Stage 2023
9:00 – 9:15 AM Introduction and Land Invocation: Armin Tolentino will MC the program. Armin earned his MFA at Rutgers University, and now lives in Vancouver with his wife and three chinchillas. He’s an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship recipient and one-time Clark County Poet Laureate.
The Land Acknowledgement will be by Sarah Desjarlais, Executive Director of Fosterful. Fosterful trains trauma-informed volunteers throughout Washington and Idaho to provide caring companions for kids in transition and ongoing “Sidekicks” (or buddies) for kids in out-of-home placement. Fosterful helps retain foster homes and eases suffering for kids and families in child welfare.
9:15 – 10:00 AM Traveling Day Society is dedicated to supporting those at the crossing point in their Spirit Journey…from the physical world to the Spirit World. “We are an inter-tribal and multi-cultural blend of musicians utilizing the voices of the Drum, the Native American Flute and other traditional instruments to create a prayerful and respectful environment to help enhance a peaceful “crossing.”
10:00 – 10:05 AM Elmo Shade, poet, is the author of The Dark Side of White Bread: Surviving Our Fathers, as well as three additional poetry collections. He is the founder of the Camas Poetry Open Mic at the Camas Public Library.
10:05 – 10:30 AM Satori Men’s Chorus Choral “is a multi-level choir in Portland, Oregon, where tenors, baritones and basses of all ages and musical abilities sing, grow as musicians, enjoy friendship, and entertain audiences. We perform at least three concerts between September and mid-June, featuring a variety of musical styles, including traditional, contemporary pop, Broadway, folk, classical, jazz, and gospel.”
10:30 – 10:35 AM Tiel Aisha Ansari, Sufi warrior poet, has been featured by Measure, Windfall, and Everyman’s Library, among many others. Her collections include Knocking from Inside, High-Voltage Lines, Country Well-Known as an Old Nightmare’s Stable, The Day of My First Driving Lesson, and Dervish Lions.
10:30 – 11:00 AM Adam Eason Music: Adam is a cellist and teacher who performs in Portland, Oregon, with Ninety-Two Strings, a unique cello/piano duo. Adam performs chamber music regularly, appearing with Classical Revolution PDX, and other ensembles.
11:00 – 11:05 AM Betsy Fogelman Tighe, poet, has published widely in literary magazines, including TriQuarterly, for which she was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and twice in Rattle, for whom she traveled to LA to read. She has won a third-place and a first-place prize from the Oregon Poetry Association.
11:05 – 11:50 AM Lördagsfika (pronounced Lord-ox-fee’-kah): As the group Talisman, Carl Thor and Sara Martin have graced this stage many times over the years. With Kim Majors joining them on fiddle, they become Lördagsfika, which in Swedish means “Saturday Coffee.” They often play for the Norske Runddansere weekly Scandinavian dances at Nordia House in Southwest Portland.
12:00 – 12:35 PM Vancouver Community Concert Band Celebrating Our Community Through Music, the all-volunteer 50+-piece musical group invites those of all musical levels to join us in creating music every Tuesday. VCCB president Alan Olson.
12:40 – 12:50 PM Peace & Justice Hero Awards: Several local people will be honored for their achievements in working for peace, justice, and the environment in this first-time event.
12:50 – 1:00 PM Mayor’s Special Proclamation: Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle was originally elected to Vancouver City Council in November 2013 and took her first oath of office on January 1, 2014. She became the first woman to serve as Mayor of Vancouver on January 1, 2018, where she has helped to lead efforts in economic development, regional community relations, and transportation.
1:00 – 1:10 PM Red Rubies They will be dancing their Waltz Choreography to the classic Vietnamese folk tune, “Mua Xuan Dau Tien,” meaning “The First Spring.” Through their dance movements, they convey the sense of joy, optimism, and youth associated with this beloved song.
1:00 – 1:50 PM Kevin Hanlon writes and performs music that reflects on the best of the folk singer tradition, featuring songwriting reactions to current events and past causes in the struggles toward Peace and Justice.
1:50 – 2:05 PM Armin Tolentino, poet, is an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship recipient and 2021-23 Clark County Poet Laureate.
