G’beda has a musical background rooted in African, Latin American, Mariachi, and Middle Eastern folk traditions. Her vocal style is a marriage of gospel, funk, soul, and folk. She will be performing at 7:00pm.
CW2 (Ret) David Garcia
Advocate for veterans, families, active duty and widows throughout El Paso, Texas, CW2(Ret) David Garcia will speak about El Paso County as the Veteran Capital of the USA .
Segundo Barrio Futbol Club
The mission of SBFC, “is to seek to use soccer as a tool for social change by developing programs that foster the physical, mental, and emotional growth and development of boys and girls in El Paso's Segundo Barrio neighborhood and beyond”
Grandma Bea
Grandma Bea, Beatriz Villegas (Ilhuicatlahuili-Bea), is an elder from Ciudad Juárez, México. She will be doing the opening ceremony at 10:00am.
Luis “Sito” Negron
Luis “Sito” Negron, representing Commissioner David Stout, worked professionally as a reporter, editor, and writer for more than two decades, covering politics, policy, and culture. For the past decade he has worked as a communications and policy aide for elected officials at the state and local level.
Stephanie Ruiz
Stephanie worked as an Art Teacher at La Fe Preparatory School and studied Pre-Nursing before pursuing a BFA with two concentrations in Graphic Design and Sculpture at UTEP. She will be exhibiting sculptures and paintings, which are a reflection of her identity as a Latin/Indigenous woman.
Gbenga Asedeko
Gbenga Asedeko is a motivational speaker, author, trainer, life coach and entrepreneur who's dedicated to propelling people toward greatness. Gbenga will be focusing on “Peace Within”, delivering a talk meant to inspire action and support a purpose-driven life.
Fernanda Lugo
Fernanda is a certified yoga teacher, health scholar specializing in behavioral sciences and environmental health. She will be hosting yoga sessions and speaking on Greening El Paso.
Grupo Folklorico Valle del Sol
Grupo Folklorico Valle del Sol Mexican ballet folklorico dancing. For the first time the brand new children’s company will perform. They will be performing at 5:00pm.
Laurie Marshall
Laurie Marshall is an Author, Innovator and Artist who empowers youth and adults through creative collaboration.
Vendors
Raindrop Turkish House El Paso
The Raindrop Foundation aims to cultivate friendship and promote understanding of diverse cultures through its unique services to the community. Food will be be provided by Raindrop Turkish House and Krishna Kitchen.
Pax Christi El Paso
Pax Christi El Paso serves as a local forum for the study of and public witness to Christian non-violence.
Dragon's Garden
Dragon's Gardens mission is to "Preserve nature through Art" and teach our neighbors and peers how the art of Bonsai can enlighten us to "Water your Garden" no matter what walk of life you're traveling.
No Lost Food
No Lost Food makes sure food doesn't go to landfill and is redistributed to feed people in need.
CASA of El Paso
CASA of El Paso trains and supports volunteers from the community to advocate for abused and neglected children who need representation in the family court system, striving to find them a safe and permanent home.
Dialogue Institute
The Dialogue Institute of the Southwest is dedicated to eliminating stereotypes, intolerance, and prejudices through direct human interaction.
InterFaith Alliance
InterFaith Alliance of the Southwest Is one of the hosts of this event. It is a group of faith leaders dedicated to furthering interfaith dialogue among our various faiths.
Borderland Rainbow Center
Borderland Rainbow Center creates community space in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex (LGBTQI) people and their allies can heal, grow, and empower themselves and others.
Unity Community
Unity Community has over a decade of hands-on experience spanning diverse fields such as organic farming, soil building, permaculture design, natural construction, aquascaping, and more.
The League of Women Voters of El Paso
The League of Women Voters of El Paso is a non-partisan organization dedicated to empowering and educating individuals about their rights and responsibilities in the democratic process. We work to promote civic engagement, voter registration, and provide valuable information on important issues.
Abara
Abara holds Border Encounter Experiences for groups across the country and provides resources to migrant shelters with needed supplies.
Unity Through Creativity
Unity Through Creativity is one of the hosts of this event. Its mission is to empower youth and adults through creativity collaboration.
Isaac Center
The mission of the Isaac Center is to help individuals discover and connect with their inner creative.
