Solar Peace Collective, at Rondo, Northern Spark 2019. Photo Credit: Nancy Musingazi
For more Northern Spark 2019 images, visit our flickr album here. Watch our videos here: Northern Spark 2019.
This project will work with creator and designer Melvin Giles to make small personal Illuminating Solar Peace Pole (about 1 foot tall) that people can put together during the two nights and take home to their homes in the community.
The Solar Peace Collective wants to flood Rondo with messages of peace. Our Illuminating Solar Peace Poles use regenerative solar energy during the daytime and store the energy to light up and illuminate at night. This project incorporates intergenerational leadership and development.
Two other features consist of 1) a meet and greet/discussion/storytelling area to talk about what peace means to us and 2)The St. Paul Almanac’s Solar Rock – Showing Poetry in the Park in the Dark (video of selected poets and poetry)
Solar Peace Collective is a newly created group of artists, engineers and community members that want to promote and create peace through solar art and power throughout Minnesota, the U.S. and the world. This groups discusses ways to implement such projects in collaboration with others.
Melvin Giles is a veteran peace and diversity educator. His current work includes facilitating peace in Rondo/St. Paul via The Peace Pole, the Peace Message and the interpretation of peace through art. Melvin is the creator and designer of the Illuminating Solar Peace Pole.
Rekhet Si-Asar is an illustrator and designer from Georgetown, Guyana. She graduated in illustration and design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, New York. Now residing in Brooklyn Park, MN, Rekhet works as a child/school psychologist and Executive Director of In Black Ink, a social enterprise focusing on the Black Publishing Arts. She also volunteers with the Imhotep Science Academy, a K-8 STEM program with NdCAD.
Anura Si-Asar is an educator, publisher, firefighter and product designer. As an educator he coordinates the Imhotep Science Academy, a K-8 STEM program of the Network for the Development of Children of African Descent. He serves on the Board of Harvest Best Academy, a nationally recognized charter school in North Minneapolis. Anura is the Educational Director of the In the Footsteps of Gordon Parks Legacy Movement and shares this legacy with students at Gordon Parks High School in Saint Paul. He is the Publisher at Papyrus Publishing, Inc.
Maasia Apet is a junior at Roseville Area High School. He volunteers at the Imhotep Science Academy, K-8 African-centered STEM program. Maasia is interested in alternative energy and entrepreneurship. He is an assistant designer of the Illuminating Solar Peace Pole.
Team Credits: Imhotep Science Academy Students