Community invited to ECM’s annual International Day of Peace Gala

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The Lawrence community is invited to the International Day of Peace celebration at Ecumenical Campus Ministries, where a local individual and an organization will be recognized for their contributions to promoting peace and justice.

“The Tom and Ann Moore Peace and Justice Award honors the legacy of Tom and Ann Moore, local peace activists who devoted their lives to advocating for peace, justice, and the dignity of all people,” according to a news release from ECM. “ECM continues to uplift those who embody these ideals within the Lawrence community and beyond.”

The celebration is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at ECM, 1204 Oread Ave. in Lawrence.

The evening’s featured speaker will be Rabbi Moti Rieber, executive director of Kansas Interfaith Action.

“He is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. A life-long activist on peace, social justice and environmental issues Reb Moti brings a variety of pulpit, interfaith, and organizational experience to the advocacy work of Kansas Interfaith Action,” according to the release.

Nominees for this year’s Tom and Ann Moore Peace and Justice Awards are as follows, according to the release:

Nominated organizations:
● The Lawrence Chapter of Moms Demand Action
● Kansas Holistic Defenders
● KU SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine) and the students of the University of Kansas Palestine solidarity encampment
● The Homeless Resource Center (formerly known as the DARE Center)

Nominated individuals:
● Judy Carman, a longtime peace activist
● Charles “Chuck” Olcese, international educator and founder of the Lawrence Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Ministry
● Kar Woo, founder of Artists Helping the Homeless

Previous winners of the awards are as follows, according to a list provided by organizers:
1994 — Shelly Miller; Ed Dutton
1995 — Eva Edmonds; Simply Equal Coalition
1996 — Petey Cerf; Women’s Transitional Care Services
1997 — Sr. Barbara Wieseler; Independence, Inc.
1998 — Hilda Enoch; L.I.N.K; The Lawrence Coalition for Homeless Concerns; Mother-to-Mother; The Mainstream Coalition; Project Acceptance; Hospice; Women’s Transitional Care Services; The League of Women Voters; Friends of KU Women’s Studies; The Lawrence Ministerial Alliance; Ballard Community Center; Lawrence / Douglas County Advocacy Council on Aging; Lawrence Partnership for Children and Youth; Douglas County Detention Center (tutorial program)
1999 — Saunny Scott; ECM
2000 — Howard Baumgartel; Jubilee Cafe
2001 — Pelathe Community Resource Center
2002 — Mary Michener; Kaw Valley Living Wage Alliance
2003 — Deborah (Misty) Gerner; Kansas Audio-Reader
2004 — Dave Lowenstein; KS Bill of Rights Defense Committee
2005 — Norman Forer; Solidarity Radical Library
2006 — Loring Henderson; Small World
2007 — Kim Kreicker & Arla Jones; Douglas County ACLU
2008 — Josh Longbottom; Forrest & Donna Swall
2009 — Rebecca Woodman; KU Peace & Conflict Studies Minor
2010 — Enrique Peñaloza; Katherine Dinsdale; Save Our Neighborhood Schools
2011 — Thad Holcombe
2012 — The Occupy Movement
2013 — Linda Lassen; Lawrence Community Shelter Staff & Volunteers
2014 — KT Walsh; Centro Hispano
2015 — Jean Ann Pike
2016 — Marilyn Hull & Craig Sweets; Change of Heart
2017 — Sara Taliaferro; Catholic Charities
2019 — Diane Huggins; Willow Domestic Violence
2020 — Beth Schultz
2021 — Graham Kreicker; Family Promise; Meghan Heriford (read more)
2022 — Lyle Seger (Building Peace INC); Justice Matters (read more)
2023 — Christine Smith; Sunrise Project (read more)

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