Current and former county leaders, Multnomah Youth Commission honored for promoting peace

November 26, 2014

Commissioner Loretta Smith (right) accepts her award at the Black Women for Peace event as Regena Warren looks on.

Current and former Multnomah County leaders, as well as the Multnomah Youth Commission were among those honored on Saturday, Nov. 22 for helping promote peace through community solutions to youth violence.

Black Women for Peace, a non-profit founded to promote peace in our community, honored Commissioner Loretta Smith and former county Commissioner Barbara Willer with the “Peace Champion Award.”  Health Department Director Joanne Fuller and Mary Li, Community Services Division manager for the Multnomah County Department of County Human Services, were honored with the Black Women for Peace Support Award at the program at the Ambridge Center.

The Multnomah Youth Commission was awarded the "Peace in Action Award" for holding the Rob Ingram Youth Summit Against Violence to try and change the way violence is discussed and dealt with in the community. The annual Ingram event last March brought 400 young people and adults together to talk about different forms of violence and possible action plans.

In 2010, 50 black women responded to then-Commissioner Willer’s call for strategies to address youth and gang violence.

Multnomah Youth Commissioners

Black Women for Peace organized and went on to hold the 2012 Peace Festival at the Dolores Winningstad Theater that featured dance, poetry, music and video. A second is festival is scheduled in 2015. They’ve also have created a Peace Pledge, signed by more than 200 ambassadors. The organization co-sponsors a children’s play at juneteenth; and supports community events such as the Better People’s events, and the Neighborhood and Roots Festivals.

Saturday’s awards ceremony was hosted by Black Women for Peace leadership team members Connie Carley, Gloria Fluker, Sommer Martin, Shei’Meka Owens, Allyson Spencer and Regena Warren.