On Saturday, February 15, Perry Wellness Center was pleased to provide a gathering place for the first community-wide Planning 4 Peace meeting, sponsored by the Mattie J.T. Stapanek Foundation. The meeting was led by Jeni Smith Stapanek, founder of the organization and mother of Mattie Stapanek, in whose memory the organization was established.
During his short life, the talented poet and advocate for world peace inspired everyone from Oprah to Jimmy Carter with his message of "Peace is Possible.” Jeni Stapanek began the meeting with an introduction to Mattie’s legacy and then led the group ito a discussion of the strengths and resources available in the Americus and Sumter County area. The group also identified challenges that might impede peace efforts in the community.
Jeni Stapanek, also affectionately known as Mama Peace, was in the Americus area for several weeks to help establish the foundation’s Pathways to Peace program with multiple organizations and to plan for the 1stannual Peace Day celebration, scheduled for October 3, 2020.
Perry Wellness Center plans to be involved in the effort to plan and work for peace within our great community and plans to become “peace certified” by the Mattie J.T. Stapanek Foundation in the near future. Jeni Stapanek also spoke to PWC peers on February 11.
For more information on the Stapaneks, the Mattie J.T. Stapenek Foundation, and the group’s recent visit to Americus, we encourage readers to visit the foundation web site.