The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire – Savannah, Ga.’s leading organization dedicated to helping citizens proactively manage conflict and creating a more conflict-resilient community – is currently accepting nominations for its 2025 Peacebuilder Awards.

Anyone who has inspired peace and positive change in Chatham County is eligible to be nominated. Nominations can be submitted online at mediationsavannah.com and will be accepted until Monday, September 8 at midnight.

“Peacebuilders are the unsung heroes of our community,” said The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire Executive Director Jill Cardenas. “By recognizing individuals who effectively resolve conflict and promote peace in Chatham County, we hope to encourage more citizens to get involved to make lasting change and to prevent violence in our community.”

 Dedicated to honoring peacebuilders of all ages, The Mediation Center is accepting nominations for the following award categories:

• Emerging Youth Peacebuilder: a rising peacebuilder age 11 to 14

• Youth Peacebuilder: a youth peace agent age 15 to 18 who helps mediate conflict among his/her peers

• Community Peacebuilder: a local advocate for change in Savannah’s neighborhoods

• Elected Official Peacebuilder: a government official who supports entities and agencies coming together and works for systemic enhancements for all

• Faith Leader Peacebuilder: a leader who supports spiritual growth and bridges understanding among Savannah’s faith communities

• First Responder Peacebuilder: a police officer, firefighter, paramedic, EMT or 911 dispatcher who brings peace to the community and their fellow first responders and builds a trusted relationship between citizens and first responders

• Legend Peacebuilder: an individual who has historically built bridges in the community to minimize conflict and supports progressive movement

The 2025 Peacebuilder Awards will be presented at the fourth annual Peace in the Park event in Daffin Park on Sunday, September 28. This popular 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. Event highlights will include a collaborative Peace Walk, a human peace sign formation, Courageous Conversation Circles designed to encourage deeper dialogue, a mental health and wellness area, a Youth Artists Corner, live music, free face painting and more.

Peacebuilding aims to resolve injustice in nonviolent ways and to transform the cultural and structural conditions that generate deadly or destructive conflict. The peacebuilding process includes violence prevention, conflict management or resolution, post-conflict reconciliation and trauma healing. 

2023 Peacebuilder Award winner Cpl. Julie Cavanaugh with the Savannah Police Department’s

Behavioral Health Unit said: “Being awarded a Peacebuilder Award reminds me daily that even the smallest acts of peace and kindness can make a huge difference. I'm honored and inspired to continue this mission in our community.” 

To learn more about Peace in the Park or to submit a 2025 Peacebuilder Awards nomination, please visit mediationsavannah.com/peaceinthepark/