Last Wednesday evening, Seeds of Peace (SOP) held their 8th Annual Peace Market at The Metropolitan Pavilion, their premier fundraising event hosted by the Youth Leadership Committee–a dynamic group of socially conscious young adults who are emerging leaders in their respective fields with an interest in global affairs.
The event saw a mix of celebrities like Questlove (The Roots), Olivia Culpo (2012 Miss Universe), Nana Meriwether (2012 Miss USA), fellow Seeds (those joining as teenagers at SOP’s International Camp in Maine), and VIP guests who support SOP’s mission.
Live sets by Dave 1 (Chromeo) and Questlove provided a musical backdrop (albeit a cool one) to the silent auction that featured raffle items from Equinox, John Barrett Salon, and Interwest Capital Corporation, to name a few.
Mouth watering, deliciousness defined the eating experience with top local restaurants and caterers representing a range of culinary styles from Nosh Bake Shop (pastries to die for–our guilty pleasure was the red velvet cake) to Food Merchants Catering (delicious S’mores dipped in dark chocolate), and savory hummus from Moustache and Hummus Place.
The food setup was only matched by the open bar, which included premium, signature cocktails and other fine wines and spirits designed by renowned mixologists.
Further along in the evening we spoke to Ovivia Culpo and Nana Meriwether who, in addition to looking stunning, agreed that it was important to get younger generations working towards the larger cause of peace. Neeta Youmna, an SOP Alumni from Pakistan and her fellow Alum Anan Suleiman from Palestine, also talked about how positive the experience was for them. Youmna said, “ I would never have thought that I would come from Pakistan and meet teenagers from different parts of the world, some in a state of conflict, and yet make friends and form a support system. That’s been very important to me and for other Seeds.”
That sentiment – amid dancing, eating, and drinking –was echoed throughout the evening. We support that.
Seeds of Peace is a non-profit organization with a mission to empower the next generation of young people with leadership skills and cross-border relationships necessary to promote lasting peace in some of the world’s most tumultuous conflict regions.
