10/05/2026
Today, I had the honor of joining the Buddhist community as a guest speaker as they marked the 41st anniversary of the New England Peace Pagoda.
I’m grateful to the New England Buddhist Religious Society for the invitation and for the work they continue to do to promote peace, compassion, understanding, and shared humanity. At a time when conflict and division can feel like they are everywhere, the message of the Peace Pagoda is more important than ever…peace is not something we can simply ask others to create. It has to begin with each of us. We may not be able to control what happens around the world or what someone else says or does. But we can control how we respond. We can choose to listen instead of dismiss, seek understanding instead of assuming the worst, and lower the temperature instead of adding to the anger. As Mayor, I believe local government has a responsibility beyond providing services and maintaining our infrastructure. We also have a responsibility to help build a community where people feel that they belong. Where they feel safe, respected, heard, and valued. And that work belongs to all of us.
Thank you to the Buddhist community for allowing me to share in this special occasion and for making peace not simply an aspiration, but a daily practice.
