Powerhouse Peacemakers Bring Down the House
Agape Foundation Executive Director Karen Topakian with Enduring Visionary Prize Winner Madeline Duckles and Rising Peacemaker Prize Winner Elizabeth Sy at the 4th Annual Peace Prize Awards Ceremony. Photo by Bob Hsiang
To view a photo album of pictures from the event, click here
By Karen Topakian
Amidst a crowd of 150+ people Madeline Duckles took the podium by storm last night to accept the Agape Foundation’s 2008 Enduring Visionary Prize at its 4th Annual Peace Prize. Without referring to any written notes, the 92-year old winner inspired and captivated the audience with her views on war and her experiences with peacemaking. She even dispensed two pieces of practical information:
If you are ever sprayed with tear gas, have someone repeatedly pour cold water in your eyes. It will help the blindness but not the pain. Apparently she knows from what she speaks.
If you are ever handcuffed, ask the police to cuff you in the front. She said she learned that lesson when she was arrested at Livermore Lab and they handcuffed her in the back. When wiping a drippy nose became necessary, she had to ask a fellow traveler whose hands were cuffed in the front to help.
Walking off the stage accompanied by her son Christopher, Madeline passed through a sea of standing and applauding guests.
The excitement built for the announcement of the next prize, the Rising Peacemaker, which is always revealed at the event, when Lani Alo described the three finalists: Rae Abileah of Code Pink, Roni Krouzman of Next Generation and Elizabeth Sy of Banteay Srei. Elizabeth gasped when she heard her name called as the winner.
On stage, 26-year old, Elizabeth spoke about the young Southeast Asian women she works with that are at risk of or engaged in sex work. About how being nominated for this prize showed her that she truly was working for peace by uniting families, empowering young women and advocating for changes in the way “sexually exploited minors” are treated by the courts and service providers. Elizabeth’s acceptance speech brought the crowd to their feet once again.
Both Elizabeth and Madeline received a check for $1,000 and a glass award.
Roni and Rae joined Elizabeth on stage to accept their finalist certificates and a check each for $250. True to her activist roots, Rae unfurled a small Code Pink banner resulting in a huge round of applause.
Dolores Garay, the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, ended the night with a fundraising pitch for Agape while holding her young son in her arms, asking the crowd to look into his eyes and give for his future.
A special thanks to Nancy Hernandez of HOMEY, the winner of the 2007 Enduring Visionary Prize, for her moving description of the prize’s impact on HOMEY and for her rousing introduction of Madeline Duckles.
UPDATE: The Oakland Tribute published an Op-Ed by Karen Topakian about the Peace Prize
Tags: Banteay Srei, Elizabeth Sy, Madeline Duckles, Peace, peace prize
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
What a great night. I arrived a bit late, so I wasn’t as able to “mix” before the program, but arrived just in time for the speeches and presentations. A wonderful event, with plenty of affirmation of the value of the work done by my contributions to Agape.
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
[...] If you are ever handcuffed, ask the police to cuff you in the front. She said she learned that lesson when she was arrested at Livermore Lab and they handcuffed her in the back. When wiping a drippy nose became necessary, she had to ask a fellow traveler whose hands were cuffed in the front to help.” From Karen’s blog: Read Karen Topakian’s whole blog about the event here. [...]