Whatcom residents to honor International Day of Peace on Sept. 22

International Day of Peace (IDP), recognized by the United Nations in 1982 and the City of Bellingham in 2017, is an unforgettable event.

An annual celebration spearheaded by the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center (WPJC), IDP provides an opportunity to connect with people who share similar values and passions and who want to envision a world free of war, weapons, oppression and violence.

Gathered together at this annual event, we honor the work that has come before us, uplift organizing in our local and global communities and plant seeds for a collective future.

In previous years, we featured work on abolition, transformative justice and environmental activism, among other themes, highlighting how these diverse injustices are interwoven and systemic. With inspiring speakers, performers and activities, IDP is a unique, vibrant event where we can learn, dream, dance and engage to discover our place and purpose in the struggle.

The WPJC will celebrate our 21st IDP event, honoring the theme “Sowing Hope, Cultivating Peace,” which draws upon a poem by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. In the spirit of Darwish’s work, you are invited to courageously foster hope in times of grief and despair.

We are excited to host and participate in conversations on what peace would look like in our community, learning the histories of movement spaces here and abroad, while continuing to support the work of the WPJC.

This dynamic event will begin with an info fair, hosting organizations around Whatcom County involved in community work. A silent auction will showcase local goods and works by community members. And most importantly, we will celebrate and uplift community members who continue to sow seeds of hope and cultivate peace.

This year’s 2024 Rosemary and Howard Harris Lifetime Peacemaker Award will be awarded to Michelle and Michael Vendiola. Described as “some of the most dedicated, generous, thoughtful and committed organizers in the region,” Michelle and Michael Vendiola have been strong leaders in protecting Indigenous sovereignty and the natural environment, uplifting Native people and being outspoken critics of ongoing settler colonialism of Coast Salish Land through their professional and activist careers spanning decades.

Our special Dotty Dale Youth Peacemaker Award winner for 2024 is Raven Ott. An emerging leader advocating for youth facing housing instability and homelessness and currently working at Northwest Youth Services, Ott was a former intern with the WJPC in 2023, co-founding the Scream for Justice program (a program that merges young peoples’ art with their concerns around injustice, bringing them into public space).

Join us for this year’s IDP celebration on Sunday, Sept. 22 at Structures Brewing in Bellingham, from 3–6 p.m. This is a family-friendly event with free children’s activities and youth-friendly activities provided for the duration of the event.

For more information about the event, how to donate, or to get involved with WPJC, please visit WhatcomPJC.org/IDP2024. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook.

Entering its 22nd year, the WPJC continues to commit to promoting lasting peace, social justice and a culture of nonviolence locally and abroad through partnerships, education and direct action. Connect with us by visiting our community resource hub at 1220 Bay St., finding out more about our Alternatives to Military Service training, or tapping into our Transformative Justice Learning Lab.

To learn more about our projects and dreams, contribute as a financial sponsor, or volunteer, please contact Executive Director Aline Prata at (360) 734-0217, office@whatcompjc.org, or visit www.WhatcomPJC.org today.

The author is president of the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center board of directors.