The World needs Heroes
Here are a few...


All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.

Thomas à Kempis

2020-2021 Peace Heroes

Dr. Bernie Siegel

National Peace Hero 2020-2021

Dr. Bernie Siegel is a pioneer in the field of holistic medicine and a 2020 Peace Hero. Dr. Siegel is an American writer and retired pediatric surgeon who authored Peace, Love & Healing in 1989. He followed this calling to medicine because of his strong faith in God and because he likes people. Bernie attended Colgate University and Cornell University Medical College. His surgical training took place at Yale-New Haven Hospital, West Haven Veterans Hospital, and the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. With a depth of humor and profound wisdom, Bernie inspires us to change our way of thinking and focus more on our peace and wellness than our illness.Photo by: JCV Freelance Photography LLC

Chris and Jackie Doucot

Peace Heroes 2020-2021

Chris and Jackie Doucot, 2020 Peace Heroes, have served people in an economically poor, culturally diverse area in the north end of Hartford. Co-founders of the Hartford Catholic Worker community commonly referred to as the “Green House", work to facilitate the building of a community that transcends generational, gender, racial, geographical, and class barriers. It also houses homeless persons, feeds hungry persons, and works with children to keep them in school and out of gangs.Photo by: JCV Freelance Photography LLC

Ryan T. Parker

Peace Hero 2020-2021

Ryan T. Parker is a Manchester-based poet, teacher of the year recipient, and a 2020 Peace Hero. Raised by a strong, single mother in Norwich, Connecticut, he has been penning poems and preaching peace since the age of ten. When asked what drives his purpose, Ryan emphatically explained, “to be the best son that I can be, the best father, husband, friend, …neighbor.” Ryan continued by sharing that he has a passion for trying to do better and be better.Photo by: JCV Freelance Photography LLC

James Millan Dugan

Peace Hero 2020-2021

James Millan Dugan, a lifelong peace activist, and 2020 Peace Hero is the Manager for the World Peace Sanctuary, headquarters of "May Peace Prevail on Earth International". Jim works every day to make this world a better place. Besides the management of the 150-acre Peace Sanctuary, Jim constructs thousands of different-sized Peace Poles each year for individuals and organizations across the planet. Through the Peace Pole Project, he has partnered with Trees for the Future and has been responsible for planting over 34,000 trees on the African continent.Photo by: JCV Freelance Photography LLC

Scarlett Lewis

Peace Hero 2020-2021

Scarlett Lewis is a mother, an artist, an avid horsewoman, an activist for peace, and a 2020 Peace Hero. She is the founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation, created in honor of her son who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in December 2012.Photo by: JCV Freelance Photography LLC

2019 Peace Heroes

Cassie Volcy

Peace Hero 2019

Ms. Volcy administers Hang Time and Her Time programming, an all-volunteer effort in New Haven, Bridgeport and Waterbury to assist returning citizens as they make the adjustment to civilian life after prison.Photo by: JCV Freelance Photography LLC

Irene Kish

Peace Hero 2019

Ms. Kish, a licensed foster and adoptive parent for the State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families, has provided compassionate and selfless care to over 107 foster children over the past 22 years.Photo by: JCV Freelance Photography LLC

Neha Jonnakota

Peace Hero 2019

Miss Jonnakota is a high school student in Glastonbury, CT who co-founded Power of Peace to help support youth around the world. She has raised over $130,000 for her non-profit.Photo by: JCV Freelance Photography LLC

Sixto Cancel

Peace Hero 2019

As one of the creators of the #HACKFOSTERCARE movement, Sixto Cancel has amplified national conversations around data in child welfare, assembled stakeholders from diverse disciplines and delivered concrete results for the field.

2018 Peace Heroes