Slated for April 23 at the Hilton Bayfront
Annual award celebration returns to an in-person, outdoor event to raise critical funds to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline and build stronger communities
San Diego CA— The National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) will present its 34th Annual Peacemaker Awards on Saturday, April 23, starting at 5:30 p.m. The beloved gala, honoring individuals and organizations dedicated to peacemaking in their own neighborhoods and around the world, will return as an in-person, outdoor event after going virtual in 2021. The inspiring evening will spotlight the importance of civility, peacemaking, and social justice after several years of historic uncertainty and unrest. This year’s theme is Bridging What Divides Us. Long-time San Diego community leader Michael Brunker will serve as emcee.
The 2022 Peacemaker Honorees are:
NATIONAL AWARD RECIPIENT
Barbara F. Walter
The UC San Diego professor and New York Times best-selling author of “How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them.” For sounding a clarion call for a new commitment to democracy and civility throughout the United States.
LOCAL AWARD
Voices of Our City Choir
For building community through music and amplifying the voices of people experiencing homelessness in San Diego. The choir was recently semi-finalists on “America’s Got Talent.”
PHILANTHROPY AWARD
Rolf and Mary Benirschke
For a lifetime of charitable giving and collaboration to uplift and empower individuals and communities from all corners of society.
“Our country has been on a path of increasing polarization for many years now, but the pandemic has accelerated and thrown new light onto those deepening divisions,” said National Conflict Resolution Center’s President Steven Dinkin. “But now is the time to heal, and we all have a role to play in saving our nation’s democracy. This year’s Peacemakers’ honorees have made major contributions toward taking our nation on a path forward out of bitterness and bridging what divides us, and we are proud to elevate their unique and groundbreaking achievements.”
Funds raised will help NCRC’s transformative work, including its innovative Avoiding the Pipeline to Prison Initiative, which is focused on building justice systems based on restoration instead of punishment, holding youth accountable and empowering them to become thriving, contributing adults. The initiative reaches 500 youth per year across San Diego County.
Since the first Peacemaker Awards in 1989, NCRC has celebrated the accomplishments of many individuals and organizations for their ability to recognize a need for change, then craft a positive solution to the issue. The organization has given awards to deserving recipients ranging from well-known elected officials and public figures to reformed gang members and tattoo artists. Knowing that peacemaking happens in a variety of ways, NCRC celebrates both large and small acts of successful conflict management. At the 2021 Peacemaker Awards, the organization added Dr. Anthony Fauci, Nene and Ekene Okolo, and the heads of San Diego’s three community foundations, Beth Sirull, Mark Stuart, and Christy Wilson to the list of awardees who actively support collaborative problem-solving and work to bridge divides to strengthen communities. By publicly acknowledging and celebrating these outstanding individuals and organizations, NCRC hopes the annual Peacemaker Awards will broadcast far and wide that there is hope for change and we must always strive to find positive solutions to conflict and violence.
EVENT CALENDAR DETAILS:
- What: National Conflict Resolution Center’s 34th annual Peacemaker Awards
- When: Saturday, April 23
- Where: Outdoors at the Hilton Bayfront – 1 Park Blvd., San Diego, Calif. 92101
- Program: 5 – 6:30 p.m. – Cocktail Hour | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Dinner
Please note: The event will observe safety guidelines to protect the wellbeing of attendees, staff, and volunteers.
For more information about the event, including sponsorships and to purchase tickets, please visit NCRC’s website.
Event sponsors as of Feb 9, 2022:
- Title Sponsor: San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
- Program Sponsor: Bank of America
- Additional Sponsors include: Palomar Health, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, CBRE, UC San Diego, Toyota, InnoVision Marketing Group, Endeavor Bank, Redfearn & Associates, Scatena Daniels, California Strategies, LLC, Sanford Burnham Prebys, and Port of San Diego.