PNWU’s Office of DEI Hosts Vigil for World Peace
On Wednesday, March 9, in light of recent global events, PNWU’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) hosted a Vigil for World Peace on the back patio behind PNWU’s Butler Haney Hall.
Led by Elder Anthony Washines of the Yakama Nation, the vigil reflected a mutual hope for world peace. Attendees, gathered around a small bonfire, were provided an opportunity for prayer in their faith/spiritual tradition, and invited to light a candle as a sign of light, life, and their desire for the world.
“Yakama Nation Elder Tony Washines led a powerful peace vigil with healing prayers and stories,” said Dr. Michael Lawler, president of PNWU, following the gathering. “Members of our community generously shared their thoughts and feelings about global conflicts, and their collective hope for peace.”
“The atmosphere of the gathering definitely drew me in,” explained Cassidy Brown, PNWU’s assistant director of creative services. Having attended with the goal of simply capturing photos for a story recap, Brown couldn’t resist the urge to join the vigil. “To see a group of people gathered spreading love instead of hate and NOT join in? That would be something I regretted later,” she explained.
Following the event, Brown offered this observation: “We had a bit of a struggle keeping the candles lit with the wind, so everyone was carefully tending to their candles and keeping them protected so that they stayed lit. At the end of the event, Elder Washines spoke again and pointed out that when each person spoke, they stopped protecting their candles as much as they were before and yet the candle still stayed lit. He pointed out that each person was speaking peace into the world and the effect that those words can have can even keep a small flame lit.”
As she left, Brown buzzed with energy, inspired by the group of people who had all gathered in hopes of a tomorrow more beautiful than today. “The last two years have been tough for so many different reasons,” she explained. “It can be hard to remember that hate isn’t the only thing that exists in the world. This was a good reminder of that.”