Pinwheels for Peace project underway

To The Eagle:

Imagine “Whirled Peace.” In today’s world, peace needs to become more than just a word. On September 21, 2015, The Charlotte House, a program of St. James Family Center plans to take part in an international art and literacy project, Pinwheels for Peace by “planting” pinwheels with messages of peace. Pinwheels for Peace is an art project started in 2005 by two Art teachers in Florida, as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. In the first year, groups in over 1,325 locations throughout the world were spinning pinwheels on September 21st – there were approximately 500,000 pinwheels spinning throughout the world. Last year (year 10), 2014, over 4.5 million pinwheels were spinning in over 3,500 locations, including the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada the Middle East, Africa and South America. Locally, Annika Vik, prevention advocate for St. James Family Center will be coordinating the Pinwheels for Peace project this year.

This project is non-political – peace doesn’t necessarily have to be associated with the conflict of war, it can be related to violence/intolerance in our daily lives, to peace of mind. To each of us, peace can take on a different meaning, but, in the end, it all comes down to a simple definition: “a state of calm and serenity, with no anxiety, the absence of violence, freedom from conflict or disagreement among people or groups of people.”

Students from Wahkiakum High School, John C. Thomas Middle School and J.A. Wendt Elementary School will be working with Annika to create pinwheels, in all colors. As part of the creation process, the students will write their thoughts or draw pictures about peace/tolerance/living in harmony with others on their pinwheel to visually express their feelings. The High School Leadership Class will then “plant” the pinwheels on International Day of Peace – September 21st. Look for this display of peace on the hillside leading up to the high school and remember that peace begins within each of us!

Susan Schillios

Manager, The Charlotte House