In this issue:
- For Our World (Section 3 of 6 - "We need to notice...")
- Be on our Zoom screen or event stage (Toast2Peace event)
- "About Mattie" - another page added to our new website!
- Toast2Peace on Peace Day information
- 2025 "Mosaic of Gift Bricks" order deadline approaching
- #CompassionMatters - May reflection spotlight
- Shout Outs to recent supporters
"We Need to Notice."
For Our World
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment...
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Excerpt 3 of 6 from For Our World
by Mattie J.T. Stepanek (9/11/2001)
Mattie J.T. Stepanek - noticing life during a nature stroll.
Summer 1999
As we continue exploring Mattie’s “For Our World” poem – penned on September 11, 2001 – this month our theme is on the important matter of pausing, with silence, to “notice.”
In this timeless and universal message of hope and peace, Mattie’s first asks us to “stop” and to “be silent” – not to cease seeking peace or advocating for others, but to give pause and space for reflection before more people are hurt or more blessings are lost.
Mattie’s third call to action is for us to “notice” – not to judge or alienate or condemn, but for a moment of realization “before the future slips away into ashes and dust of humility.”
Noticing matters.
To notice involves more than a glance or an acceptance of age-old stereotypes or opinions; noticing includes a fact of observing and paying purposeful attention to something – or someone.
When we give pause to words and deeds, we are given an opportunity to notice – and to deliberate on truths.
- We can be warned of potential harm and unnecessary damage.
- We can grow in understanding about environments and emotions - and people.
- We can embrace humility as a strength – recognizing our own weaknesses and respecting the value of others.
- We can prepare for challenges with chosen attitudes and actions rooted in acceptance and respect – even amid differences and disagreements.
At the age of 3 years, Mattie was already reminding us about the important matter of noticing things and people:
"Look out of your window and you will see beautiful things. You will see trucks and cars, and flowers and plants…and people. People are such beautiful things. When we see the beauty of people, then we can truly see beyond the window and pain."
And at age 13, he reminded us about how pausing to really notice something can help us with making decisions that are good for us, and also for others:
“What really matters is choosing what really matters – not merely being aware or knowing about or considering attentively. What really matters is choosing what really matters with a clear and gentle heart – in all matters.”
This month, let us notice. Let us be open to pausing, with quietness, so that our eyes and minds and hearts can notice what we need to notice to better understand our diverse world, so that we can cultivate peace.
It is not always easy to be open to new insights and realizations about ourselves, or about others, or about our world – but it is always worthy.
With hope and peace,
Jeni Stepanek, PhD ("Mama Peace").
Let us pause, to notice - and reflect on, respond to, and reach out with this message of hope.
- Below is Mattie's "For Our World" peace passage in entirety, and links to his voice sharing the message.
- Please read or listen to the poem - on your own, or in community with your family, friends, and colleagues.
- Then please consider this month's "Reflect-Respond-ReachOut" suggestions (also below).
We welcome your shared thoughts - about the poem, about this month's RRR suggestions, about compassion and peace for our world. Please e-mail us: [email protected]
Click here for an audio/visual version of
Mattie reading For Our World
"About Mattie..."
We are working hard to add more pages
to our new website each month!
Our newest page offers
information and information
about Mattie's life and legacy.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT "About Mattie"
Coming SOON:
About Jeni, Exploring Peace,
Partners4Peace (sponsors) and
Champions (donors), and
a more user-friendly donation page!
SAVE THE DATE
July 17 (5-8pm EDT)
and
SAVE YOUR SPACE on our
Zoom screen or event stage!
Our Peace Certified people & communities
and our $300 and up SPONSORS
are invited to participate in the
7p EDT "global clink!"
#Toast2Peace on Peace Day
"Raise a glass or grateful hands,
and connect with purpose - for peace."
To celebrate
Mattie's 35th birthday and Peace Day,
we are planning an international
#Toast2Peace on Peace Day event
- with fun for families and folks of all ages!
