2008 Woodie Awards
Walking for peace one step at a time
LaTasha Monique
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: News
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"Peace is the kind of education that we need to spread as quickly as possible and my hopes are that we can adopt something like this as a resolution of endorsement into the Benicia City Council," she said before tightening her sandals and shouting, "March forward."
Peace Ambassadors gathered together with PeaceJam Solano, an international peace organization and registered participating community members for a Peace Summit that lasted all day and entailed events like live performances and a boots and shoes memory project.
SCC basketball coach Jon Nagle guided walkers on a 5/10k walk that symbolized community support for the end to violence in the community.
A display of boots and shoes in the shape of a triangle on the lawn outside the student center served as a way for community members to commemorate loved ones who lost their lives because of violence.
"I really like that part of the event," said Crystal Dukes of Solano County. "I was so angry after my sister was murdered in Oakland, I didn't want to speak; I figured it was too late…It gave me a way of letting go."
Local recording artists came out and supported the event with performances that encouraged attending youth and community members to choose weapons of peace and nonviolence as viable alternatives.
One of the groups to perform was Three Faces of Man.
"We've sung for money, we've sung for applause, we've sung for a lot of other things, but there's not a better reason to open our mouths and sing…" said lead singer Damon Williams, who sang a song titled "Rachael's Weeping" originally written for the Xiana Fairchild Foundation.
"We can send rocket ships to the moon, we can clone babies and we can clone animals, but we haven't dealt with the everyday human issues. That's what my music is about," said Williams.
Nine-year-old producer, writer and rap artist Juwon Lee also known as MacWon the Beast hyped up the crowd singing his hit song "Number 23" which told his dreams of going to college and becoming a basketball player as well as having his songs, filled with positivity, be the sounds you hear while playing Playstation.
"It was an experience for him and he liked it," said Lee's grandmother De La Davis who is also his manager explaining this was Lee's first time performing in front of a big crowd.
SCC psychology professor Karen McCord spoke about the current state of education and the immediate need to offer
appropriate alternatives to Saturday schools and suspensions.
Twelve-year-old India Hill, who was recently suspended from middle school for pulling her sweats up to her knees, agreed with McCord and said.
"She's right, I am not learning anything by not going to school…It just made me mad."
Keynote speaker Walter Simon spoke about being shot 15 years ago while in a gang. As a result, he will spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Simon's story of success that began as a drug dealer served as an enforcer that education is not only the key to changing the world, but changing yourself.
"The only way you can really change your life is through education," said Simon, who now works with the Omega Boys Club as a mentor. "We have to stand for something."
Williams felt that Simon's personal testimony was "touching and needs to be heard more. I thought the message was on point," he said.
"Our ability to deal with each other in humanity is far behind our technological advances; we still behave like cavemen," he added reflecting on the current way individuals deal with the society.
McCord feels the event was more than successful, with approximately 500 people showing up and participating in the various events.
"The feedback we received is excellent," said McCord, adding, "We are looking forward to expanding what we do next year."
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