Kingston Peace Museum Celebrates Peace Day with a Multigenerational Gathering

Following its grand opening weekend on July 10–12, the Kingston Peace Museum & Learning Lab celebrated Peace Day on September 20, bringing together people of different generations to explore the many dimensions of peace.

Visitors had the opportunity to discover the museum’s exhibits and educational resources covering human rights, environmental protection, immigration, and the contributions of peacemakers throughout history.

The gathering offered a broader understanding of peace—not simply as the absence of war, but as a continuing effort to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.

The Peace Museum & Learning Lab was created in response to the current cultural climate. As its founder and executive director, Dr. Ardizzone, explains:

“We’ve learned enough about war; it’s time we teach peace.”

The celebration was held in honor of the United Nations International Day of Peace, established by the General Assembly in 1981. In 2001, the Assembly designated September 21 as a day of nonviolence and ceasefire.

The 2026 theme, “Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” emphasizes that building peace is a shared responsibility extending beyond governments and international institutions into our neighborhoods, classrooms, and everyday relationships.

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres reminds us:

“On this International Day of Peace, let us all be inspired by the courage of those who champion peace in neighbourhoods, classrooms and communities. And let’s call on world leaders to invest in a peaceful future for all people.”

Through education, dialogue, and community participation, the Kingston Peace Museum offers a space where visitors of all ages can discover that peace is not merely an aspiration for the future, but something we can begin building together today.

Pressenza New York