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Have you seen the traveling Peace Tree at the Reading Public Library? It is awaiting your pledge to join others who have described what they will do to be kind towards, and welcoming of others as Dr. Martin Luther King predicted:
“True Peace is not merely the absence of tension, but rather the presence of justice.” (1958)
As a community education project for the Office for Equity and Social Justice, this tree was designed by volunteers Kathy Guyott and Dick Darveau. It was built by Dick Darveau using lumber and paint donated by Moynihan Lumber in North Reading.
The tree’s silhouette reaches out to embrace all who are around it, beckoning for us all to join in the quest for justice. In order to be respectful of the Earth, the leaves are all made from recycled manilla folders – thank you to all who donated! The tree blooms when each of us fills out a leaf with our pledge to do something for justice. In filling out the acorns, we are planting the seeds of peace – Please share what you think is most important for us to do in order to enable inclusive peace to take root!
The goal of this tree is to send the message that each of us plays an important role in making justice and peace happen; that together we can and do make a difference, AND to show that no one is alone in our Reading Community. We are hopeful that this will encourage education, and awareness about, and sensitivity towards efforts to include and welcome everyone, so that no one feels marginalized or alone in our community and beyond.
It is clear that so many little things done by so many of us can make a difference – this is evident not only from this traveling tree, but also from the Forest of 15 Peace Trees created by the Reading Public Schools. In preparation for Reading’s 2023 Martin Luther King Day celebration, Elementary, Middle and High School Students inscribed leaves with what they are doing in their lives to instill kindness, inclusion and empathy, respectively. Volunteers Kathy Guyott, Linda Snow Dockser, and Lynn Peters spent hours enjoying these messages while attaching these leaves to paper trees designed by Kathy Guyott.
These Peace Trees (2 per school) ranged in size from 4’ wide by 6’ high to 7’ wide to 7’ high. They were overflowing with leaves that inspired people as they walked down “Main Street” outside the RMHS Performing Arts Center on the day of the 2023 Martin Luther King Day celebration. After MLK Day, the trees were moved to each of the schools that made them. The leaves were all mixed up so that children could read each other’s leaves while looking for their own. In addition to creating the leaves, each class had a discussion about what behaviors are necessary to plant seeds of peace. Each class voted to decide what word/s would go on their acorns. These acorns are attached to the roots of the trees. Together with the wooden tree, these school trees constructed a powerful ‘Peace Tree Forest’ which stimulated many thoughtful discussions about personal responsibility in the quest for justice and peace.
Since Martin Luther King Day, the trees in the schools have been a source of conversation and reflection, while the wooden Peace Tree has traveled around town. Starting with the Martin Luther King Day of Service and then the MLK Day Celebration, the wooden traveling tree has traveled to Town Hall, the Senior Center, and the Police Station.
Now the traveling Peace Tree is in the lobby of the library, along with all the materials you need to participate. Please ‘check it out’ and consider adding your pledge: What do you plan to do to enable justice, peace and a sense of belonging for everyone in our town and in our world?
Kathy Guyott
Member, Partners and Allies for Inclusive Reading and Volunteer Reading Resident
