International Peace Day 2013

Memphis Street Academy Students march for PEACE!

On Friday, September 20, 2013, every student, teacher, and staff member from Memphis Street Academy Charter School marched for the cause of global peace through the neighborhood surrounding the school. Students exclaimed chants for various peaceful causes that they rehearsed in their homerooms. They carried signs and posters that called for peace in many ways, such as stopping gun violence, and end to bullying, proclamations against abuse, and many other peaceful causes.

Neighbors waved to children on the march, cheered, and threw up peace signs in support of their cause. It was a great step in getting our students to think about global and local ideas of peace. It was also a great way to show the neighborhood the progress our students are making every day.

MSA Student Volunteers at Peace Day Philly 2013 (photo by Brandon Lee)

Later in the evening, ten students attended Peace Day Philly at Hawthorne Park in South Philadelphia. These students were part of last year's Advanced Art class. All week long, they worked on "Peace Pinwheels" to be placed in a garden for children who attended the event.  Our students also designed several posters for the event. While at the event, these Memphis art students volunteered for hours to help younger children make origami "Peace Cranes" and pinwheels of their own.

Advanced Art students presenting their work to Philly poet and peace advocate, Sonia Sanchez at Peace Day Philly 2013 (photo by Brandon Lee)

Our students were also invited on stage to present legendary Philadelphia poet Sonia Sanchez with two posters they created. These posters were inspired by Sonia, and had decorative quotes she'd written about peace.  Sonia was delighted. She was very thankful and happy that our students were thinking about peace at such a young age. Later, students helped Sonia pass out "Peace Journals" to the crowd in attendance.

A special thank you goes out to our Activities Director, Mr. Lee, who arranged the day's events. All in all, it was an incredible day here at Memphis Street Academy. These kids really showed us what they are made of. It gets better every day. 

MSA Students with Councilman Mark Squilla at Peace Day Philly 2013 (photo by Brandon Lee)