Rotary District 5100 receives Global Peacebuilder recognition

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Rotary District 5100 has been honored as a Rotary International Global Peacebuilder District for its leadership in promoting peace through education, partnerships, and community engagement.

The designation recognizes the district’s commitment to empowering youth, fostering global understanding, and inspiring peace locally and abroad.

"Peace is not just the absence of conflict — it’s the presence of opportunity, respect, and compassion," said Susanne Holmberg, district governor of Rotary District 5100. "This award reflects the dedication of our members who work every day to create a culture of peace."

One of Rotary’s seven Areas of Focus, peacebuilding is an active, intentional process that involves creating environments where peace can thrive. It goes beyond simply preventing conflict and focuses on addressing the root causes of conflict, fostering understanding, and promoting sustainable peace. Rotary achieves this through various initiatives, including supporting peace education, facilitating conflict resolution and promoting community development.

District 5100's peacebuilding initiatives encompass youth peace education programs within schools, as well as the development of conflict resolution and leadership skills for future generations.  Through international partnerships, the district collaborates with Rotary clubs worldwide on projects addressing the root causes of conflict, from education to clean water.

Locally, the Rotary Club of Newberg has championed local peacebuilding through initiatives like the Oregon Peace Trail, Peace Village programs, Peace literacy, and a Peace Garden.

Internationally, the Rotary Club of Three Creeks in Vancouver partnered with 17 other clubs and supported by district and Rotary Foundation grants, raised over $63,000 to fund mobile medical units to deploy in Ukraine. These mobile units provide critical healthcare such as maternal services, emergency stabilization, water purification and more. 

Al Jubitz, co-founder of the Rotary Action Group for Peace, has spoken warmly and passionately about the impact of peace poles as symbols of Rotary’s peacebuilding mission. “This Global Peacebuilder District recognition affirms District 5100’s role in Rotary’s vision of a more peaceful world — uniting people to take action, create lasting change and build a culture of peace.”