Krishna Kitchen
Krishna Kitchen’s main goal is providing cooked Sanctified food to those in the local community. Food will be be provided by Raindrop Turkish House and Krishna Kitchen
Music & Mindfulness
Join Bettina Escudero, expert meditation teacher of Paso del Norte Mindfulness Consulting, on a journey to Embrace Peace in Our Hearts, using soothing music by El Paso Pro-Musica inviting participants to experience the meditation with their full being.
Eco El Paso
Eco El Paso is a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on sustainability in the hot-arid climate of El Paso and the surrounding region.
Volar
Volar CIL provides services and supports to people with disabilities and their support network.
Manos de Luz
Manos de Luz is a husband/wife team of naturopathic healers practicing massage therapy, traditional Islamic medicine (hijama) & birth work.
Studio Nectary
Studio Nectary is a landscape design & consulting practice that facilitates creative collaboration through a participatory planning and design process.
Schedule
10:00am
11:00am
11:10am
11:20am
11:30am
12:00pm
12:10pm
1:00pm
2:00pm
2:15pm
2:30pm
3:00pm
4:00pm
4:10pm
4:20pm
5:00pm
6:00pm
7:00pm
Grandma Bea - Opening Ceremony
Neema Soratgar was an instructor in higher education for 20 years in Afghanistan. Narrowly escaping with her life, she brought her two children to El Paso to be a visiting Research Scholar in Women’s Studies.
Laurie Marshall, Founder of Unity Through Creativity will speak. She and Neema will unveil The Afghan Singing Tree Mural of Women’s Strength and Freedom.
CW2 (Ret) David Garcia is an advocate for veterans, families, active duty and widows throughout El Paso, Texas. He will speak about El Paso County as the Veteran Capital of the USA .
Luis “Sito” Negron, representing Commissioner David Stout, worked professionally as a reporter, editor, and writer for more than two decades, covering politics, policy, and culture. For the past decade he has worked as a communications and policy aide for elected officials at the state and local level. He is active in community affairs and lives in Sunset Heights, El Paso.
Gbenga Asedeko is a motivational speaker, author, trainer, life coach and entrepreneur who's dedicated to propelling people toward greatness. Gbenga will be focusing on “Peace Within”, delivering a talk meant to inspire action and support a purpose-driven life. Gbenga is from Southern Nigeria and speaks the Yoruba language. He’s been in El Paso for 26 years.
Join Bettina Escudero, expert meditation teacher of Paso del Norte Mindfulness Consulting, on a journey to Embrace Peace in Our Hearts, using soothing music by El Paso Pro-Musica inviting participants to experience the meditation with their full being.
Segundo Barrio Futbol Demonstration
Fernanda Lugo - Greening El Paso and Just Money
Melissa and Mitzy will be performing a dance piece called Meliorism, the belief that the world can be made better by human effort. Melissa Vera Rosado is pursuing a BFA in dance as well as studying theater tech and production at UTEP. It is her passion to be an artistic director and choreographer. Mitzy Lira is an undergraduate student studying dance and studio art with a concentration in graphic design. She is also minoring in painting. She loves to work and create with others. Mitzy has worked as a muralist, illustrator, photographer, painter, and performer.
Vendor Presentation
The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Social Dancers are a tribal dance group which aim to educate audiences about Tigua heritage and culture through performances which facilitate cultural exchange. Comprised of Tigua youth, they present audiences with social dance performances that have a strong emphasis on Tigua ways of life. Audiences are granted the opportunity to view and experience historical dances, regalia, chants, and songs.
Singer Juno Z
Speaker/Artist Hal Marcus
Vendor Presentation
Grupo Folklorico Valle del Sol “Enhancing Mexican Culture” through education and entertainment.
Vendor Presentation
G’Beda - means Earth Medicine. g’beda T. Lyles offers experiential sound medicine that nourishes and roots the holistic mind, body, and spirit. As a workshop facilitator, multi- instrumentalist, meditative movement instructor and doctor of Chinese medicine, she offers a different approach to healing artistry and sound baths. g’beda has a musical background rooted in African, Latin American, Mariachi, and Middle Eastern folk traditions. Her vocal style is a marriage of gospel, funk, soul, and folk.