Los Angeles leaders push peace action after International Day of Peace roundtable

Community, human-rights and civic leaders met in Glendale on Sept. 21 to discuss practical steps Los Angeles can take to reduce division and prevent conflict. The event tied peacebuilding to schools, neighborhoods and public costs linked to violence and incarceration.

Why it matters: - Los Angeles leaders framed peace as a day-to-day community effort, not a once-a-year observance. - The discussion linked prevention to public costs, including nearly $995.3 million in gross appropriations for Los Angeles County Sheriff custody operations in FY 2025-26. - Organizers said building trust and relationships earlier can help reduce conflict before it reaches the point of incarceration.

What happened: - Community, human-rights and civic leaders gathered Sept. 21 at The Way to Happiness Foundation International in Glendale for a United Nations International Day of Peace roundtable. - The event focused on what Los Angeles can do now to reduce division, prevent conflict and build peace in local communities. - Victoria Summer, a British actress and singer, opened the afternoon with a musical performance. - The roundtable included an open discussion with leaders from education, youth leadership, humanitarian service, human rights, community work and international diplomacy.

The details: - Ludwig Alpers, president of The Way to Happiness Foundation International, said peace should be built before conflict happens and through collective action. - Alpers asked participants to identify practical steps that could be carried back into Los Angeles communities. - Sir Doctor Col Laurent Khaiat, a humanitarian leader from Beverly Hills, focused on service and personal responsibility. - Khaiat said peace is built by what people do “here, now, today.” - H.E. Ambassador Ireneo Namboka, former Human Rights Advisor to the United Nations, brought the discussion back to the Golden Rule: “Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you.” - Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, founder and president of Youth for Human Rights International, spoke about growing up under apartheid in South Africa. - Shuttleworth described how her father, a journalist and attorney, sometimes could not safely share what he knew or believed even with his own family because a child might repeat it. - Victoria Summer, who is also founder of Next Generation Role Model, spoke about the power of example and adult responsibility toward young people. - Jerry Perez de Tagle discussed peace through education and practical principles people can use in daily life. - The conversation repeatedly returned to Los Angeles schools, neighborhoods, young people and community organizations.

Between the lines: - The roundtable used a local peace event to argue that conflict prevention is a practical civic issue, not just a moral one. - The mix of speakers suggests the organizers see peacebuilding as a cross-sector effort spanning diplomacy, education, human rights and grassroots community work. - The emphasis on the Golden Rule and role modeling points to a strategy centered on behavior change, especially among adults and young people.

What's next: - The Way to Happiness Foundation International plans to continue the relationships built at the roundtable through community cooperation. - The foundation also plans a regular calendar of practical activities. - Organizers want the discussion to translate into action across Los Angeles communities, schools and neighborhood groups.

The bottom line: - The message from Glendale was simple: peace in Los Angeles has to be built early, locally and together.