2:05 – 2:50 PM Meridian Green, once a founding member of the Casper Community, is a musician who is, as ever, committed to “building community through music” and working with “everyone to change everything” as we step back from the brink! She’s worked on voter initiatives, campaigns for candidates, lobbied city councils and state legislators, been a community organizer and taken direct action in a lifelong effort to preserve a healthy planet and place for all people.
Stage Act Videos 2020
Introduction to 2020 Peace and Justice Fair
Choir Portland Lesbian presents “Hope” by Amy Steinberg
“What About Peace” composite by Centinalia
Martin Street Band – “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around”
George Floyd memorial hymn – Vancouver United Church of Christ
Gwen Morgan, Clark County Poet Laureate
“Caged Bird” sung by Satori Men’s Chorus
Talisman and the Contra Dance Community Flash Mob from VPJF 2013
Tamding Tsetan teaches a song of devotion AT THE PARK! VPJF 2019
Vancouver Master Chorale – “Let There Be Peace”
“Song for His Holiness the Dalai Lama” by Tamding Tsetan
Stage 2019
Emcee: Scott Hewitt
9:00 DIY Drum Circle with Andrew
10:10 Celtinalia
11:05 Sikh Prayer and Music
11:35 Portland Lesbian Choir
11:50 Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnery-Ogle
12:00 Traveling Day Society
12:35 The Slope
1:45 Tamding Tsetan
2:20 Maharaja Bhangra Dancers
3:10 Vancouver Master Chorale
Stage 2018
Emcee: K.C. Cooper
9:00 DIY Drum Circle with Andrew
10:10 Sikh Prayer and Music
10:35 Portland Lesbian Choir
10:50 Storm City Roller Girls
11:05 Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle
11:15 The Slope
12:30 Recycleman
1:00 Celtinalia
2:10 Northwest Freedom Singers
2:30 Maharaja Bhangra Dancers
3:00 Vancouver USA Singers
Stage 2017
8:30-9:30 DIY Drum Circle with Andrew
9:40-10:25 Celtinalia, Celtic Sounds
10:35-11:35 The Slope, Semi-Acoustic Folk Rock
11:35-11:40 Mayor Tim Leavitt
11:40-12:40 Joe Hickerson, Folk Maestro
12:45 Echoes of Yasgurs, Woodstock Rock
2:45 Poetry with Christopher Luna
3:00 Vancouver USA Singers
Stage 2016
Drum Circle
Jennifer Pratt-Walter – Celtic Harp
Jim Templeton – Jazz Master
Echoes of Yasgurs – Woodstock Nation Sounds
Vancouver USA Singers
Stage 2015
09:00-10:00 – Drum Circle: Andrew Hill
10:00-10:05 – Chris Cleveland’s Welcome, Sierra Club Announcement: Laura Stevens
10:05-10:30 – Dances Of Universal Peace, Michelle Sparks-Smith and Michael Sheehan
10:30-11:00 – Cello: Richard Lu
11:00-11:10 – Jack Burkman, Vancouver City Councilman
11:10-11:40 – Storm City Roller Derby League
11:40-01:00 – The Slope
01:00-02:00 – David Cooley
02:00-02:15 – Chris Cleveland
02:15-02:45 – Jim Mathias
02:45-03:15 – Sunday Manisto-Saari
03:15-03:35 – Sidra Matthis
03:35-04:00 – Yokers Family
04:00 – Thank You: Chris Cleveland
Stage 2014
09:00-10:00 – Drum Circle
10:00-10:50 – Chris Cleveland’s Welcome Address
10:50-11:00 – Act Transition
11:00-11:30 – Raging Grannies
11:30-12:00 – Aurora Chorus
12:00-12:10 – Chris Cleveland
12:10-01:10 – Jennifer Pratt-Walter and Carl Thor
01:10-02:05 – David Cooley on the Pavement
02:05-02:20 – Agnieszka Laska Dancers
02:20-02:35 – Gary Bohman – Flutes
02:35-03:45 – The Slope
03:55-04:00 – Close-Out Song by The Slope
Stage 2013
09:00-09:55 – Drum Circle
