MICA – the Manteca Interfaith Community Appeal – invites the community to attend the 8th Annual International Day of Peace community event on Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m.at Woodward Park.

Members of MICA include St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Transformed through Hope Ministries, The Sikh Community, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Islamic Center of Manteca, The Baha’i Faith of Manteca, and the Seventh-day Adventist church.

The program for Peace Day will feature local community leaders and members of the various churches, including adults and youth, speaking words of peace. A special presentation to the Manteca Unified School District will be made from MICA.

“Our country, and the world, are facing difficult times as we experience events like devastating fires, uncontrolled flooding, poverty, political strife, division and chaos,” organizers noted. “Achieving peace requires action, it requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, and mistrust, division and prejudice no longer exist.”

Though this event cannot change the whole world, MICA hopes to inspire and motivate us to strive to live in peace and harmony with our fellow man.

One way to accomplish this is by serving and working together.

As such MICA event coordinators quote Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres, “Peace is not only a noble vision for humanity. Peace is a call to action. Let us commit to build, strive and sustain peace for all.” Please join us as we promote a kinder and more peaceful community.

The International Day of Peace, established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly, is observed around the world each year on the 21st of September.

The theme this year is “Actions for Peace.”