REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! REGISTER HERE.
Join us for the 2026 Community Peace Summit, a FREE, One-Day Event uniting leaders, and community members for actionable change.
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- DATE: Saturday, October 24, 2026
- TIME: Registration and Breakfast from 8:15 - 9 AM, with event beginning at 9 AM.
- LOCATION: Lorain County Community College (LCCC) - Spitzer Conference Center, Elyria Ohio
- COST: 100% Free (Includes Complementary Breakfast & Lunch)
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
Grand Ideas Require Intentional Action
Global peace isn’t created in distant halls of power—it is built from the ground up through shared human values and everyday community effort.
The Community Peace Summit, co-presented by Rotary District 6600 & The Elyria YWCA, is a full-day gathering designed to bridge big-picture peacebuilding with practical, local execution. Join community leaders, students, educators, and local advocates for an inspiring day of connection, dialogue, and skill-building.
Whether you are looking to foster peace in your school, workplace, or neighborhood, you will leave with tangible tools to make a lasting impact.
THE THEME: THINK GLOBAL. ACT LOCAL.
Think Global
Interconnectedness: Understanding how global economic, social, and environmental factors directly mirror and impact our home communities.
Cultural Empathy: Listening across differences to build the foundation for sustainable local and international diplomacy.
Shared Responsibility: Recognizing that protecting human dignity everywhere starts with understanding our world.
Act Local
Bridge the Divide: Engage in meaningful conversations across cultural, civic, and political differences.
Support Local Resilience: Invest time and resources into local food security, youth mentorship, and education.
Practice Restorative Dialogue: Implement practical conflict-resolution skills in your daily life, workplace, and neighborhood.
PROGRAM & SCHEDULE
What to Expect
Our planning team is finalizing an outstanding lineup of keynote speakers, interactive workshops, and panel discussions.
Keynote Presentations: Hear from renowned leaders on active peacebuilding and civic leadership.
Interactive Breakout Sessions: Hands-on workshops tailored to community organizing, youth empowerment, and local conflict resolution.
Networking & Resource Fair: Connect with local non-profits, civic organizations, and fellow attendees working on peace initiatives across Northwest Ohio.
Full Speaker & Workshop Schedule Coming Soon Register today to receive program updates directly to your inbox.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Pushpi Weerakoon
Frontline Peacebuilder & Rotary Alumni Global Service Award Recipient
Pushpi Weerakoon is an internationally recognized frontline peacebuilder specializing in Transitional & Restorative Justice, Migration Management, Development, and Diplomacy. Her work spans Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, North & Central America, and the Pacific.
A former Rotary Peace Fellow (2006/2007) and Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar (2009), Pushpi received the prestigious Rotary Alumni Global Service Award in 2025—the highest honor presented to a Rotary alumnus whose service to humanity exemplifies the spirit of Rotary International. Since becoming a Peace Fellow, she has inspired Rotary gatherings worldwide with her frontline insights on peacebuilding and restorative justice.
Steven Volk
Emeritus Professor of History, Oberlin College
Steven Volk taught Latin American history at Oberlin College for over 30 years and served as the research and executive director of the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) for 17 years. A dedicated community advocate, he has been active in immigration advocacy for over two decades and currently serves as Vice Chair of Oberlin Community Supporting Immigrants (OCSI).
In recognition of his work, the Chilean government honored him in 2001 for his efforts to help restore democracy in Chile. In 2011, he was named Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
BREAKOUT SESSION OVERVIEW
Choose Your Path to Lasting Peace
Below are our planned breakout sessions. The full schedule is still being finalized — the agenda will include two identical rounds of breakout sessions, so you can choose which to attend each round.
Building Peace in Community (BPC) & Pastors & Laity Advancing Nonviolence (P.L.A.N.) — Tom Carlisi, Carlisi & Associates Co. Columbus Rotary, Peace Committee Chair
Peace Versus Sustainable Peace — Bob Oborn, Rotary District 6630 Past District Governor
Beyond Your Box: Building Partnerships for Community Change — Kimberly Hazelgrove, Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio
Global Goals, Local Action: Grantmaking with the SDGs — Cynthia Andrews, Community Foundation of Lorain County; Grace Broome, Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame; Christa Battle, College and Career Access Advisor for the College Now Program
Sanctuary Site Work — Rev. David Hill, First Church Oberlin
Power of Community Networking — Regan Phillips, League of Women Voters
PEACE SUMMIT LOCATION & REGISTRATION
Lorain County Community College (LCCC)
Spitzer Conference Center
1005 N. Abbe Rd, Elyria, OH. 44035
Reserve your Seat Today
While admission, breakfast and lunch are completely free, space is limited and advance registration is required.
MAKE IT A WEEKEND: FOUNDATION DINNER + PEACE SUMMIT
District Foundation Dinner
Date: Friday, October 23, 2026 (Evening prior to the Summit)
Location: Elyria, Ohio
Details: Start your weekend early with an evening of fellowship and celebration highlighting local and international service efforts.
(Separate registration for the Foundation Dinner is required via DACdb).
HOSTS & SPONSORS
Co-presented with pride by Rotary District 6600 and The Elyria YWCA.
Rotary District 6600 brings together leaders across Northwest Ohio to tackle our world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges—turning goodwill into measurable, lasting community impact.
Dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women, YWCA Elyria serves as a vital anchor for peace, justice, and social equity across Lorain County. Through community programming, youth development, and advocacy for systemic change, YWCA Elyria turns shared values into local action—building a safer, more inclusive community where every individual can thrive.
MEDIA KIT & PROMOTIONAL TOOLS
Help Us Spread the Word
Building a peaceful community requires a collective voice. Whether you are a Rotary Club President, a community partner, or a local advocate, we have created ready-to-use resources to help you invite your network to the 2026 Community Peace Summit.
1. Download Save the Date Flyers
Perfect for printing, posting on bulletin boards, or sending out as email attachments.
2. Complete Event Media Drive
Access or official Google Drive folder for digital promotion assets updated regularly as new speakers and sessions are announced
What's Inside the Google Drive
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- Social Media Graphics: Reformatted square (Instagram/Facebook) and vertical (Stories) graphics.
- Sample Copy & Captions: Copy-and-paste text for social posts, club newsletters, and meeting announcements.
- Logo Package: High-res PNG files of the official summit emblem and host logos for co-branding
- Press Release Template: A customizable press release for local media outlets and neighborhood publications.
- Social Media Graphics: Reformatted square (Instagram/Facebook) and vertical (Stories) graphics.
Join us in making our community a safer, more peaceful place for everyone.
All are welcome!