On Friday, May 28th, 2010 Director Michael Gagné interviewed the Mayor of Philadelphia, Michael A. Nutter. In the course of the filmed interview (clips coming soon), Mayor Nutter expressed his enthusiasm about the Envision project and his belief that a museum of peace and justice could yield many practical benefits to the city and its residents.

Envision Peace Museum is in a strategic planning phase, charting its course of development for its coming years. Soliciting input from the Museum’s future audience – thought leaders, potential partners, and targeted user groups is an essential part of the planning process.

On June 4th and 5th, 2010, nearly one hundred people gathered at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia to participate in a Strategic Planning Conference hosted by and for the benefit of Envision. Read More »

We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Howard Zinn, the first distinguished peace leader to add his name to Envision’s International Advisory Board.  An author, teacher, and political activist, Zinn is best-known for A People’s History of the United States, a brilliant alternative to mainstream history texts.  Zinn’s legacy is far-reaching. He has inspired civil rights organizers and activists, as well as prominent authors and performers including Alice Walker and Bruce Springsteen. Howard Zinn’s status as the first member of Envision’s International Advisory Board sets a high standard.  The Envision Community will miss his wisdom, inspiration, and support.

In May, 2009, the Board of Envision Peace Museum announced with great pleasure the appointment of Michael Yves Gagné as the Museum’s first Director. Michael comes with a background in community organizing. A skilled trainer, project leader, and manager, Michael brings demonstrated strengths in strategic planning, coalition-building, communications, and fundraising. His past involvements include periods with Green Corps, Corporate Accountability International, and the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters. Among his many accomplishments, he was profiled as a “Green Hero” on Canada’s national television network, CBC. Look for Michael to make a strong imprint, as the Museum takes shape.

Professors and students at several colleges and universities have generously shared pro-bono design services with Envision. In Autumn 2008, some 50 architectural students at Drexel University, guided by five distinguished professors, developed conceptual renderings of the Museum building. See examples elsewhere.

Imagine a museum that is entertaining, engaging, educational and provocative, where within a multi-level and spacious building, exhibits explore the roots, the meanings, the visions, and the strategies of peace and justice.

Just as peace has many facets, some areas of this museum are geared toward individuals seeking more personal tranquility, whereas others have been designed for groups seeking challenge and adventure – including quests, interactive gaming, music, and discussion circles.

Envision is not a place to come to for final answers. Rather, visitors explore big questions, new tools and perspectives, and draw their own conclusions.

Envision’s ability to demonstrate what this vision might look like took a substantial leap forward when 16 international graduate students from one of the nation’s premier exhibit-design programs studied the question for an entire semester in the fall of 2009.  Working with Envision’s Content Committee, and led by the well-known exhibit designer and educator Norman Bleckner, students at FIT/SUNY tackled the question of how to make peace and nonviolent action clear, exciting, and persuasive. As you can tell from the images on this website, their talents produced creative and exciting ideas.

The exhibit Master Plan under development will continue to unfold through 2011. If you have input to share or suggestions to make, use the contact page to be in touch.

Coming soon – an updated narrative walk-through of the museum with illustrations