MARBLEHEAD — A gift that any mother could hope for on Mother’s Day is peace. Luckily, community members will gather on Mother’s Day for a silent Walk for Peace inspired by a recent national demonstration by Buddhist Monks.
The walk, organized by Community Volunteers for Peace, is scheduled for May 10 and will begin at 1 p.m. at Stramski Park and follow a 3.2-mile route, including a stop at Abbot Hall for a brief ceremony before returning to the starting point.
The effort was inspired by a group of Buddhist monks who traveled roughly 2,300 miles from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., between October 2025 and February 2026. Their journey, carried out step by step across several states, drew widespread attention for its quiet focus on peace and nonviolence.
Community Volunteer for Peace member and organizer, Ellen Petersen, who inspired the event, said, “As the monks reminded us throughout their journey, peace is not something we wait for or find ‘out there.’ It begins as a quiet ember within each of us, tended through attention and intention, and then ripples outward to our families, our community, and beyond.”
“We were all so moved by it,” said James Ashton, a volunteer with the organizing group. “It was just so simple, but so powerful.”
Ashton said the idea for a local walk emerged after he and other volunteers followed the monks’ journey and reflected on its impact.
“We were all kind of individually aware of it, and then came together and talked about it,” he said. “When they reached Washington, D.C., we actually gathered and marked that moment. It stayed with us.”
The Marblehead event mirrors elements of the monks’ practice, with participants walking in silence and in single file. Ashton said the format is intended to create space for reflection and a shared sense of purpose.
“This is really about walking as a kind of meditation,” Ashton said. “In that tradition, it’s not a protest or a rally. It’s a way of being present and holding an intention.”
Participants will pause at Abbot Hall for a short ceremony and reflection before returning to Stramski Park, where a casual reception will be held on the lawn. Those unable to complete the full walk are invited to join at the hall around 2 p.m. The event is open to all and invites participants to move at their own pace while maintaining silence.
Ashton said the event is designed to be accessible and inclusive, with no expectations beyond participation.
“We’re asking people to come as they are and simply take part,” he said. “Walk at your own pace, be present, and share in that intention.”
He emphasized that the event is not affiliated with any political or religious group and asked participants not to bring signs, keeping the focus on the shared experience.
“In a time when things can feel very divided, we wanted to create something that’s just about peace,” Ashton said. “Nothing else — just people walking together in silence.”
For Ashton, the meaning of the walk centers on reflection and how individual actions can influence the broader community.
“Our one responsibility, in some ways, is to reclaim peace within ourselves,” he said. “Because what we see outside is often a reflection of what’s going on inside.”
He added that the act of walking offers a way to connect that inward reflection with outward expression.
“There’s something about physically walking that makes it real,” Ashton said. “It’s visible, but it’s also inward at the same time. You’re moving, but you’re also reflecting.”
Organizers encourage participants to consider questions during the walk, such as what a peaceful day might look like, what they might let go of, and what they hope to cultivate moving forward.
The event is intended as a pause from daily routines and an opportunity to focus attention on intention and awareness.
“This is an opportunity,” Ashton said. “If we want peace in the world, it has to begin with us — in our own lives, in our families, and in our community.”
The Walk for Peace is free and open to the public. More information is available on Eventbrite.
