The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire, Inc. is delighted to host the 2024 Peace in the Park celebration on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Daffin Park, located at Victory Drive and Waters Avenue, in Savannah, Ga. This third annual event, which is free and open to the public, will offer opportunities for community members to support peace, counter violence, become conflict-resilient and celebrate unity.

Peace in the Park will feature live music, free face painting for children of all ages, Courageous Conversation Circles designed to encourage deeper dialogue to promote peacebuilding, a wellness area for mental health and a Youth Artists Corner. The 2024 event is sponsored by Seimitsu, The Manely Firm, Resilient Coastal Georgia, HunterMaclean, Law Office Of Joe Steffen, Dental Harbor by Abby Dew, DDS and Bouhan Falligant.

 The Mediation Center of Coastal Georgia will also present the 2024 Peacebuilder Awards, which will honor and recognize the following local peacebuilders, at 3 p.m.:

• Dr. Dionne Hoskins-Brown, Elected Official Peacebuilder

• Edna Branch Carter, Legacy Peacebuilder

• Patrick Finnegan, Emerging Youth Peacebuilder

• Nisha Giustino, Community Advocate Peacebuilder

• Lean Spann, Youth Peacebuilder

• Bishop Thomas Sills, Faith Leader Peacebuilder

• Corporal Udon Carter, First Responder Peacebuilder

The 2024 Peacebuilder Awards presentation will be immediately followed by a collaborative Peace Walk and a human peace sign formation. Food trucks will be available on-site throughout the afternoon. 

 Peace in the Park serves as the culmination of The Mediation Center’s 100 Days of Intentional Peacebuilding campaign, which is designed to raise awareness of the importance of peace in the Savannah community and to celebrate local peacebuilding efforts.

 “Peace in the Park is a fun, family-friendly event designed to celebrate the International Day of Peace and to spotlight local peacebuilding efforts in an intentional, inclusive way,” said Jill Cardenas, Executive Director of The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire, Inc. “We want to bring people together to focus on the good in our community, celebrate local peacebuilders and increase the peace.”

 The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire hosts neighborhood-based peacebuilding events throughout the year at locations across Chatham County. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to creating a more peaceful, conflict resilient community through a wide range of year-round programs and initiatives.

 “Peacebuilding is important because it’s focused on nonviolent solutions to injustice and transforming the underlying conditions that can lead to conflict,” said Sherlisa Praylo, The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire’s Director of Restorative Practices and Community Outreach. “We invite everyone to join us at Peace in the Park to encourage unity and support peace, reconciliation and healing.”