Color the Cities New York, New Jersey, Connecticut Red: International Day of Peace 2025
Event Title: Color the City Sky Blue: Wear Sky Blue on that day to Your Destination for Peace of Mind and for World Peace
Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
Time: [To be determined – e.g., Participants encouraged to walk throughout the day at their convenience]
Locations:
- Host Cities/States: New York City (all five Boroughs), New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut (Tri-State Area).
- Global Participation: Citizens in all countries worldwide are invited to join in solidarity.
Purpose/Objectives: The International Day of Peace Walk initiative aims to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace globally, aligning with the United Nations’ mandate established in 1981. This event seeks to:
- Promote the understanding that peace begins personally, rooted in individual well-being and health.
- Encourage global citizens to engage in physical activity as a means of personal reflection and contribution to peace.
- Foster a sense of global unity and solidarity by inviting people from all walks of life, across all continents, to participate simultaneously.
- Raise awareness about the importance of peace in daily life, impacting various aspects from personal health to community harmony.
- Inspire acts of compassion and support for those less fortunate, as exemplified by assisting elders or reflecting on the experiences of the physically challenged.
- Champion multiculturalism and diversity through collective action for peace.
Background: In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly declared the International Day of Peace, a day devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace, with the overarching goal to build a more peaceful world for everyone. Each year, the UN designates a specific theme for this day, addressing critical global issues and their intersection with peace.
The International Day of Peace Walk initiative believes that peace is deeply personal and originates from within, intrinsically linked to our well-being and health. It posits that without personal peace, our ability to contribute positively to ourselves and others is diminished.
Theme: “Walk for Your Piece of Mind and Add Another Mile for Peace”
Call to Action / How to Participate: On this momentous occasion of the International Day of Peace on Sunday, September 21, 2025, the International Day of Peace Walk initiative calls upon every New Yorker, resident of the tri-state area, and global citizen to join in unison. Participants are encouraged to:
- Walk: Set aside conventional modes of transport (car, bicycle, mule, camel) and simply walk. Walk in appreciation for the fundamental gift of movement, starting for personal well-being and continuing as a lifelong practice.
- Extend Compassion: Walk with awareness, thinking of others who are less fortunate, grounded by hunger, paralysis, or congenital conditions. Participants are encouraged to express solidarity by helping an elder take a few steps across a room on the day of or during the weekend of September 21st.
- Integrate Walking into Daily Life: Walk to work, to the grocery store, for errands, or simply in your neighborhood with friends.
- Walk for Ideals: Walk in “green” (if possible) to signify environmental peace, and walk for multiculturalism and diversity.
- Global Solidarity: Participate wherever you are across the globe, knowing that this collective effort signifies unity and shared commitment to peace, one heartbeat at a time.
Anticipated Outcomes:
- Increased Awareness: Heighten global awareness of the International Day of Peace and its relevance to individual well-being and collective harmony.
- Community Engagement: Mobilize widespread participation across diverse communities, both locally in the Tri-State area and internationally.
- Promote Well-being: Encourage physical activity and mindfulness as pathways to personal peace.
- Inspire Acts of Kindness: Foster empathy and practical assistance for vulnerable populations.
- Global Cohesion: Create a powerful visual and symbolic demonstration of global unity and commitment to peace during the UNGA Week of International Affairs.