Let me tell you what peace actually looks like because it’s not just a word we put on posters and then forget how to practice once the folding chairs come out.
On January 13, 2026, peace was embodied by a young girl standing in her brilliance, accompanied by her mother, Krystal Sarno, her father, Floyd Prince, and her grandmother, all by her side. Not hovering. Not overshadowing. Simply present, anchoring the moment with the kind of quiet support that tells a child, you don’t have to carry this alone.
Their closeness mattered. You could feel it in the way Amberae stood, steady, grounded, unrushed. This wasn’t a solo moment. It was a family one. A reminder that when young people are affirmed publicly, it means more when the people who poured into them privately are there to witness it.
From 6:30 to 7:30 PM, inside Yes She Can Inc. on Church Street in White Plains, the New York Ann Sullivan–White Plains Lions Club did something that shouldn’t feel rare, but still does: they slowed down long enough to center a child, her voice, and the village that sustains her.
The evening celebrated Amberae Prince, a student from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, whose artwork was selected as the club’s top Peace Poster and went on to place 4th at the district level in the Lions Clubs International Peace Poster Contest.
Let’s be clear, fourth in a district-wide competition is not “almost.” It’s earned. It’s discipline meeting imagination. It’s choosing to stay with an idea when it would be easier to rush to the finish.
That truth was named out loud by Mrs. Donna Chiavegatto, and she didn’t offer generic praise. She spoke in specifics, the kind that tells a young person, I see how you work. She lifted up Amberae’s focus, the way she stayed with her vision instead of rushing it. Her determination, the quiet resolve to revise and refine without losing heart. And her creativity, not just in colors or composition, but in how thoughtfully she translated the idea of peace into something you could feel, not just see.
You could watch those words land. Not bounce off. Not get minimized. Amberae received them. And that’s how confidence is built, when an adult names your process, not just your outcome.
That affirmation didn’t happen in a vacuum. Lorraine Rodriguez, EdD, Principal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, was present in the room. Not sending support from afar. Not delegating the moment. Showing up. Standing alongside her student, her educator, and the family. Leadership showing up like that says, this matters.
The circle widened even further.
Evelyn Santiago, Councilwoman for the City of White Plains, and Jeremiah Frei-Pearson, Council Member, were there, not for optics, not for a soundbite, but to celebrate. To sit in the room and witness youth excellence without needing the microphone. That presence matters because peace isn’t just what we ask children to imagine; it’s what adults are willing to show up for.
The evening also paused to honor legacy. January 13 marks the 147th birthday of Melvin Jones, the founder of Lions Clubs International. A reminder that service is not transactional. It’s inherited. Practiced. Passed forward. From one generation to the next.
That sense of continuity showed up within the club itself as well, with recognition of William Borfitz, whose past leadership helped create the conditions for nights like this. The work didn’t begin here, and it won’t end here. It moves because people carry it.
That same spirit flowed through the reflections shared by Lions Club leadership, including Lion President Myrna Peart and Lois Campbell, Secretary, who spoke openly about how difficult it was to choose just one poster from so many thoughtful and powerful submissions. That honesty mattered. It reminded everyone, especially the young people in the room, that excellence doesn’t stand alone. It lives among other excellence. It’s strengthened by community, not diminished by comparison.
What stayed with me wasn’t the certificates or the applause. It was the care. The pacing. The intention. A room full of adults, family members, educators, community leaders, and elected officials, saying with their presence and their words: your focus matters, your determination matters, your creativity matters.
That’s peace.
Peace isn’t passive.
Peace is practiced.
Peace is protected.
Peace is witnessed.
Sometimes peace looks like policy.
Sometimes it looks like protest.
And sometimes, on January 13, 2026, in White Plains, it looks like a young artist standing tall, surrounded by family, affirmed by her teacher’s careful words, supported by her principal’s presence, grounded in legacy, and celebrated by a community that truly understood the assignment.
That counts.
Reading the Black Westchester article highlighting this event truly captured the spirit of unity, inclusion, and community that was felt firsthand. It was inspiring to see how your efforts brought together students, schools, families, and community leaders in a way that allowed peace to be lived out through action, not just words.
This experience meant so much to myself and my family. We are deeply grateful for the encouragement shown to young voices, the recognition given to students, and the welcoming environment you created. Your commitment to empowering youth and strengthening the community made this moment unforgettable.
Thank you for all that you do and for allowing us to be part of such a meaningful experience.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Amberae & Family
Amberae, thank you so much for sharing this. It truly means a lot to know that the unity, care, and intention behind the event came through and resonated with you and your family. Centering young voices and community in action is always the goal. We’re grateful you were part of such a meaningful moment.
Larnez 🥰
Thank you very much Amberae Price, we appreciate you as well