‘Peace Train’ Delivers Message in Maplewood Neighborhood

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‘Peace Train’ Delivers Message in Maplewood Neighborhood

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
August 17th, 2012

Schulleiter/WikiCommons

By Gary McLendon

Peace was the message of a symbolic march through Rochester’s Maplewood neighborhood Thursday night.

Nearly three dozen children, teens and adults walked from the Church of the Ascension on Riverside Street to Maplewood Park and back, promoting peace via the hand-painted cars of the “Peace Train.”

“People desire peace. It’s a universal human longing. So we threw our net out to people who desire to make a community of peace and use art, music and theater to do it,” said the Rev. Patricia Cashman of Church of the Ascension.

The mission of the eight-day project was teaching community-building and conflict resolution skills through the arts to adults and youths of diverse religious, ethnic and economic backgrounds, primarily in Maplewood.

The Maplewood neighborhood is an ethnically diverse one, with a growing Burmese immigrant population, and some clashes have occurred, Cashman said.

So she was pleased that the Burmese youths taking part in the Peace Train mixed well with other participants, and unity was created among all races in the eight days of the program.

Prince Singh, who oversees 47 area churches as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, witnessed the celebration and said he was pleased.

“Even if it was a sliver of heaven for eight days, these kids will never forget them because they were reminded that there was value in them, and they count. … And they follow Jesus who is known for saying: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ ”

The Museum of Kids Art, under the direction of Michelle Cardulla, and youths from The Possibility Project, a Rochester-based youth performing arts group led by managing director Sara Hughes, partnered with the church by supplying ideas, members and music, dance and art skills.

Once the group reached Maplewood Park, there was a spoken word performance by Summer Adams, 16, and Crystal Edwards, 19, titledDrop Bass Not Bombs.

“We can grow into something powerful. A flame just starts with a spark. It’s time to ignite,” Adams said during the performance.

“Stop judging — we’ve always done wrong — and help us do right. The positive things will show because even from darkness a flame can grow. … We have a strong voice; let’s roar. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. Peace.”

There also was an original rap by Tyler Collins, 16, and group dance sessions by dozens of participants to a customized hip-hop rendition of Cat Stevens’ “Peace Train.”

“I feel it’s a great movement,” Tyler said after his performance.

“We all have to stick together and make sure no one has fallen and pick each other up as a community.”

This story originally appeared at Rochester Democrat and Chronicle