Around 7pm EDT, we will be
live-streaming (Zoom) between
"Toast2Peace" in-person connections
across the United States
(California, Maryland, New York,
Rhode Island, and more),
in Canada (Prince Edward Island,
Vancouver, Toronto areas),
in the United Kingdom
- and other sites as YOU help us plan!
Our goal is to have
"many people in many places
- with a common purpose: peace!"
Whether you connect from your home, or
choose to host a small gathering in your city,
or want to be on-stage for our local event -
please let us know if you would will
be a part of our #Toast2Peace.
Event sponsorships of $300 or more
include an invitation to be
on our stage or on our Zoom livestream!
(Peace Certified folks can join for free).
QUESTIONS?
[email protected]
"Mosaic of Gift Bricks"
ORDER BY JUNE 15 to be
included in the 2025 installment.
100 percent tax deductible!
Your personalized gift brick(s)
will be installed in the
Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park & Peace Garden.
Your support & message
will be displayed on our website.
Celebrate a birthday or anniversary,
commemorate an event or holiday
(Mother's or Father's Day,
graduation, retirement, reunion...),
or just share a personal message
while making your mark in history
and supporting Mattie's peace legacy.
Each brick can have
UP TO THREE LINES OF TEXT
Each line can have
UP TO 14 spaces/characters.
Our Foundation 20-year anniversary price special:
$150 per brick! (usually $250 each)
100 percent tax deductible!
For the 2025 installation
ORDER BRICK(s) BY:
June 15, 2025
We will e-mail you for your brick message.
OR - mail your check to:
Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation
402 King Farm Blvd #125
Rockville, MD 20850
SHOUT OUT
to our Partners4Peace
POTOMAC VALLEY BRICK
for sponsoring our annual
brick installation!
#CompassionMatters
Compassion can help us, and help others, cope with personal and global pain. And it can help us build connections of hope that strengthen us as we continue cultivating pathways to peace as we journey forthward – together. 
Gratitude to Our Recent Supporters
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Mattie's Peace Foundation!
Help us continue Mattie's mission of cultivating peace with a 100 percent tax-deductible gift. It is because of your generosity that our worthy work successfully continues.
SHARE YOUR GIFT FOR PEACE
CLICK HERE...
A special thank you to folks who support our mission, including:
Lafayette Federal Credit Union - our newest Peace Day Station sponsor, and Tommy McFly (NBC News4 team) - who is promoting and volunteering as an emcee for our July 17 Peace Day event!
A special thank you to recent gift brick sponsors, including:
Suzy & Kim Haug (in honor of Meghan Jones), Loriann Oberlin, Dana Perry, and Deirdre Reardon
A special thank you to folks who support our work, including:
Kathleen & Dave Richardson & Potomac Valley Brick - who sponsor our annual brick installation, Scott Feldman (Giuseppi's Pizza Plus in Rockville) - who sponsors two Mama Peace Chats every month, Main Street Connect - where Mattie's Peace Room is located and many of the Mama Peace Chats take place, VisArts - who helps with our Peace Day craft stations, Rockville Peace Rocks - who shares their talents and resources in community-building ways, and World of Beer (Rockville, MD) - where our local July 17 #Toast2Peace Peace Day celebration will take place.
And a mega-special shout out to the folks who offer monthly gifts, including:
Andrew Greer, Mary Elizabeth Hill, Randi Kristensen, Stacey MacKinnon (one of our Foundation VPs), Gidon Wagner, an anonymous donor, and Rob WIndrem (a longtime Foundation friend and supporter).
In the coming months,
we will share all of our
2024-2025 brick sponsors
and their inscriptions.
Peace matters, and so you.
Thank you.
Mama Peace (Jeni Stepanek, PhD)
and the
Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation
If you missed a previous e-Peace Update
with information & inspiration
from Mattie & his Foundation
you can check out recent editions here...
"Peace is possible... choose peace!"
Mattie J.T. Stepanek
