Fairs & Festivals
UNITY PEACE FESTIVAL
DORCHESTER’S 2nd ANNUAL UNITY PEACE FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY, JUNE 13 @1pm
FACEBOOK LIVE! www.facebook.com/unitypeacefest
Music, speeches, dancing bring people together to celebrate community, spread message of peace and unity for youth and families
In difficult time, festival’s spirit of unity needed more than ever
Last year at the first Unity Peace Festival on a sunny June day, Dorchester’s Ronan Park was filled with laughter. Music flowed from the bandstand. People danced on the grass. Community advocates staffed tables with service information while children played on swings and the Boston Police Department arrived with ice cream for all.
This year, as we combat COVID-19 and as our cities explode in pain seeking justice for George Floyd, the festival’s spirit of unity is needed more than ever. And that spirit prevails!
Transported by music and local talent – much of it from Boston’s youth – as well as outstanding speakers and the “unity spirit” of bringing people together for good, the June 13th afternoon online will be one to remember.
Just log in to FACEBOOK/@unitypeacefest on June 13 from 1 to 9 pm where Luisa and Bino Barros and a host of supporters will bring you the ultimate virtual unity experience.
The festival is created by Think Peace and Atlant Music, two organizations that have worked for many years to combat violence and support youth in urban neighborhoods. The event seeks to bring people together to promote peace, celebrate Boston’s neighborhoods and connect youth and families with organizations and programs that provide services to youth at risk.
“We want to unite our diverse community and band together in fighting youth violence in our city,” said Luisa Tavares Barros of Atlant Music. Tavares lost her son Andrew to gun violence ten years ago in 2010 and has worked tirelessly since then to help bring peace to Boston neighborhoods.
Mayor Walsh speaks, talented artists perform!
Father Sean from St. Patrick’s Parish will provide welcoming remarks and Mayor Marty Walsh will address the gathering. Speakers also include: John Barros, Chief of Economic Development, City of Boston; State Representative Ljz Miranda; City Councilor-at-Large Julia Mejia; Dr. Ali Muhammed, Founder & CEO of CHW Workforce Development and LaVerne Saunders, Dorrington & Saunders LLC.
The gifted Bino Barros and Tony de Marineta will perform along with talented musicians and artists: Adel Lopes, Exoshakeem, Seefour, Naomi Wolfe, Nadia Alves, Original Dagi/Art, Thairo Kosta, Charly Dueńas, Rebecca Ottinger and Awgwshot & Band including: Vanusa, Vargas Monteiro, Sandro Correia, Bobby Alexandre and Galvao.
Community agencies represented include: Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, Boston Public Health Commission/City of Boston Recovery Services, The Office of Public Health Preparedness, Domestic Violence Ended/Dove Inc., The People’s Academy Inc., Bobby Mendes Peace Legacy, Seasons Hospice, United Senergy, Bowdoin Street Health Center and Teen Empowerment.
Unity Peace Festival extends a special thank you for the support: Bobby Mendes Peace Legacy, Boston Public Health Commission, Bowdoin Street Health Center, City of Boston, Martin Richard Foundation, Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Foundation, The Martin Richard Foundation and Think Peace in the Memory of Andrew Tavares.
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