By Norman Williams | Special to The OBSERVER
African spirit, music, color, and pride set the tone Saturday evening, when local and international leaders were honored with Africa Peace Awards at a dinner banquet hosted by Sacramento State’s Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution (CAPCR).
More than 200 people attended the banquet, which capped off the final day of the CAPCR’s 32nd annual Africa and Diaspora International Conference. Dr. Ernest Uwazie, a founding director and chair of CAPCR, praised the work of the awardees.
“The Peace Awards is truly a celebration of Black excellence; of ordinary folks doing extraordinary work in the spaces of people of African descent, at local, national and international levels,” he said. “Honoring those who do the peace and healing work was very encouraging, and it was momentous to have the chief justice of Ghana as the keynote speaker.”
Dr. Kristee Haggins, executive director of Safe Black Space, received the Peace Health Award at the banquet. Her nonprofit focuses on “helping Black people heal from historical and current wounds, both individually and collectively.”
Dr. Haggins said she initially founded Safe Black Space to help fill the great need for community mental health professionals after the community shock and turmoil surrounding the 2018 death of 22-year-old Stephon Clark, who was shot by Sacramento police in his grandmother’s backyard.
She praised CAPCR for being a driving force and a key resource behind efforts to heal people in need. “To me, this says a lot about the commitment to the work,” she said. “It speaks to the focus on peace and acknowledging the challenges, and not just for Africans or African Americans. I’m honored to be part of such an amazing award.”
The Judicial Service of Ghana won CAPCR’s Peace Service Award. It was accepted at the ceremony by the chief justice of Ghana, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo. She praised the work of CAPCR.
“[CAPCR] has certainly brought a light to many in circumstances that have darkened the path of humanity,” she said while accepting the award. “I assure you that your efforts have borne much fruit in Ghana and will continue to do so under my direction.”
Other awardees included:
- Peace Builder Award: Ms. Elena Bennett, president and founder of Rwandan Educational Enrichment Inc.
- Peace and Justice Award: Dr. Nathaniel Oyinloye, artist, storyteller and community organizer.
- Peacemaker Award: Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth