Gonzaga University will observe the International Day of Peace, a worldwide event dedicated to creating a culture of peace, on Sept. 21 with a daylong series of events to foster discussions about human rights, peace and steps to advance peace, according to a press release.
A public reception on campus the night before, titled “Celebrating Spokane Human Rights Organizations,” will launch the events.
Formerly with the U.S. Institute for Peace and author of “Peace Jobs: A Student’s Guide to Starting a Career Working for Peace,” Smith has more than 30 years of experience spanning the fields of peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and civic and global education.
That reception, sponsored by Gonzaga University Institute for Hate Studies and the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force, will feature a brief presentation by author David J. Smith emphasizing the importance of peace work to combat hate. The event begins at 5 p.m., Tuesday in the Hemmingson Center’s Cardoner Ballroom (third floor). Attendees are asked to RSVP for the event.
Events on Sept. 21 are by invitation only and are designed for Gonzaga students, faculty and staff with the exception of the Peace Pedagogy Faculty Workshop, 3-5 p.m., which is for higher education faculty in Inland Northwest. This event, in the Hemmingson Center Auditorium, includes an opening reading by Gabriela Marquis, winner of the 10th Annual Eva Lassman Memorial Writing Contest.
Other Events Include:
- A “Community Song for Peace” in which all GU students, faculty and staff are encouraged to take part in a worldwide event to mark the International Day of Peace. Timothy Westerhaus, Gonzaga’s director of choirs and vocal studies, will lead a chorus of Zags lifting up their voices to promote peace. Song lyrics will be distributed before the event, which begins at noon in the Hemmingson Center Concourse. The song will be “Ukuthula.”
- “Peace Jobs Lunch Talk,” facilitated with GU career and professional development staff and student leaders
- “Peace Curriculum Building Dinner Talk” with School of Professional Studies faculty and staff
- “Peace Flag Ceremony” for the Gonzaga community with the organization One Peace Many Paths Spokane as part of its “Compassion Games”
- “Peace Jobs Student Fish Bowl” for GU students RSVP and other invited students. This event features opening comments by Ava Shariffi, 2016 graduate of Spokane’s Lewis and Clark High School, known for her “We Are All Human” speech, and Skyler Oberst of the Spokane Interfaith Council (7:30-8:30 p.m., Hemmingson Center Auditorium).
