REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! REGISTER HERE.
Join us for the 2026 Community Peace Summit, a FREE, One-Day Event uniting leaders, and community members for actionable change.
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- DATE: Saturday, October 24, 2026
- TIME: Registration and Breakfast from 8:15 - 9 AM, with event beginning at 9 AM.
- LOCATION: Lorain County Community College (LCCC) - Spitzer Conference Center, Elyria Ohio
- COST: 100% Free (Includes Complementary Breakfast & Lunch)
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
Grand Ideas Require Intentional Action
Global peace isn’t created in distant halls of power—it is built from the ground up through shared human values and everyday community effort.
The Community Peace Summit, co-presented by Rotary District 6600 & The Elyria YWCA, is a full-day gathering designed to bridge big-picture peacebuilding with practical, local execution. Join community leaders, students, educators, and local advocates for an inspiring day of connection, dialogue, and skill-building.
Whether you are looking to foster peace in your school, workplace, or neighborhood, you will leave with tangible tools to make a lasting impact.
THE THEME: THINK GLOBAL. ACT LOCAL.
Think Global
Interconnectedness: Understanding how global economic, social, and environmental factors directly mirror and impact our home communities.
Cultural Empathy: Listening across differences to build the foundation for sustainable local and international diplomacy.
Shared Responsibility: Recognizing that protecting human dignity everywhere starts with understanding our world.
Act Local
Bridge the Divide: Engage in meaningful conversations across cultural, civic, and political differences.
Support Local Resilience: Invest time and resources into local food security, youth mentorship, and education.
Practice Restorative Dialogue: Implement practical conflict-resolution skills in your daily life, workplace, and neighborhood.
PROGRAM & SCHEDULE
Agenda at a Glance
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8:30-9:00 am |
Doors Open - Registration & Breakfast |
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9:00-10:10 am Reaser Grand Ballroom |
Opening Remarks, Jeanine P. Donaldson, Chair and Katherine Eboch, District 6600 District Governor Morning Keynote: “Global Friction, Heartfelt Action: Overcoming the Disruptions in Global Humanitarian Aid.“ by Pushpi Weerakoon, Frontline Peacebuilder & 2025 Rotary Alumni Global Service Award Recipient |
| 10:10-10:30 am | Break & Refresh |
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10:30-11:15 am 11:20 am-12:10 pm Upstairs Classrooms |
Breakout Sessions Round 1 and 2: see Breakout Session Description below for more information |
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12:15–1:30 pm Reaser Grand Ballroom |
Lunch Buffet |
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1:30–2:15 pm Reaser Grand Ballroom |
Afternoon Keynote: “Why Don’t They Just Stand in Line Like Our Grandparents Did? A Brief History and Overview of Our Broken Immigration System and Why It’s in Everyone’s Interest to Fix It” by Steven Volk, Professor Emeritus, Oberlin College & 2011 National Professor of the Year |
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2:15 - 2:45 pm Reaser Grand Ballroom |
Q&A with Immigration Panel - Who are the people living in our counties and within our Rotary Districts, and what are they experiencing? Representatives of country’s facing challenges will sit on the panel |
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2:45– 3:30 pm Reaser Grand Ballroom |
Closing Living Memory Gathering A guided reflection inviting participants to integrate the day’s insights and consider how peace is practiced in everyday life. |
| 3:30 pm | Farewell |
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Pushpi Weerakoon
Frontline Peacebuilder & Rotary Alumni Global Service Award Recipient
Pushpi Weerakoon is an internationally recognized frontline peacebuilder specializing in Transitional & Restorative Justice, Migration Management, Development, and Diplomacy. Her work spans Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, North & Central America, and the Pacific.
A former Rotary Peace Fellow (2006/2007) and Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar (2009), Pushpi received the prestigious Rotary Alumni Global Service Award in 2025—the highest honor presented to a Rotary alumnus whose service to humanity exemplifies the spirit of Rotary International. Since becoming a Peace Fellow, she has inspired Rotary gatherings worldwide with her frontline insights on peacebuilding and restorative justice.
Steven Volk
Emeritus Professor of History, Oberlin College
Steven Volk taught Latin American history at Oberlin College for over 30 years and served as the research and executive director of the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) for 17 years. A dedicated community advocate, he has been active in immigration advocacy for over two decades and currently serves as Vice Chair of Oberlin Community Supporting Immigrants (OCSI).
In recognition of his work, the Chilean government honored him in 2001 for his efforts to help restore democracy in Chile. In 2011, he was named Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
BREAKOUT SESSION OVERVIEW
Choose Your Path to Lasting Peace
Below are our planned breakout sessions. The agenda includes two identical rounds of breakout sessions at 10:30 and 11:20, so you can choose which to attend each round.
| Building Peace in Community (BPC) & Pastors & Laity Advancing Nonviolence (P.L.A.N.)
