Councilman Adam McGough signs a "Respect Pledge" during the June kickoff event for the 2016 Dallas Peace Day. Dallas artist and community activist, Karen Blessen, along with young people from 29 Pieces, an inner city arts arts initiative, asked the willing to sign the pledge, committing to respect and peace when beset by adversity. (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)

Councilman Adam McGough signs a “Respect Pledge” during the June kickoff event for the 2016 Dallas Peace Day. Dallas artist and community activist, Karen Blessen, along with young people from 29 Pieces, an inner city arts arts initiative, asked the willing to sign the pledge, committing to respect and peace when beset by adversity. (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)

It was June when Councilman Adam McGough signed a “respect pledge” outside City Council chambers as part of a kickoff for Peace Day Dallas 2016, mere weeks before the violence that overtook the city when a gunman killed five police officers.

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The call for peace became even more poignant, and though the tragedy shook Dallas and made ripples across the nation, McGough says he hopes Peace Day Dallas will be not only healing but revealing.

“We want this event to highlight what our city does right and how we are working to overcome hatred and violence,” he says.

McGough and his wife, Lacy, are the co-chairs of this year’s Peace Day Dallas, with a range of events taking place all weekend across the city, plus a concert for peace next Wednesday evening, Sept. 21, which is the International Day of Peace. The two Peace Day events closest to our neighborhood are:
  •  Vickery Meadow Community Outreach event on Sunday, Sept. 18, 1-3 p.m. at Tasby Middle School, where a dedicated group of Dallas volunteers will host activities such as soccer, dance, face painting, food and other fun, all with the goal of experiencing the excitement and enrichment of cultural diversity in this global community
  • “Taste of Peace in a Tasteful Place” on Sunday, Sept. 18, 6-8 p.m. at the Dallas Arboretum, featuring Dallas’ top chefs to honor members of the Dallas and DART police departments, and also recognize the good work of Cafe Momentum. Participating restaurants include: Chamberlain’s Chop House and Fish Market, Dragonfly, Suze, Parigi, Café Momentum, Oddfellows, 3015 at Trinity Groves, Slow Bone, Resident Taqueria, Gil’s Elegant Catering, Jimmy’s, Haute Sweet Patisserie, Banfi Wines, Lakewood Brewery, Peticolas Brewing Co. and Pop Star. Tickets ($125 per person) can be purchased here; proceeds go to Peace Day Dallas to allow all other events to be free and open to the public, and remaining funds will be distributed to its partner charities.