SUSTAINABLE SOUTHEAST
COMMUNITY COALITION
Portland Peace Pole Project (P4)
The Sustainable Southeast Community Coalition (S2C2) is actively working to advance peace and sustainability in our communities. The Peace Pole Project helps communities promote peace on earth, raise cultural awareness and honor local identity through art and placemaking with purpose.
What is a Peace Pole?
A Peace Pole is an internationally-recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth. Each Peace Pole bears the message May Peace Prevail on Earth in different languages on each of its four or six sides.
There are estimated over 250,000 Peace Poles in every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace.
International Peace Day Annual Celebration
In partnership with United Nations Portland Chapter (UNA-PDX), an annual Peace Day Ceremony is held each September to engage our community and honor our international commitments to fostering peace, compassionate care, and sustainable societies around the world.
Roger Jones from HBBA and our S2C2 President Billy Wood Jr. with our new peace poles. We installing them on Saturday April 15, 2023 for dedication this Earth Day!
The Hawthorne Peace Poles
The first three Hawthorne peace poles were originally installed at The Hawthorne Hostel in 2019 spearheaded by the leadership of the Hostelling International (HI) organization, however when the building was slated for demolition the poles were saved and relocated to the public right of way at the Mount Tabor entry and parklet at SE 50th and Hawthorne Blvd in 2020.
At the September 21, 2022 Peace Day Celebration, Sustainable Southeast Community Coalition (S2C2) hosted speakers and performers from the Ukrainian community to raise awareness about the atrocities happening in their country and elevate calls for humanitarian support. Photos from S2C2 International Day of Peace 2022. At the event, we realized that it was essential that we add a Ukrainian pole and it was also an opportunity to highlight more languages.
On Earth Day in April 2023, S2C2 installed and dedicated two additional peace poles, adding 12 new languages to the existing three poles and 17 languages. These five peace poles and one stone plaque honor 29 cultures in our community. The 12 additional languages on the new poles will include: Ukrainian, Norwegian, Chinese, Greek, Tibetan, Thai, Polish, Scottish-Gaelic, Persian, Hawaiian, Italian, and Romanian languages. RSVP | Press Release.
The Peace Pole project is a part of the "May Peace Prevail On Earth" movement.
This is a grassroots global initiative to inspire, and re-awaken the inherent consciousness of love, peace and harmony which exists in everyone of us. It is a movement to bring inner peace of mind and to foster peace in the world at large.
S2C2 is grateful to our collaborating partners including: United Nations Association - PDX (UNA-PDX), Hawthorne Boulevard Business Association (HBBA), Portland Main Streets Design Initiative (PDX Main Streets), Richmond Neighborhood Association (RNA), Mount Tabor Neighborhood Association (MTNA) and other past and current sponsors, including the original founding leaders of Hostelling International (HI) and the Greater Portland Sustainability Education Network (GPSEN).
Support the Peace Pole Project! S2C2 is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit. If you would like to support this effort, you can donate to the Peace Pole Project. To learn more or donate, contact: Peace Pole Project Coordinator, treasurer@s2c2pdx.org