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Seven McClymonds High School students embarked on a mission to South Africa in June 2003. None of the students selected had ridden an airplane or traveled out of the country prior to this trip. Most had not even been across the Bay Bridge.

To prepare for the trip, ninth-grade Multicultural Education classes were taught the Peace Empowerment Process each week by a team of Downs Memorial Methodist Church volunteers, including Pastor Kelvin Sauls, Carolyna Marks, Pastor Dorothy Baker, Myrna Alums, West Nicholson and myself. This culminated in each student painting his or her vision of peace on a six-inch by six-inch tile.

I sought donations from the Art Tile Store, Marcus Foster Institute, Downs Memorial MC, Bethel Memorial Church, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the Oakland Athletic Foundation. With support from McClymonds alumni and friends, we raised over $15,000 for airfare and spending money.

Each student helped collect clothing and toys to give in South Africa. Over half the McClymonds painted tiles were taken to South Africa. We taught the peace process to ninth grade Ennerdale Secondary School students in South Africa. The McClymonds tiles were placed on a wall in front of the school.

Carolyna Marks was the founder of World Wall for Peace. She has erected Peace Walls in Berkeley, in Oakland in schools, BART stations and parks, as well as in cities across the country and other nations. An excerpt from a World Wall for Peace brochure reads: “The Peace Empowerment Process is a way of thinking, believing and acting that empowers young people to use their creativity in a way that leads to personal fulfillment and positive social engagement … it culminates in the painting of ‘peace tiles’ that together form the World Wall for Peace.”

This year starting in September, volunteers and I continued teaching the peace process with other students after school at the McClymonds Complex. We repaired the 2003 broken or damaged tiles – I glazed and fired over 200 South African student tiles, new McClymonds Complex tiles and restored tiles.

Jones Tile and Marble and Turner Group Construction donated their time and expertise to build the two walls at McClymonds on June 19.

Article courtesy of The Oakland Post. For more stories, visit The Oakland Post online.