Santa Fe, NM — November 2025
Under the vision "May Peace Prevail on Earth," the Rotary Peace Conference 2025 brought together global peacemakers, local leaders, and community members at La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe.
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Santa Fe Centro Passport Club and the Rotary Club of Los Alamos, the conference featured presentations on diplomacy, reconciliation, and community-driven peace building—connecting global lessons from Hiroshima to local action in New Mexico.
Global Perspectives, Local Action
The conference's speaker lineup bridged international experience with practical community application:
Dr. Manuel Montoya presented on economic diplomacy and global perspective, exploring how economic systems can either perpetuate conflict or build bridges between communities.
Eria Matsumae, a Hiroshima Messenger, shared global lessons of peace and reconciliation drawn from one of history's most devastating conflicts. Her perspective offered both historical context and contemporary relevance for communities working through division.
Denise Moore addressed the practical challenge facing communities everywhere: building peace in a time of conflict. Her presentation focused on actionable strategies for fostering understanding and reducing polarization.
District Governor Tom Simon connected Rotary's peace-building mission to the work happening across District 5520's clubs in New Mexico and West Texas.
A Lasting Symbol: The Peace Pole
The conference concluded with the unveiling of a Peace Pole at Thomas Macaione Park—a permanent installation declaring "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in multiple languages.
Peace Poles stand in communities worldwide as visible reminders that peace-building isn't abstract—it's a daily commitment that starts locally. By placing this symbol in a Santa Fe public park, Rotary created an invitation for community members to engage with peace as both aspiration and practice.
The installation was made possible through collaboration with the City of Santa Fe's Historic Preservation Division and Parks and Recreation Division, demonstrating how civic organizations and local government can partner on projects that shape community values.
Why Peace Building Matters Now
Rotary International identifies peacebuilding and conflict prevention as one of its seven Areas of Focus, recognizing that sustainable development requires addressing the root causes of conflict.
The Santa Fe conference tackled this from multiple angles:
- Economic systems that create opportunity vs. scarcity
- Historical memory that informs reconciliation
- Communication strategies that reduce polarization
- Community infrastructure that makes peace visible and actionable
By bringing these perspectives together in one space, the conference created opportunities for cross-pollination—attendees could see connections between international diplomacy and neighborhood conflict resolution, between historical trauma and contemporary healing.
Partnership and Production
The conference required collaboration across multiple organizations:
- La Fonda Hotel provided venue and hospitality
- The Santa Fe New Mexican offered media partnership
- City of Santa Fe departments facilitated the Peace Pole installation
- Alison Pannell coordinated logistics
- Anton Sage Studios produced professional video documentation
This network of support allowed two Rotary clubs to host an event with regional significance, demonstrating how strategic partnerships amplify impact.
Rotary's Peace-Building Legacy
Rotary has championed peace since its founding. The organization helped establish UNESCO, sent delegates to the UN Charter Conference, and created the Rotary Peace Centers that have trained over 1,600 peace fellows worldwide.
The Santa Fe conference brought this global legacy home to New Mexico, showing that peace-building happens everywhere—in international conferences and neighborhood parks, through diplomatic initiatives and community conversations.
Watch the full conference video on You Tube - https://youtu.be/1q8SXtBkVag?si=00_u1yj2UMVSCH_9 To learn more about peace-building initiatives in District 5520, visit rotary5520.org or contact rotaryclubsantafecentro@gmail.com.