Pictured Above: “Creating a world that is peaceful:” St. Petersburg to be named an International City of Peace.
Courtesy of Leo Gomez Studio
By Aya Diab
For much of its life, St. Petersburg has been popular for its diverse local scene that glimmers with divergent visual arts, ranging from museums and galleries to cultural attractions.
Yet, another milestone is on the horizon as the city of St. Petersburg prepares to be named an international city of peace.
On Jan. 10, 2019, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman signed a proclamation revealing the city’s plan to be considered an international city of peace in partnership with the Tampa Bay Area Muslim Association, The Connection Partners, USF Open Partnership Education Network and the Florida Council of Churches.
Courtesy of the City of St. Petersburg
On March 23, 2019, a letter of intent was signed by the city of St. Pete along with partnering institutions to acknowledge the intention to help build a city of peace.
Courtesy of the City of St. Petersburg
“I think that being recognized internationally helps us spread the message of who and what we want to be as a city,” Kriseman said. “We want to be a city whose culture is tied to peace, that’s all about promoting economic opportunity and improving the quality of life for all of our residents.”
International Cities of Peace is a nonprofit association committed to connecting and promoting global cities to join the peace movement. It is made up of citizens, governments and organizations who built their communities to specific standards in order to be considered official ‘cities of peace.’
The association’s primary goals revolve around networking cities internationally, providing resources, encouraging peace adherents and promoting the general idea of a peaceful world.
“We are divided right now than it’s probably ever been and so I think it’s really important to turn the communities’ focus on these issues and on trying to become the city of compassion [and] the city of peace,” Kriseman said.
After St. Petersburg’s participation in the program, Kriseman hopes to look “at our population as a whole and our most needy and (make) sure that we are doing things to address the issues involving them, from healthcare to eradicating poverty to safety, especially in this time of COVID-19.”
“(I hope for) wide-ranging housing and creating a city where people can afford to live in our community and be a part of our community,” Kriseman said. “Our goal is to try and have a positive impact on all of these issues.”
Peace, as defined by the association in 2009, is “the global consensus values of safety, prosperity and quality of life.” Currently, there are 298 participating cities around the world and 31 in the United States. To qualify as a city of peace, a five-step-process has to be followed.
The initiative is free of charge.
