Peace It Forward was initially inspired by my neighbors Rick and Eric. Eric taught Rick how to fold paper cranes and Rick ran with it.  As a Vietnam war veteran, folding paper cranes became Rick’s personal practice for inner peace.  Over the years he folded hundreds of cranes.

On Christmas 2022, after Rick passed away earlier in the year, his brother Jim gifted my family a mobile of paper cranes that Rick had folded.  Jim shared with me how it came to be and I felt a kuleana to carry this practice forward on behalf of my neighbors. 

In 2023 while attending the Ceeds of Peace Peacebuilding Workshop inspiration struck.  Because Ricks’s paper crane mobile was gifted to us at Christmas, it got me thinking about how the December holidays leave many feeling anything but at peace.  If I could fold paper cranes and share a message of peace what difference could it make?

My initial plan for the project was to host my neighbors, family, and friends for a holiday party. I asked my guests to fold at least one crane for themselves and one to share with someone else, thereby sharing a message of peace.  I then mailed paper cranes along with my Christmas cards to friends and family - including a Peace It Forward QR code.  

I created this website so that when a person receives a paper crane along with the Peace It Forward QR code, they can share their location and we can create a collaborative map to see how far the message of peace has traveled!

If you've received a paper crane, please complete the Google Form below!