NOBLE Peace Prize - Ojai's Exclusive Peace Award

The Ojai Peace Coalition's exclusive Noble Peace Prize has been awarded annually since 2007 in conjunction with
the International Day of Peace, a fixed calendar date set by the United Nations as September 21 of each year.

2018

Laurie Cornell and Vaughn Montgomery of Greater Goods
accepted the 2018 Noble Peace Prize on September 21, 2018 in Ojai's Libbey Park.

Greater Goods has become a valued community hub for arts, social activism, educational and cultural events, and has gathered tremendous resources from our community to aid those affected by the Thomas Fire.

2017

Marta Nelson
of Ojai Studio Artists and Ojai Artists for Peace

As one of the founders of the Ojai Studio Artists and the annual studio tour, Marta is part of the fabric of Ojai, and these programs alone have been a tremendous contribution to arts education and the economic and cultural vitality of our valley community.

On top of that, Marta has long identified as a peace advocate, and includes peace doves and peace poles in much of her work. She has encouraged students and other artists to do the same, and started Ojai Artists for Peace to promote the practice. From her home at the Gables, Marta recently organized a multi-generational peace pole making event. Read more...

Marta Nelson accepted the 2017 NOBLE Peace Prize in Libbey Park in Ojai on September 24, 2017.

2016

Jonathan Horton on behalf of
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ-VC)

"There is no complete peace without justice. I cannot truly be at peace while injustice prevails in my community, country, in the world."
- Jonathan Horton of SURJ-VC

SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals organizing White people for racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves White people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. They work to connect people across the country while supporting and collaborating with local and national racial justice organizing efforts. SURJ provides a space to build relationships, skills and political analysis to act for change. Read more...

Jonathan Horton accepted the 2016 NOBLE Peace Prize at the Ojai Art Center on September 21, 2016.

For unfortunate logistical reasons, there was no Noble Peace Prize given in 2014.

2015

Renee Mandala
of the Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center and Ojai CARES

"The imagery of the Noble Peace Prize is 'peace set ablaze'...it is an active commitment to being a peace-BUILDER, to creating a foundation and practice of peace that is not a response to conflict so much as a proactive way of being, which honors all life.

Renee exemplifies this principle by her work with infants and families through the Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center, and through her cancer support work through Ojai CARES. Even outside of these roles, in personal life, Renee is well known as a compassionate, curious, committed person, and a treasure to our community and the wider world."

Renee Mandala accepted the 2015 NOBLE Peace Prize at the Ojai Art Center on September 21, 2015.

2013

Ojai FLOW (Friends of Locally Owned Water)

"Ojai FLOW, through its thus far successful campaign to replace the for-profit water company, Golden State, with a non-profit, municipal water district, Casitas, has created for us an opportunity to experience the comfort of connection and mutual support that is available to us in our community life. They have guided us to learn that we individuals can come together and have greater influence than a wealthy corporation. They have helped us to protect one of our most essential natural resources; our water.

Connection, awareness of the power of cooperation, and protection of essential natural resources, are elements of a sustainable peace."

Ojai FLOW Steering Committee member Stan Greene accepted the 2013 NOBLE Peace Prize on behalf of the organization at TEDxOjai, held at the OYES Theater on Matilija Street in Ojai, September 21, 2013.

2012

Shelby Luce & Ellie Hancock of Thacher Plays for Change

"These young women are concerned with future generations and with the welfare of people far away whom they may never meet, and are putting their life energy into spreading the universal language of music, in the belief that this fosters peace."

2010

John Broesamle of the
Ojai Valley Defense Fund

"The Noble Peace Prize was created to highlight the kinds of incredible work that our neighbors are doing all the time to bring about cultural Peace on a variety of levels, often without recognition by the very communities they live in or serve. Mr. Broesamle's work to protect the health of the Ojai Valley's people and environment is very much a part of the peaceful world we envision."

2008

Tara Blasco & Lyn Hebenstreit of the Global Resource Alliance

"Your work furthers social change and a Culture of Peace in some geographical areas where it’s needed most. Here at home, you are an example to many not only through your spiritual activism but by LIVING the values you teach. Tara’s work with mothers and babies is also vital to honoring and instilling Peace in the next generations, and is indicative of a very noble consciousness indeed."

2011

Kristofer Young of Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions

"Kris is like the energizer bunny of peace politics activism, human care through integrative medicine, sustainable local food production and consumption, personal solar energy production, … labels are too constraining. All who know him know his tireless passion for making a difference in the lives of all he can reach. I can’t think of anyone who deserves this recognition more than Kris."

2009

Sally Carless of the
Global Village School

"Your work addresses the very heart of social change and a culture of peace...You have taken a core cultural concept - education - and have re-infused it with humanity and made the almost spiritual concepts of compassion, justice, love, and peace a part of it. You recognize that we must educate whole human beings, and it is easy to call that a very noble endeavor indeed."

2007

Clive & Marion Leeman of the
Ojai Peace Vigil

"Your action keeps our community aware and conscious, and encourages us to connect to one another on a regular basis in our desire for Peace and an end to war and its related atrocities. You have created a space for us to celebrate together and to proudly and publicly wear the colors of our Peace culture."