Welcome to the Street Peace Project

The urban community, where I live, has experienced significant violent crime in recent years. Memorials for lost loved ones, usually under the age of 20, dot the streets within blocks of each other.

We were a neighborhood stricken with grief. We needed healing. Something I have learned from photographing these memorials is instead of being a focus of tragedy, they are dedications to life. And though the neighborhood struggles, there is a determination to continue on and stay whole.

The Beacon was created to try to restore our community and support each other. In the winter of 2024, the Beacon, an interactive sculpture, stood in an empty lot for 10 weeks gathering more than 1100 messages of peace for the neighborhood, with not a single negative comment. These messages support, encourage and affirm how much we care for each other. Now more messages are contributed from all over. These messages of peace are small actions giving voice to positive change and can make a big impact in uniting for harmony.

Check out message videos posted daily the entire year of 2026

Facebook - Deyva Arthur and the Street Peace Project

Instagram - @streetpeaceproject