The arrival of the Democratic National Convention to Denver, Colorado sparked excitement among some of the most politically charged individuals. People from all over the country arrived anticipating the historic moments that where going to occur at the DNC.

The Peace Alliance and the Student Peace Alliance knew the importance of the Democratic National Convention and choose to celebrate this momentous event be hosting a reception for all the House and Senate representatives as well as Colorado representatives.

The reception was held at Gelazzi’s Café which is a gelato shop located on 16^th Street Mall where the majority of the excitement was taking place. The reception was the perfect event to host because the setting was intimate and provided people with an environment to share and exchange ideas.

As one of the Regional Organizer for Student Peace Alliance, the reception served as a reunion. As I approached the venue, I was surrounded by friends who I work in the campaign with. Many of which I now consider family. As many people know, one of the things that I love most about this campaign is the connections that we make with one another. At the reception, I was surrounded by friends and family who support the common goal of seeing a Department of Peace established in our government. We all know and understand the importance of peace and finding nonviolent solutions to conflicts both domestically and internationally.

The reception was enjoyable and I am thankful for my team of students who helped to document that event through what we have called “Peace Journalism.” Peace Journalism is a form of media that highlights the positive peace building efforts that occur on a daily basis. Blogs, YouTube videos, and articles are currently in the process of being created that explain our event, the Department of Peace, and why peace is important.

I want to thank everyone who helped to plan and host the reception as well as all the wonderful people who helped me plan and implement Peace Journalism. The Department of Peace campaign is filled with compassionate individuals who have helped to show why peace is so important. Thank you all for your hard work!