Pittsburgh Rotary Club’s New Peace Initiative

Written by Allison Bridgwater

The Rotary International has 1.4 million members and over 45,000 clubs worldwide; however, peacemaking starts with the people around us, whether in our workplaces, homes, or communities. Meaning, Downtown citizens like you can be impacted by the Pittsburgh Rotary Club’s Peace Initiative.

The Pittsburgh Rotary Club is located inside the Omni William Penn Hotel, Downtown. A new Peace Initiative, “Every Rotarian A Peacemaker,” was launched on March 11, 2026, and empowers individuals to be advocates of resolving conflicts through everyday interactions. 

Elaine Parke, who has done more than 35 years of peace-focused work, says that “if people aren’t uplifted in their own mental health, then it’s not so easy to be kind. It’s easier to be kind if you feel empowered, that you matter, and if you know everyone else is doing it.” 

As a Pittsburgher for 22 years and a longtime member of The Rotary Club, Parke was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award as an Exceptional International Woman of Peace by Pathways to Peace in 2025. She explained that the movement is “bubbling up from individual peacemakers’ behaviors one person at a time” for schools and communities. 

This initiative was inspired by Parke’s 12 Caring Habits youth program developed between 2000 and 2008, which used multimedia materials to implement a twelve-month peace-based program in Pittsburgh schools.

Now renamed to 12 Habits 4 All of US, this program helps inspire people to work together and feel more connected. Each month, people try implementing a different habit, and for April, it’s “To Take Care of Our Environment.” 

Image Courtesy of Kelly Frost for Pittsburgh Rotary Club

Besides this, some of the most impactful things The Rotary Club has done over the years include protecting countless children worldwide through Polio vaccinations and helping plant over 20,000 peace poles. 

Rather than focusing on negative events happening around the world that affect mental health, we can change our thinking habits to be more positive toward one another and ourselves. For instance, Downtown Pittsburghers should be more aware of our environment and take care of the Earth by cleaning up around us this month. 

“Isn’t it just amazing that a month is the amount of time needed to make a habit?” Parke exclaimed that each month of the program has a different aspect that impacts our thoughts and how we treat both ourselves and others.

So, whether you or someone else you know wants to make a difference in Downtown Pittsburgh or even in everyday life, all you need to do is be brave enough to try something new. Maybe you’ll help put a smile on someone’s face!