The Peace Trail is a collection of public artworks that transform pain through Love, Unity, Faith, Hope, Courage, Justice and Forgiveness. The seven inaugural #PeaceTrail poles in Dorchester honor victims of violent crime and cultivate new cycles of peace in their names.
Love Pole by Alexis Smith
The Love Pole, located in the Fields Corner section of Dorchester, is one of seven inaugural #PeaceTrail poles.
Survivors hand-painted two tiles: one bearing their loved one’s name inside a heart, and another symbolizing something meaningful to them. Younger family members contributed field tiles crafted from clay and glaze.
Together, these tiles were quilted into six mosaic panels. Additional tiles spell out LOVE in the many languages spoken throughout the Fields Corner community. While honoring those taken by violence, we offer the community LOVE in their names.
Discover the Seven Inaugural Peace Trail Poles Below!
In 2024, to celebrate 30 Years of Healing, Teaching, and Learning at the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, we unveiled The Peace Trail!
The Peace Trail reflects our commitment to multi-generational healing modalities, using public art to foster reflection and transformation.
Each pole uplifts a Principle of Peace — Love, Unity, Faith, Hope, Courage, Justice and Forgiveness — and celebrates the dreams held and principles embodied by those taken by violence. Our artist cohort of muralists, educators, arts therapists and survivors have designed the poles and guided children & families from our network to include their loved ones’ memories and reflect creatively on the Principles of Peace.
Together, these poles offer a trail of memories, hopes and visions. While the project is designed to grow over time, our pilot trail features seven peace poles along the route of the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace, our largest fundraiser.
The Peace Trail is made possible by the generous support and partnership of:
As a center of Healing, Teaching, and Learning, the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute supports families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss. The Peace Trail reflects our commitment to multi-generational healing modalities, using public art to foster reflection, dialogue, and ultimately, healing.