Ignite Peace

It's often said, "If you want peace, work for justice," and that's exactly what we do here at Ignite Peace. Through a lens of nonviolence and anti-racism, we challenge unjust systems, educating and advocating for immigration justice and criminal justice reform. To learn more about how to get involved, visit IgnitePeace.org 🕊💛

Celebrate the wins! We are so happy to hear that Pastor Adrien has been released. The fact that he was targeted and detained in the first place is shameful. No one should have to endure the terror and uncertainty ICE is inflicting on immigrant communities around the country. We will continue to advocate for him and all of the Haitian community in Springfield to be granted TPS and a pathway to permanent residence or citizenship, and the immediate end to ICE presence.

A Haitian pastor held at the Butler County Jail for nearly a month has been released on bond, as advocates report U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is quietly phasing out GPS ankle monitors for Springfield Haitians in favor of a phone-based check-in app.

Syrian heart meets Midwestern soul. That's how Bassel & The Supernaturals describe their music, and we CANNOT WAIT to see them perform live at our 2026 Annual Gathering: Resistance Rising on October 21st at the Woodward Theater!

Their music tells the story of Bassel Almadani's experience as a first-generation Syrian-American using soulful melodies, funk-inspired rhythms, and captivating lyrics about love, loss, and otherness.

Echoing Stevie Wonder’s rhythm and blues, Jamiroquai’s social justice-centered lyricism over jazz-infused funk, and Steely Dan’s seamless amalgam of American music, Bassel & The Supernaturals evoke joy and thoughtfulness - and may even inspire you to get up and dance!

Get your tickets to the Annual Gathering here: https://give.ignitepeace.org/gathering2026

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

In the midst of relentless attacks on Latine communities, it is important to recognize and celebrate the cultures and traditions of so many different countries and the people who come from them.

If you’re interested in working for immigration justice, consider getting involved with the Immigrant Dignity Coalition. Fill out the form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNyGvYu5Hes6j-PmTZZvyvu7lX46V5Ab6AWQe_68h1huZsvQ/viewform

Want to get into some "Good Trouble"? Join us for a training at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center in Over-the-Rhine to learn about noncooperation and gain skills in strategic nonviolence to help defeat the rise of authoritarianism. You'll then learn how to utilize these skills in a local immigration justice campaign.

RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdwIen_wOF1ej1Svx7m2xzZ1PJTs31eYQOSEBZIpbi2slwzg/viewform

Our final 2026 Ignite Peace Honoree we'd like you to meet is Jan Seymour. She'll receive our Tending the Flame Legacy Award at our Annual Gathering on October 21st at the Woodward Theater.

Jan graduated from Emory University in 1965 and worked at the Georgia Department of Labor as a counselor for disadvantaged youth, focusing on job training and employment. Moving to Cincinnati in 1968, she went to work for the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services, leading a team counseling family aid recipients in job training and placement.

In 1985, Jan earned an MBA from the University of Cincinnati and launched a career in executive recruiting that spanned from 1985 to 2014. Through this work, she discovered nonprofit organizations that led her to volunteer work through her church. By the mid-90s, her focus shifted to advocacy that aligned with Ignite Peace. She remains deeply dedicated to our mission of abolishing the death penalty, promoting global peace, and supporting immigrant justice.

Get your Annual Gathering: Resistance Rising tickets here: https://give.ignitepeace.org/gathering2026

Our next 2026 Ignite Peace Honoree in the spotlight is Krysti Paul!

Krysti is a corporate trainer/instructional designer who lives in Mason with her husband Joe and giant silly dog, Anchovy. She has always been a loud proponent of racial, economic, and social justice, but was always too scared to do something about it.

Over the course of the past two years (after participating in strategic nonviolence training with Ignite Peace), she has dedicated most of her time to teaching as many people as possible to get involved in nonviolent direct action/noncooperation. To facilitate that work, she formed two groups: 513 for Democracy (advocacy/mobilization) and Cincy Resistance Training (education). She is also one of the organizers with Cincinnati RISES (formerly 50501 Cincy), and is a primary contact in the northern Cincinnati area for people wanting to get involved and do more.

We'll be presenting Krysti and our other 2025 Honorees with their awards at the Annual Gathering: Resistance Rising on October 21 at the Woodward Theater. Get your tickets now at: https://give.ignitepeace.org/gathering2026

Love music, peace, and justice? Come out to the annual Share the Journey concert for compassion on September 19 at the House of Joy. All proceeds will benefit organizations working for immigrant justice and dignity, including Ignite Peace. We hope to see you there! For more info visit https://sharethejourney.love/