Our first stop of the day today was Hurley School. The Peace Run has visited Hurley School at least 7 times since 2012. It is one of our favourite schools to visit, and the kids had done so many wonderful creative preparations for our visit.
Oliveria led the team to an incredible welcome.
Hurley school is bilingual, so our Mexican team member, Oliveria, led the ceremony in Spanish and English. Behind her is Hurley School Principal, Angel Aguirre.
Feeling peace in our hearts.
Guessing which country the team members are from is always a fun game.
2nd grade students Fabio Calderon, Sofia Tamayo, Aliyah Hernandez and Denis Corral read their peace dove messages.
Gratitude 6th Graders Emiliano Garibaldi and Sophia Garcia for their peace poems.
Thank you to Monzerrat Dominguez, Nohemi Cruz and Victoria Palormares for their beautiful poems.
"Peace" by Victoria Palomares
First and Second Grade children sang a beautiful version of "We are the World" - a perfect song for the occasion!
The children tied their peace doves with peace wishes to the trees- so sweet!
Time for the World Harmony Run song with actions!
The National Junior Honor Society students ran a lap around the school grounds with us.
Virangini presented our Certificate of Appreciation to the principal, Angel Aguirre, who received it on behalf of Hurley School.
A special gratitude offering to Amarillis Patino, (wearing red in the back row on the right hand side), who coordinated our visit, and a big big thank you to everyone at Hurley school who offered their hearts yearnings for peace to make our visit so special.
We are very proud and grateful that Hurley School is the home of one of our Sri Chinmoy Peace Trees. This photo is from when it was planted in 2012. At that time one of the kindergarten children said "I will remember planting this tree for the rest of my life"
The same tree a few years later...
The Hurley Peace Tree today!
Oliveria has a special moment with the tree.
Our next event of the day was a visit to Esmond School.
These kids were waiting for us in the hallway.
What a welcome!
Once again we received a heroes welcome!
Lunthita led the way...
Local Chicago Peace Runner and driving force behind the Sri Chinmoy Peace Tree project, Pradhan Balter and his new friends, the red team!
Mrs Harrington was the fabulous MC for the day.
The children were all sitting in the shape of a peace sign!
All thanks to Mrs Megan Szczesniak for her tireless enthusiasm and magnanimous heart vision which enabled her to put together todays event.
Big thank you also to School Principal Dr Angela R. Tucker.
feeling peace...
California is somewhere there...
China!
Many children read their answer to the question "What does Peace mean to Esmond?"
Pictured with one of the children is Mudhavati, one of our Peace Run local Coordinators. She helped set up many of our school events this week and is well loved by all!
A big big thank you to Esmond School- we were so thrilled to meet so many peace lovers!
Time to hold the torch and make a wish for peace...
Otis and Sudanta handing out the Peace Run cards.
Some of the poetry...
Virangini with her new Esmond cup filled with snacks
Kevin Carrol, aka "the tree whisperer", is responsible for growing all of our Peace Trees- this project would not be possible without him! There are actually four Peace Trees at Esmond School!
Coffee filter butterflies made by the younger children- so creatively charming!
Our indomitable local Chicago Peace Run Coordinator, Sukantika, enjoys a moment with the Peace Tree and her new cup!
Biggest thank you to our dear friend, Megan Szczesniak- next time we visit we hope she will be on our running team!
Our last appointment of the day was for an informal visit to our good friends at the South Shore Drill Team. We have been here many times before, and will look forward to a performance from some of their team at our event tomorrow night.
Lunthita introduced the Peace Run, and we all shared an inspiring conversation about peace. Many of the Drill team members expressed how being on the team gives them focus, discipline, a sense of purpose, satisfaction and peace of mind.
We were thrilled to give our Torch-Bearer Award to our long-time friend, Steven Washington. As Community Outreach Director, Mr. Washington is responsible for maintaining the team’s relationship with Chicago Public Schools, Local Businesses, Chicago Police Department, churches and current stakeholders of the organization and works hard to increase the team’s presence within the community and the City of Chicago. In addition to his duties as the Community Outreach Director, Steve is also responsible for grant compliance, and supervising the teams Youth Behavior Program for troubled teens.
Congratulations Steven!
Time to pass the torch!
A happy ending to another incredibly inspiring day in Chicago!
A memory from when we visited the South Shore Drill Team Sri Chinmoy Peace Tree in 2018 during the 12,000 mile peace run around North America.
