The recent third annual Akron Peace Week attracted more than a thousand attendees to 14 free events over the course of 10 days, ending on Oct. 8. The events of Peace Week were designed to promote nonviolence in all aspects of life.
In addition to the scheduled events, Swami Shree Yogi Satyam, briefly visiting the U.S. from India, made time in his schedule to hold a last minute meditation session for Akron Peace Week.
This year also began a new tradition, the Peace Ride, which took a group of cyclists of all experience levels down a 20-mile stretch of the towpath to ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad back to Akron.
Other highlights of the week included a free cooking class taught by Julie Wandling Costell of Ms. Julie’s Kitchen, demonstrating healthy meals using seasonal fall vegetables, and a showing and discussion of the film «How to Start a Revolution,» following Nobel Peace Prize winner Gene Sharp’s philosophy on nonviolent revolution. Akron PeaceMakers also partnered with the Peace Project, supporting the events with their participation and experience.
To make the week’s events possible, Akron Peace Project partnered with dozens of individuals and local businesses, including Wild 4 Ever, Metro Parks Serving Summit County, Tajali, American Friends Service Committee, Free Akron Yoga, Ms. Julie’s Kitchen, Sierra Club, the Camp, Inc, Countryside Conservancy Farmer’s Market, the Banyan Tree, Councilman Scott Lynch, Swami Shree Yogi Satyam, the YOG Center, Downtown Akron Partnership, ArtWorks, The Akron Symphony, Akron Bike Center, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Akron PeaceMakers, 91.3 The Summit, The Bright Lights, Urban Eats, Market Path, Akron Time Bank, Eileen Matias, and Theresa Gottl.
Akron Peace Project began three years ago when co-founders, Bekey Hewit, nonviolence advocate, and Zach, singer-songwriter and creator of the Love Initiative, wanted to organize an event to encourage peace and nonviolence in Akron. Akron Peace Project is focused on bringing organizations and individuals together whose mission aligns with the objective of achieving nonviolence in some aspect of one’s life. Through achieving nonviolence and peace within oneself, that peace spirals out into the home and community, creating a greater harmony among inhabitants of this earth. The Peace Project hosts speakers, films, discussions, workshops, and concerts throughout the year. For more information, visit www.akronpeaceproject.org.
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Peace Week draws more than 1,000 attendees to promote nonviolence.