Faith leaders, families, and community members from across the Twin Cities gathered Saturday for an interfaith celebration of National Parents' Day and the International Day of Peace, united around a simple but powerful message: Peace begins in the family. Hosted by the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC) and United for Human Rights at the Church of Scientology Twin Cities, the celebration brought together people representing diverse faith and cultural traditions, including Christian, Buddhist, Unification, and Scientology communities.
The event connected two important observances. The International Day of Peace, established by the United Nations in 1981, calls people and nations to strengthen a culture of peace. National Parents' Day, established by the U.S. Congress in 1994, recognizes the vital role parents play in nurturing children and strengthening families. By bringing these observances together, organizers highlighted a shared conviction: lasting peace is not built only through institutions or international agreements. It also begins in our homes—in the way people love, respect, communicate with, and care for one another.
"In a world where conflict has increasingly become the norm, peace is more than the absence of war. It is the lived experience of safety, dignity, respect, and cooperation in our daily lives," said Reverend Troy Wilson.
A highlight of the celebration was the recognition of outstanding local parents and families who were nominated for their love, sacrifice, dedication, perseverance, and positive leadership. Honorees reflected the rich diversity of the Twin Cities community and represented a variety of cultural backgrounds. While listening to the reasons why parents were nominated, one of the children present leaned over to her mother and said, "Mom – I hope they give this award to you!" Their recognition underscored the event's central message: parents and families are often the first teachers of compassion, responsibility, respect, service, and peace. When these values are practiced in the home, they can extend outward into neighborhoods, communities, and society.
This matters because it challenges the conventional approach to peacebuilding, which often focuses on diplomacy, policy, and international institutions. Instead, it places the family unit at the center of creating a more peaceful world. By honoring parents and families, the event highlighted how everyday acts of love, respect, and communication can have far-reaching effects. In a time when conflict and division often dominate headlines, this local gathering offered a counter-narrative: that peace is not merely a distant goal but a daily practice that starts at home. The recognition of diverse families also underscored that peacebuilding is inclusive, crossing faith and cultural lines.
For more than 25 years, ACLC has worked to bring clergy and faith leaders together across denominational and religious lines to strengthen marriages and families and encourage cooperation among communities of faith. The Twin Cities gathering continued that spirit by affirming a shared commitment to strong families, human dignity, religious freedom, and community peacebuilding. The celebration concluded with a renewed call for people of all faiths and backgrounds to recognize that building a more peaceful world begins close to home. Peace begins in the family—and from strong, loving families, it can spread throughout the community and the world.
