A Year Without War is an organization started at City College with the goal of ending international warfare for the year 2020. The project is receiving their first award for youth activism.

The Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions’ Earth Charter Summit Awards will take place on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Ventura College’s Guthrie Hall. 

There are currently 16 students on staff who are the backbone for the vision conceptualized by philosophy professor Joseph White.

“To have our first award be for youth activism is incredible,” says Katherine Pepe, executive assistant for A Year Without War. “There couldn’t be a better first award for this organization to get.”

Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions’ is a locally based group that promotes peace for all life on Earth. Last spring A Year Without War made a presentation for the Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions and have been recruiting down there ever since.

“They’ve joined our website and have taken a liking to us,” said White. Currently the students of A Year Without War are cleaning up their media outlets, scheduling events, and spreading peace everywhere they can.

Joshua Wheeler, director of technology for A Year Without War said that he puts in about 20 hours of work per week during the semester. Wheeler’s main project has been coding for their blog. Over the summer he often worked over 40 hours a week.

“We spent the summer conceptualizing it,” says Wheeler.  “I’m happy that after three months of coding from scratch we’re going to be launching it.”

One of the ways that they will be spreading peace through their blog will be a petition that members can send their United Nations’ ambassador, regardless of country. They’re currently getting their name out there through making and maintaining good relations with contacts.

“I really love networking,” says Pepe, who works to make sure no job goes unfinished. “But I help anywhere that is needed.”

This award from the Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions is undoubtedly a huge milestone for the organization and it will only get more challenging from here, which does not concern Pepe.

“I like challenges,” says Pepe. “And this is a challenge worth supporting.”

Admission is free and refreshments will be provided at the reception after the ceremony.