On the corner of North Madison Street and West 8th Street in Wilmington’s West Center City neighborhood, YWCA Delaware’s Home-Life Management Center will soon welcome a new symbol of hope and unity — a Peace Pole, installed in honor of Peace Week Delaware’s 10th anniversary. This symbol of peace and collaboration across cultures was awarded by Peace Week Delaware to the YWCA in recognition of its work in bringing peace through justice to Delaware.
The dedication ceremony will take place on Friday, October 17, at 12 p.m. at YWCA Delaware’s Home-Life Management Center located at 709 North Madison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. The event is free and open to the public, with street parking and additional parking available in YWCA Delaware’s lot on W 8th Street. The event will feature remarks from community leaders, including YWCA Delaware’s Chief Executive Officer Melissa Gonville and Community Engagement Director Becca Cotto, among others, and the unveiling of a Peace Pole inscribed with the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in four languages—English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Mandarin.
To extend that spirit of unity, attendees will also receive candles to carry peace and light into their own neighborhoods, while supplies last.
“As a statewide organization committed to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all, YWCA Delaware is honored to host this powerful symbol of global solidarity,” said Melissa Gonville, CEO of YWCA Delaware. “The message on this Peace Pole reflects our ongoing commitment to creating spaces where every person can live free from violence and fear.”
“More than 300 individuals and families each year find refuge and a fresh start at YWCA Delaware’s Home-Life Management Center,” said Lisa Forever,
YWCA Delaware’s Chief Housing and Community Impact Officer. “This is the perfect place to plant a symbol of peace and hope for everyone who walks through our doors.”
More than 100,000 Peace Poles have been installed in over 190 countries, each sharing a universal message of hope and unity. The International Peace Pole Project was founded by Masahisa Goi (1916–1980), a survivor of World War II bombings in Japan, who authored the now-iconic phrase, “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” Today, Peace Poles continue to unite people across cultures, faiths, and nations in the shared vision of a more peaceful world.
YWCA Delaware provides emergency and transitional housing, personalized case management, financial assistance, access to community health resources, job-readiness support, educational enrichment workshops, and 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis Response (SARC) services to individuals and families who are rebuilding their lives. The installation at YWCA Delaware’s Home-Life Management Center serves as both a local and global affirmation — that peace begins within our communities, and that every individual has a role to play in creating it.
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Peace Week Delaware is a statewide, all-volunteer initiative held every October (typically October 11–19), that promotes peace, equity, justice, and community resilience through free, nonpartisan events across Delaware. Since its founding in 2015, Peace Week Delaware has united individuals, organizations, and faith communities in rallies, dialogues, workshops, and service projects, amplifying voices for positive change and encouraging everyday peacebuilding. Peace Week Delaware partners with community groups and institutions across the state and depends on dedicated volunteers, peace advocates, and financial supporters to sustain and expand its reach every year. Learn more at peaceweekdelaware.org.
