Colorado, USA - The Ambassadors for Peace of Colorado sponsored a celebration of the United Nations International Day of Peace on September 19 at the St. Cajetan’s Event Center at the Auraria Higher Education Center in downtown Denver.
The event began with remarks from United Nations Association representative Gloria Dogan, who explained the meaning of the United Nations International Day of Peace. Peggy Yujiri then offered welcoming remarks representing Ambassadors for Peace.
Emmy Award winning musicians AiiAn and Kama Devi created an atmosphere of peace and tranquility with their crystal bowl music, which was followed by interfaith prayers by faith leaders of the Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, and Baha’i communities. Each of the religious leaders poured a glass of pure water into a glass bowl after offering a prayer, symbolizing the truth of all faiths adding to our understanding of the Divine.
The next section of the program was hosted by Hing Ryder, an opera singer and prominent leader in the Taiwanese community. The Chrstina Yeh Dance Studio offered a beautiful performance of the traditional Chinese ribbon dance. The Krakowiacy Polish folk dancers, a group of 30 Polish-American children dressed in traditional costumes, offered three Polish dances. Next, Hing Ryder treated the audience to a Chinese folk song. The segment finished with the powerful and inspiring Japanese drum troop Mirai Daiko.
After a short intermission, the entertainment continued with popular Denver jazz singer Hazel Miller. Hazel started off her set with John Lennon’s "Imagine," and by her second song she had everyone on their feet. Hazel was followed by two entertaining Indian dances by the young women of the India Association of Colorado. Ambassadors for Peace Cameron Powers and Kristina Sophia then treated everyone to an Iraqi song accompanied by traditional instruments. The final act was Kissidugu, a West African drum and dance troupe from Boulder. The group was interracial, and it was fascinating to see the young Caucasian women dance and drum to the beat of the African drummers.
More than a dozen tables were set up around the room for non-profit organizations and ethnic communities to set up displays of their work and sell items from their countries. Exhibitors included Bead for Life, India Association of Colorado, International Peace Initiatives, Musical Missions of Peace, the United Nations Association of Colorado, Africana Ethiopian Café, African Awareness Expo, Baha’i Community, the Denver chapter of Buddha’s Light International, the Cameroon Community of Colorado, the Japanese Family Association of Colorado, and the Kissidugu Drums Project.
After the event the guests lingered, even offering to clean and help everyone carry their items to their cars. There were many thanks to the organizers for the inspiring event. Those on the Ambassadors for Peace of Colorado Steering Committee, who had spent months planning the event, were grateful that the event was well received and attended by almost 300 participants.
To read UPF's Declaration on the International Day of Peace 2009, click here.