Peace Wall Comes to Life

On Saturday, June 9, 2007, the 300 block of Page Street came alive with a celebration dedicating the Western Addition Peace Wall, the thirtieth installment of the World Wall for Peace on Planet Earth (the first of its kind in San Francisco).

The program began with a rhythmic procession of the Sistahs of the Drum, hailing from Oakland and San Francisco. These talented, powerful women - each with different African drums - kicked off the program with a strong and reverberating welcome.

Deborah Crooks and Alex Walsh followed with separate sets on vocals and guitar. Many children enjoyed an inflatable bounce house, while others joined the Sun and Moon Ensemble, founded by Maria Lexa, as they decended from the park to the stage.

Liz Jackson-Simpson, of the YMCA, began the program with a welcome and introduced George Jurand, Coordinator of the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department’s Resolve to Stop the Violence Project who dedicated the Western Addition Peace Wall to families who have lost children to violence in the Western Addition. Sharen Hewitt, of C.L.A.E.R., introduced Elizabeth Torres, whose son was killed in 2000. Elizabeth and Sharen spoke passionately about ending the violence that plagues the youth of our neighborhoods.

Photo: Judith Keenan

Barbara Wenger, leader of the Western Addition Peace Wall Project, invited community leaders onto the stage for the next presentation. Acknowledging these leaders set the stage for a story about Who I Am Makes a Difference. In this story, a loved one tells a young person that who they are makes a difference. Leaders on stage and the audience were encouraged to receive Who I Am Makes A Difference ribbons, made especially for the day’s event.

Carolyna Marks, author of the curriculum for the Peace Project (Creativity in the Lion’s Den); Justine Tatarsky, unifying artist and arranger of the tiled wall; and Shawn Gorman, architect for the wall design, were each given Hawaiian leis and recognition for their outstanding work in visualizing and realizing the Peace Wall. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, his aide Regina Dick-Endrizzi, Daniel Homsey of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, Marvin Yee, of the Recreation and Park Department, and Officer Jeff Sung, Northern Police Station, all received awards honoring their commitment to the neighborhood.

The Falun Gong children dancers, beautifully dressed in pastels wowed the crowd with their lotus dance with flags and streamers, and a meditative dance for peace. Horus Tolson led his SGI (Soka Gakkai International) Chorus in many heartfelt songs for peace.

Maria Medina of D’Word-Weave Rumbera livened up the day with her Latin music, blending the bongo drums with soulful poetry. The Western Addition Drill Team followed up with a rousing march to the stage and heart stomping performance. The day was rounded out with the internationally famous Western Addition icon and treasure, Emmit Powell and the Gospel Elites, presenting blues-based inspirational gospel music.

It was a fabulous day. To mark this occasion, The Western Addition Peace Wall at Koshland Park and Its Neighborhood Stories, was created. It includes stories about the making of the Western Addition Peace Wall, articles about the curriculum, unifying artist, participants, contributors, the Who I Am Makes a Difference story, and four histories of Hayes Valley and the Western Addition, as well as Prayers from the area’s faith-based community. You can purchase a copy of this publication by sending a $15 check to TIDES/HVNPG, attn: Barbara Wenger, 300 Page St, San Francisco, CA 94102.