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22nd International Day of Peace
​We Keep Us Safe: Fostering a Culture of Care

Sunday, September 21st @ 3 pm 
Structures Brewing, 601 W. Holly St.

Whatcom Peace and Justice Center is excited to announce the 2025 International Day of Peace! Recognized by the United Nations since 1982 and the City of Bellingham since 2017, this is a community-focused day of celebration that offers space to support our work in uplifting local organizers and connecting to global movements against violence and oppression. 

International Day of Peace is WPJC's main fundraising and educational event of the year, raising critical funds to support the ever more vital work of the Center in advocating for peace and against wars at home and abroad.

​This year, we're celebrating with the theme: “We Keep Us Safe: Fostering a Culture of Care". We believe that fostering a culture of care means creating spaces where people are seen, heard, and supported, especially those most affected by injustice. ​

With your help, this year, our goal is to raise $5,000.

​A sliding scale donation will reserve your spot at the event and help us sustain our community hub and resource center!
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This year's poster features artwork from Paige Pettibon! Paige is a multidisciplinary artist based in Tacoma, Washington, whose work reflects her Black, White, and Salish heritage (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes). Follow her online at @paige_pettibon and ​@plain_to_sea.
In Person Silent Auction
Over 50 local businesses have donated to our Silent Auction for 2025 International Day of Peace!
Pure Bliss Desserts, Flux Yoga, Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (BAAY), LockBreaker Escapes, Neko Cat Cafe, Vital Climbing Gym, Seattle Storm, MUD Ceramics, Backcountry Essentials, Tina McKim's Pet Portraits, Convergence Magazine, Eighth Generation, Raven Bread, AK Press, Whatcom Museum, Stones Throw Brewing, Good Time Girls, Bellingham Ghost Tours, Bloomhaven Bottle Shop,
Serendipity, Holmquist Hazelnuts, Allied Arts of Whatcom County, Booda Organics, Pickford Theater, K'ul Chocolate,
Maniac Coffee, Community Boating Center, Still Life Float and Massage, Hum Yoga House, Sam Zito (art), Bagelry, Ovn Wood Fired Pizza, Living Earth Herbs, Third Planet, Kulshan Brewing, Cute But Crazy Socks, Taylor Walter Massage, Spark Museum, IAS + AK Press, Art & Happiness, Eclipse Books, Garden Spot Nursery, Mount Baker Theater, Rodney Smartlowit (tattoo), Fairhaven Toy Garden, Brenda Miller (writing & consulting), Pet Stop, Bellingham Yoga Collective, A Lot of Flowers, MoonValley Organics, Wild Whatcom, Hela Provisions

Poetry from Harmony DeVaney

Harmony DeVaney will be sharing some of their poetry with us! They are an Iñupiaq Alaskan Native artist and advocate. They were born and raised in Bellingham and graduated from Western Washington University where they studied American Cultural Studies with an emphasis in American Indian Studies and minored in Education and Social Justice. They are the former Native American Student Union (NASU) President and currently serve on WPJC's Board as Vice President.

Samba da Renata

We're so excited to announce that Seattle's incredibly talented AfroLatina band, Samba da Renata, will be performing at International Day of Peace this year! This will be their debut performance in Bellingham, so we're honored to be welcoming them to our community. ​
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DJ Nu

DJ Nu mainly blends reggae and afrobeats with a focus on good vibes and unity. He loves sharing music and making people dance, but enjoys teaching, reaching out, and spreading the love most!
2025 International Day of Peace Sponsors

Steele Financial Services • Amnesty International • Whatcom Human Rights Task Force • Springtime Farm • Julian & Company • A1 And All • WECU • Inatai • Social Justice Fund Northwest • UFCW3000 • Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship • Bellingham Community Food Coop • A New Leaf Flower Shoppe
Drink and Dine for Peace​
​This year, ten local restaurants and cafes are participating in Drink and Dine for Peace. See details below!

2025 Rosemary and Howard Harris Lifetime Peacemaker Awardee:
Maru Mora Villalpando

Maru Mora Villalpando is a community organizer, she was born and raised in Mexico City where she was politicized and adopted popular education as her philosophy for organizing in her community. In the U.S., she has spent more than two decades working for racial, reproductive, and immigrant justice. 

She is the founder of La Resistencia whose main focus is to end all detentions and deportations, and to shut down the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, WA. The group continues after more than 11 years of work under new leadership, with a transition developed by Maru after 5 years of planning and implementation. 

Maru has also been a consultant since 2010 for grassroots organizations, non-profit organizations and small BIPOC led grassroots groups trough Latino Advocacy, LLC. Last year Maru joined the team of the national organization Community Justice Exchange.  At CJE she supports local grassroots organizing immigrant groups working to end criminalization of immigrants, immigration enforcement and surveillance. When asked how she would describe herself, she replied “single mom and community organizer".

Maru lived in Whatcom County for several years while her daughter went to school. She left a legacy of deep community ties and bold organizing that we all aspire to live up to. Please join us in congratulating Maru on the 21st at Structures Brewing!

Capoeira Roda

Capoeira will be taking place again this year at our event!

Capoeira Angola is an Afro-Brazilian art form--a fluid, rhythmic martial art; a ritual; a dance of deceptive vulnerability, wit, and grace. The intricate movements of Capoeira Angola weave tradition, history, spirituality, and philosophy into a uniquely beautiful "game". Like many African-based traditions, it is orally transmitted from masters (mestres) to students. Capoeira was used by enslaved Africans in Brazil to fight against colonial oppression. After emancipation of the slaves, Capoeira continued to develop in Brazil, however, it was outlawed for almost 400 years and so it was practiced in secret. To teach and practice Capoeira Angola was legalized in the 1930's. It survives because of the wisdom and dedication of a handful of mestres and their devoted students. 
 
- Credit: FICA Northwest

Baile Folklorico

Deysi Gama loves to learn different regional dances from Mexico. She teaches baile folklorico (traditional dances that emphasize local folk culture with ballet characteristics) in Mount Vernon and Whatcom County. 
Want to become a Sponsor for International Day of Peace?
Contact WPJC at 360-734-0217 or [email protected] if your business or organization wants to sponsor International Day of Peace.

​Volunteer at International Day of Peace!
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Volunteer with us for this special event! This is the perfect opportunity to get involved with WPJC if you've been curious about volunteering but didn't know where to start. It's also a great way to be part of a meaningful celebration!
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Remember how much fun we had last year with our peacemaker awardees, Rena Priest, DJ Yugwa’mala, and the Jafra Dabke dance team? 
The Whatcom Peace & Justice Center calls on our government and society to disavow policies of violence and seek a culture of peace.