Hosted by: Tom Carlisi, MA – Certified Nonviolent Communication Trainer, Carlisi & Associates, Co. Description: An interactive session blending Nonviolent Communication with Faith in Action, where participants build personalized BPC & P.L.A.N. peacebuilder action plans to strengthen conflict prevention, resolution, and compassion in their communities.
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| Peace Versus Sustainable Peace
Hosted by: Bob Oborn – Rotary District 6630, Past District Governor Description: An exploration of Positive Peace and its eight pillars — from well-functioning government to equitable resources — and how Rotarians and individuals can help build well-governed, equitable, and resilient communities.
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| Beyond Your Box: Advocacy 101
Hosted by: Kimberly Hazelgrove – Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, Government Relations & Advocacy Manager Description: Think being non-partisan means staying silent? Think again! Learn to engage effectively with members, elected officials, and the community to support the causes you care about without being labeled “political”. Did you know that non- profits, churches and schools can support voter issues and other civic initiatives without jeopardizing their 5.01.c 3 status?
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| A “Shark Tank” Framework For Sustainable Development Goals
Hosted by: Cynthia Andrews – Community Foundation of Lorain County; Christa Battle – College NOW Description: Explore how youth serving organizations and community foundations can strengthen their community leadership by connecting local priorities to broader frameworks for impact. Hear from Youth Fund members, Rotarians and other local resources about how they've leveraged frameworks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as guides for affiliate fund and other local grant making. Join the journey and learn how to get started in your community.
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| Moral Dilemmas for Moral People: Peace-seeking Entities and Immigrant Justice
Hosted by: Rev. David Hill – First Church Oberlin, UCC; Steven Volk – Professor of History Emeritus, Oberlin College Description: This session will highlight lessons from Jewish and Christian tradition and practice, review the history of the sanctuary movement and more recent local responses to immigrant justice, and invite conversation around our responsibilities towards our immigrant neighbors and keeping our workplaces, places of worship, hospitals, etc., safe for everyone.
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| Know Your Allies: The Power in Community Networking
Hosted by: Regan Phillips – League of Women Voters, Vice President Lorain County Section NCNW Description: In this workshop we will practice moving from polite small talk and dive into intentional proactive allyship to increase positive community collaborations with youth and individuals from other ethnic and racial groups doing similar work. There are many groups and organizations in our communities that are doing similar work as it relates to peace and community service. Do you know who they are? Do they know your organization? Our goal will be to ignite momentum, spark new civic relationships and carry this energy beyond the Summit.
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Closing Living Memory Gathering Hosted by : Malaika Bell, Mosaic Strategic Solutions Description: The conference concludes with a Living Memory Gathering™, a 45-minute facilitated reflection experience. Through guided prompts and shared dialogue, participants will reflect on the day and consider how peace is practiced in everyday relationships, communities, and choices.
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PEACE SUMMIT LOCATION & REGISTRATION
Lorain County Community College (LCCC)
Spitzer Conference Center
1005 N. Abbe Rd, Elyria, OH. 44035
Reserve your Seat Today
While admission, breakfast and lunch are completely free, space is limited and advance registration is required.
HOSTS & SPONSORS
Co-presented with pride by Rotary District 6600 and The Elyria YWCA.
Rotary District 6600 brings together leaders across Northwest Ohio to tackle our world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges—turning goodwill into measurable, lasting community impact.
Dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women, YWCA Elyria serves as a vital anchor for peace, justice, and social equity across Lorain County. Through community programming, youth development, and advocacy for systemic change, YWCA Elyria turns shared values into local action—building a safer, more inclusive community where every individual can thrive.
MEDIA KIT & PROMOTIONAL TOOLS
Help Us Spread the Word
Building a peaceful community requires a collective voice. Whether you are a Rotary Club President, a community partner, or a local advocate, we have created ready-to-use resources to help you invite your network to the 2026 Community Peace Summit.
1. Download Save the Date Flyers
Perfect for printing, posting on bulletin boards, or sending out as email attachments.
2. Complete Event Media Drive
Access or official Google Drive folder for digital promotion assets updated regularly as new speakers and sessions are announced
What's Inside the Google Drive
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- Social Media Graphics: Reformatted square (Instagram/Facebook) and vertical (Stories) graphics.
- Sample Copy & Captions: Copy-and-paste text for social posts, club newsletters, and meeting announcements.
- Logo Package: High-res PNG files of the official summit emblem and host logos for co-branding
- Press Release Template: A customizable press release for local media outlets and neighborhood publications.
- Social Media Graphics: Reformatted square (Instagram/Facebook) and vertical (Stories) graphics.
Join us in making our community a safer, more peaceful place for everyone.
All are welcome!