A love letter to the peacemakers of the world

I want to thank each of you who are out in your spaces, your communities, your neighborhoods, your cities, your countries living and building peace. I see you and I acknowledge you; the grandmother sitting on the front porch and calling out to children getting into mischief. I see you: the mother of a baby conceived from violence but born into a loving family and raised knowing nothing but the warmth of her mother's breast. I see you, the sister fighting for justice, even if it means going to war with your own family to have the freedom to divorce your cheating husband and show your children what respect for women looks like. I see you, the mother fleeing violence in your hometown, clutching your little ones to you as you dodge bullets, then resettling in a new home and teaching your children to love others, not fear or hate the "other."

I see you all. You inspire me to look for ways to build peace in my own home, my neighborhood and my community. I see you. And I thank you.