Celebrating a Quarter Century of Global Peace Initiatives: A Reflection by Dan Jenkins

Celebrating a Quarter Century of Global Peace Initiatives: A Reflection by Dan Jenkins

At Play for Peace, we are continuously inspired by the dedication of our supporters and leaders, who help shape our journey towards building a more compassionate and peaceful world. One such individual is Dan Jenkins, a long-time supporter and member of the Play for Peace Roundtable, a leadership body that enhances our access to valuable resources and spreads awareness of our work.

During our 25th Anniversary celebration in Chicago, Dan played an essential role in representing Play for Peace’s legacy, drawing on 25 years of global peace initiatives. His heartfelt words and creative contributions beautifully captured the essence of our mission.

"I was given the honor of representing a quarter century of worldwide peace initiatives through Play for Peace by compiling images from coffee table books, atlases & informative maps, along with celebratory words from Play for Peace's dedicated staff and supporters to reflect 25 years of play, peace, and compassion." – Dan Jenkins, Cortez, CO

In addition to creating a visual and written tribute to Play for Peace’s impact, Dan designed a unique interactive experience for attendees with peace pins. The pins, which were split in half, held a deeper purpose.

"The pins created were designed to be connection points, both at the celebration in Chicago, but, perhaps more importantly, for attendees to take with them to spread the word by proudly displaying peace pins and initiating discussions to foster awareness of and understanding of the Play for Peace value in our world."

Here’s how the interactive pin activity unfolded:

1. Each attendee was given half of a peace pin.
2. They were encouraged to wear their half of the "total pin set" and seek out the person with the matching half, symbolizing a shared connection to a specific Play for Peace country.
3. Together, they would go to the “peace wall mural” where they could engage in a conversation about the country their pins represented.
4. Participants were then invited to use Sharpies to write reflective remarks and comments on the peace wall, bringing the mural to life and allowing the wall to come full circle for all attendees.

Despite time constraints for interactive pin activity, the peace pins served as a symbol of connection and sparked meaningful interactions among attendees. Dan’s initiative helped create an environment where Play for Peace’s values of compassion, connection, and community were palpable.

Thanks Dan, we really appreciate you sharing your artistic gifts with Play for Peace!