Members Sought for Cambridge Peace Commission: November 2021

Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking Cambridge residents interested in serving on the Cambridge Peace Commission.  

Commission members are volunteers appointed by the City Manager who work with the staff in accomplishing the goals and work of the Cambridge Peace Commission. It is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions.  

Composed of members who serve three-year terms and represent the socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic diversity of the city, the Peace Commission meets on the third Wednesday of most months at 6 p.m. Currently, the Commission is meeting virtually.  

Members are expected to participate in regular meetings and help in organizing the Commission’s programs and events, including the annual commemorations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Holocaust, and Meet Your Neighbor Day in September. Additionally, members are encouraged to learn about the day-to-day work and projects of the staff, and offer advice and viewpoints that reflect the Commission’s purpose and role within city government. 

As a city department, the Peace Commission works with other municipal agencies, communities of faith, nonprofit organizations, and the community as a whole to build connections, strengthen relationships, and promote understanding. It responds to traumatic events and violence affecting Cambridge and its residents, and coordinates and supports compassionate community responses to support recovery and healing. The Commission builds trust and relationships by enhancing dialogue and connection between diverse groups through community conversations, vigils, and other activities that promote a strong and resilient community. The Commission also raises awareness about local and global peace and social justice issues through educational forums, discussions, and presentations. 

The Peace Commission fosters a community where differences and diversity are understood and celebrated, so that all residents can contribute to making Cambridge an equitable and peaceful community. The Commission works to increase awareness, mobilize communities, and activate residents to create a safe, healthy, connected, and supportive city. 

For more information about the Commission, visit Cambridgema.gov/peace. 

Applications to serve on this commission can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the city’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply.  A cover letter and resume or applicable experience should be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The application deadline is Monday, November 29, 2021.