Some of us were meeting for the first time, some friendships go back a few decades, but any way you look at it, we are like family…thank you for coming out and keeping our community growing…more than 25 years strong.

On Saturday June 11th, we honored our dear friends Esther Chavez and Pat Arvidson.  Esther is a Salvadoran community activist and former PeaceWorks Board Member Esther Chavez, who traveled to El Salvador in March and May this year. Esther’s presentation and slide show “Keeping Monseñor Romero’s Spirit Alive” helped us all understand Romero’s legacy and beatification 35 years after his assassination in 1980, and the ongoing struggles of the Salvadoran communities affected by environmental contamination caused by gold mining operations in the country.

Long time PeaceWorks supporter Pat Arvidson of Red Bank, NJ was also honored.  Since the early 1990’s, Pat has been a leader in New Jersey sister city relationships with the rural Salvadoran communities of Los Amates and San Isidro and has also served as the national Board President of the US- El Salvador Sister Cities Network.

Enjoy the photos from our amazing evening!