Announcing the 16th Annual Peace Builder Award Recipients

The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (WDRC) invites the community to join in honoring eight remarkable individuals and organizations who have helped build peace in Whatcom County. The Peace Builder Award winners will be recognized at the 16th Annual Peace Builders Awards Gala, presented by Peoples Bank, on November 16th at 5:00 PM, in Bellingham Technical College’s Settlemyer Hall.

Each of this year’s award winners represent unique and important efforts to build trust, promote healing, resolve conflicts, and contribute to a more peaceful community. The recipients of the 2018 Peace Builder Awards are:

Education Award: Jill Iwasaki
For partnering with families and communities in the Ferndale School District to address trauma, solve complex problems, and support healthy youth development

Organization Award: Skookum Kids
For connecting foster children in Whatcom County to safe and loving homes

Arts Award: Dustin Willetts and the Kulshan Chorus
For using music to “break the silence” about gender-based violence

Youth Award: Students for Action
For leading inclusive community conversations about safe school environments

Program Award: Page and the Northwest Youth Services Queer Youth Project 
For using education, counseling, and advocacy to support LGBTQ youth

Reconciliation Award: Satpal Sidhu and the Arch of Healing and Reconciliation Project
For memorializing the history, experience, and contributions of immigrants to Whatcom County

Healthcare Award: Micki Jackson 
For convening and fostering intergenerational dialogue about end-of-life and palliative care

Collaboration Award: Jared Jones-Valentine and the Unity Coal Mine Bridge Project 
For engaging community members in celebrating diversity and building neighborhood pride

On November 16th, in addition to the awards ceremony, event guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a chef-inspired dinner, a silent auction and dessert dash, live music, and poems from the winners of the 2018 Youth Peace Poetry Contest. Tickets are $60 and may be purchased online or by calling 360.676.0122. Thanks to the 16th Annual Peace Builder Awards sponsors: Peoples Bank, Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC, Village Books and Paper Dreams, Rice Insurance, First Federal Bank, and Bank of the Pacific.