09:55-10:05 – Welcome + Governor’s announcement
10:00-10:30 – One of a Kind Drumline
10:30-10:35 – Luna Poetry and announcements
10:30-11:00 – David Cooley
11:00-11:30 – Raging Grannies
11:30-11:35 – Luna Poetry and announcements
11:30-12:00 – Aurora Chorus
12:00-01:00 – Shoehorn, Michael Conley
01:00-01:05 – Luna Poetry and announcements
01:05-01:20 – Agnieszka Laska Dancers
01:25-01:50 – Ancient Sol
01:50-02:05 – Luna Poetry and announcements
02:00-03:00 – Mystic Canyon
03:00-03:10 – Luna Poetry and announcements
03:10-04:00 – Talisman
04:00-Close poetry by George Thomas
Stage 2012
09:00-10:00 – Andrew’s Community Drum Circle
10:00-10:30 – Native American Flute – Gary Bohman
10:30-11:30 – Strings – Michael Seiss Chamber Group
11:30-12:30 – Harps – Celtic Muse
12:30-01:00 – Guitar – PK Dwyer, busker extraordinaire
01:00-02:00 – Mystic Canyon Band
02:00-02:30 – Guitar – PK Dwyer, busker extraordinaire
02:30-03:30 – Travis Petersen Band
03:30-03:35 – Vocal – Heather Smith
03:35-04:00 – Vocal – David Cooley and community sing-along
Stage 2011
09:00-10:00 – Andrew’s Community Drum Circle
10:00-10:30 – Flute – Gary Bohman
10:30-11:00 – Violin – Michael Seiss and Heather Borror
11:00-12:00 – St. Andrew Lutheran Church Winds and Strings Celtic Band
12:00-02:00 – Mystic Canyon Band
02:00-03:00 – The Electric Carnival
03:00-03:30 – Mad as Hell Doctors – Bob Wickline
03:30-04:30 – Travis Petersen Band
04:30-05:00 – BroadArts Theatre
05:00 – Community Sing: “Finlandia” led by Melinda Pittman
Stage 2010
09:00 – Community Drum Circle
10:00 – Skyview Highschool Drum Group
10:30 – McElrath Cabaret – “Cabaret with a Conscience”
11:30 – Radio Show – Bruce Charles | Pirates of Somali “The Untold Story”
11:50 – Flute – Gary Bohman
12:00 – Mystic Canyon Band
02:00 – Wayne Yarnall – Power Dance
02:15 – Fading by Nine Band
03:00 – Tom Grant Band
04:00 – Broadarts Theatre – Original Music Theatre
04:30 – David Cooley – Solo Piano
04:45 – Finale – “Finlandia” Led by Melinda Pittman (w/ music track)
04:50 – Farewell and Thank You!
Stage 2009
09:00 – Community Drum Circle
10:00 – Intro – Emcee is B.J. Cook
10:15 – KJ and Athena McElrath “Cabaret With a Conscience”
11:00 – David Rovics “Pirate Songs for Kids”
11:30 – David Ronen
11:45 – Mystic Canyon Band “Blues/Jam Band/Americana/Jazz”
01:00 – David Rovics “Songs of Social Significance”
01:45 – Wayne Yarnall “Wheel Chair Dance”
02:00 – BroadArts BroadBand “Changing the World One Joke at a Time”
02:30 – Fading by Nine “Bluegrass/Americana”
03:15 – Agnieszka Laska Dancers “Performance”
03:30 – David Cooley “Swinging Hearts and Rockin’ Souls”
04:10 – Half Way There “Music Band”
04:55 – Community Drum Circle – (All are welcome to participate!)
Stage 2008
09:00 – Community Drum Circle
10:00 – David Rovics
10:30 – One-of-a-Kind-Drumline
11:00 – Fading by Nine
11:45 – David Ronen
12:00 – Mystic Canyon Band
01:00 – BroadBand from BroadArts Theatre
01:30 – Talisman
02:20 – Raging Grannies
03:00 – Wayne Yarnall
03:20 – Shoehorn
04:10 – The Shivas
Stage 2007
09:00 – Community Drum Circle
10:00 – No Axe to Grind
11:00 – Raging Grannies
11:30 – Mystic Canyon Band
01:00 – BroadArts Theatre
01:30 – Matt Meighan/Christopher Luna
02:15 – Alan Bennett
02:55 – Jim Martin
03:00 – Celtic Muse
03:45 – March Fourth Marching Band
04:45 – Closing