Peace First’s inaugural real-world event included young changemakers, advocates, activists, and storytellers from all around the world who gathered together in New York City on September 16. The goal of the summit was ultimately to inspire people to rethink how we define and create peace. Among the speakers and artists present at the summit were transgender activist and Ted Cruz’s worst nightmare James van Kuilenburg, Parkland survivor Samantha Fuentes, National School Walkout founder Lane Murdock, anti–gun violence activist and teen political sensation Mary-Pat Hector, co-founder of the Peace Studio Maya Soetoro-Ng, and many more.
Eric Dawson, co-founder and CEO of Peace First, says young people’s stories and voices were prioritized over everything. Peace First provides young people opportunities to make their communities safer, more just, more equitable, and — perhaps most importantly — more loving and compassionate.