Coronado Youth Celebrate Tolerance

On behalf of the Coronado Human Relations Commission, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to the hundreds of people who contributed to the success of the seventh annual “TAKE MY HAND, CORONADO:  a Weeklong Celebration of Peace in Human Relationships,” March 30 – April 3, 2009.  We are proud that our new Mayor Casey Tanaka together with the City Council issued a proclamation inviting “. . . all residents of Coronado to participate in ‘TAKE MY HAND, CORONADO’ and to resolve all conflicts with peaceful communication and greater understanding in the City of Coronado.” 

We have so many individuals and groups to thank:  persons who believe in the mission of the Coronado Human Relations Commission; persons who recognize and value the significant, positive outcomes of “Take My Hand, Coronado”; and persons who have dedicated time, effort, and resources to this project.

The following individuals and organizations in Coronado contributed essential financial support to the Commission and “Take My Hand, Coronado”, and we thank you:

• An Anonymous Donor (Sponsor of the James Richard Shirey, Jr. Memorial Peacemaker Award / Youth Category)

• John Messner

• Christ Church Day School

• Coronado Chamber of Commerce (Sponsor of the Peacemaker Award / Business Category)

•  Rotary Club of Coronado (Sponsor of the Peacemaker Award / Community Leader Category)

•  Silver Strand Elementary School Parent Teacher Association

Thirteen student artists awed the City Council and audience upon receipt of their Poster Contest Awards on March 3^rd, and we thank you.  The Grand Prize Winner was Ninett Rodriguez from Sacred Heart Parish School, and the Poster Gallery is available for viewing in the City of Coronado Community Center. 

Students, teachers, staff, and administrators at all seven schools in Coronado embraced the activities each day of the week with genuine enthusiasm.  Numerous members of the Commission contributed to school programming including:  Nancy Roberts, Jeff Saavedra, Bill Cass, Mike Crooker, Claudia Gallant, Barbara Hill, and Jay Marquand.  And we thank you.

The City of Coronado provided the Nautilus Room in the Coronado Community Center together with the professional staff for the evening event; and for the “Community Planting” the City provided flowers and the expert guidance of Ricky Fernandez – all under the leadership of Stacy Berman.  And we thank you.  Please enjoy the “Take My Hand, Coronado” Garden on the median strip of Orange Avenue in front of the Library. 

While Sue Shirey created the printed program for the Peacemaker Awards, Samantha Bowman catered the evening, and Chief Louis J. Scanlon was Master of Ceremonies.  And we thank you 

Casey Tanaka, Mayor, City of Coronado; and Mary Salas, Assemblymember, 79^th District; set the stage for Peacemaker Awards with their opening remarks.  In addition Ms. Salas provided State of California Certificates for the honorees.  And we thank you. 

Scenes from the 2009 Coronado All-Schools Production “The Ice Wolf”, directed by Kim Strassburger, inspired the audience at the evening event.  And we thank you.

Bill Sandke photographed the evening while Amy Steward videotaped a statement by each of the Peacemaker honorees.  And we thank you.

And perhaps most of all we thank the seven recipients of the 2009 PEACEMAKER AWARDS, citizens of Coronado who value, model, and promote peaceful communication and peaceful resolution of conflict, consistent with the mission of the Coronado Human Relations Commission.  Many other deserving individuals were nominated, and we are grateful to the authors of all nominations.

A list does not begin to capture the spirit of generosity and goodwill with which all of us rolled up our sleeves and went to work.  It was with hopeful hearts that the Coronado Human Relations Commission invited our community to participate in "Take My Hand, Coronado."  And it is with full hearts that we express our gratitude to every individual who contributed time, effort, and money to this important project.

And finally may I add a personal note?  At the close of the Peacemaker Awards the Commission elected to thank little me – “all five-foot nothin’” as Amy Steward put it in her extraordinarily generous statement about me.  Ten years ago this month fifteen people died at the hands of two high school students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.  Accordingly many of us were moved to try to prevent such a disaster in Coronado.  I am proud to tell you that at present the Coronado Human Relations Commission that took on that challenge in the fall of 2000 now boasts twenty-six active members.  We make no guarantees; it’s difficult to be right all the time in a society defined in part by violence.  But we commit our efforts to non-violence, to “making peace” in relationships between all persons in our town.  And believe you me, “little me” does not do this alone!  Like you, I am deeply, deeply indebted to my fellow Commissioners:  Dianne Story Baldwin, Marie Balfour, Stacy Berman, S. Samantha Bowman, Bill Cass, Michael Crooker, MSW, Jeffrey P. Felix, Ed.D., Karen Finch, Captain Anthony E. Gaiani, Claudia Gallant, Barbara Hill, MSW, Kathy MacDonald, Jay Marquand, A. Miko Peled, Linda Rahn, Nancy Roberts, Floyd Ross, Jeff Saavedra, Gabriel Salvatierra, Chief Louis Scanlon, Susan Shirey, Amy Steward, Mark Tafoya, Mayor Casey Tanaka, and Carole Dupuis Tessicini.  Each of you deserves the magnificent Rodin sculpture “Cathedral Hands” now cherished by me in my living room.

It's a wonderfully inspiring week made possible by the tireless and quiet efforts of many.  We hope you will join us next year!