On Feb. 1, WILPF’s Greater Philadelphia Branch honored Sylvia Metzler and Maati Yvonne Platts with the Peace and Justice Dove Award. About 70 WILPF members and friends of the honorees gathered to honor these two extremely dedicated activists for their many years of important work and to share the warmth of our shared strength and commitment to each other and a world transformed.
After an introductory hand ritual led by her grandson, Maati Yvonne Platts shared a bit of her journey and experience with Restorative Norristown, an organization that aims to help youth engaged in judicial systems learn about restorative justice practices through peace circles and create better communication within families, schools, and other systems. With the connection to Restorative Circles Philadelphia, Maati builds on her commitment to ending racism and disparities impacting the lives of people of color.
Likewise, Sylvia Metzler, a long-time WILPF member, looks for and creates ways of stepping out of places of comfort into places of transformation. She told gathered guests about her path to activism, including her early mentors and notable WILPF actions along the journey. Sylvia and fellow presenter Marlena Santoya joked about the time they were arrested and shared a cell in federal prison for a week. She also shared where her activism has led her, including Nicaragua for two years beginning in 1989. Sylvia was particularly moved by a recent trip she took to visit civil rights landmarks this past Autumn. She has found ways to share her experiences with groups, including teenagers participating in an afterschool community program emphasizing justice and the environment.
Both Maati and Sylvia have centered and continue to center their activism on the struggle against racism in our society. New and old friends expressed appreciation for the chance to gather as we struggle with pushback against progress that has been made for racial equality. Tina Shelton, Branch Chair, remarked, “We honor these peacemakers today, and we recognize their work as we know that we cannot build peace on the foundation of oppression and discrimination of any kind.”
