This issue is dedicated to the memory of Peter Yarrow
In Memoriam: Peter Yarrow (1938-2025)
Destination Peace Ambassador & Source of Inspiration
It is with profound sadness that we honor the life and legacy of Peter Yarrow, beloved member of the iconic folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary, who passed away in 2025. Peter served as a Destination Peace Ambassador, lending his voice and vision to our mission of building peace through music.
A Personal Tribute from Emanuel C. Perlman:
“Peter, your music has uplifted my soul for years, long before our first meeting. Your song, as in the 60s, remains a striking anthem for our aspirations of peace. Your lifelong dream of chasing after peace and establishing a unity of spirit, will remain with us forever.”
Peter Yarrow dedicated his life to the belief that music could change the world. His legacy lives on in every song sung for justice, every voice raised for peace, and in the continuing work of Destination Peace. We carry his spirit forward, measure by measure.
Welcome Section
Dear Valued Supporters and Friends of Destination Peace,
Welcome to this special combined November/December 2025 year in review edition of the Destination Peace Digest. As we close out this remarkable year, we are thrilled to share exciting news about upcoming engagements that will carry our mission of peace through music into 2026.
The momentum from the World Peace Day celebration presided by Chukwuma Okenwa in Enugu, Nigeria, and the successful global launch of our founder’s new book Reclaiming Respect continues to propel our destination of peace forward. We are honored to announce significant upcoming appearances that demonstrate the growing recognition of music as a universal tool for cross cultural connection and peacebuilding.
This edition highlights our recent media appearances on TVC, shares reflections on our West African journey and announces two exciting presentations for early 2026: a featured appearance at The Explorers Club Hawaii Chapter in Honolulu and a collaborative workshop at The Voice Foundation’s 55th Annual Symposium in Philadelphia.
With gratitude and hope for the new year,
Destination Peace
UPCOMING: The Explorers Club Hawaii Chapter in February 2026
We are honored to announce that Emanuel C. Perlman will be presenting at The Explorers Club Hawaii Chapter in Honolulu this February. Founded in 1904, The Explorers Club has been at the forefront of promoting scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space. The Hawaii Chapter, incorporated in 2017, continues this tradition of fostering discovery and exploration.
Sasha Eha Tozi Hawoo:
A Musical Peace Expedition Across West Africa
Exploring New Frontiers: Music as a Tool for
Cross Cultural Connection in Ghana and Nigeria
This presentation will chronicle Destination Peace’s groundbreaking musical peace expedition across West Africa, demonstrating how our eight-syllable universal phrase Sasha Eha Tozi Hawoo® designed to replicate sounds from 124 global languages serves as a bridge connecting diverse communities. Attendees will learn how music transcends linguistic barriers to foster understanding, healing, and peace among populations that may have little else in common.
The Explorers Club Hawaii Chapter typically hosts explorers, scientists, and curious minds committed to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. We are grateful for this opportunity to share our unique approach to peacebuilding with this distinguished community.
CONFIRMED: The Voice Foundation in May 2026
We are delighted to confirm that Emanuel C. Perlman will co-lead a workshop with Grammy Award winning artist Chandrika Tandon at The Voice Foundation’s 55th Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice, to be held May 27-31, 2026, in historic Philadelphia.
Harmonizing Humanity:
Voice, Chant, and the Universal Language of Peace
About Chandrika Tandon: Chandrika Tandon is a globally recognized business leader, Grammy Award winning artist, and humanitarian whose mission is to elevate human happiness through music and education. Her album Triveni won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album.
Chandrika’s music draws on ancient Vedic chants with sound healing impact, melded with Indian classical music. She has performed at prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and Washington D.C.’s National Mall. Beyond music, she chairs the Board of NYU Tandon School of Engineering and serves as a trustee of New York University.
About The Voice Foundation: For over 50 years, The Voice Foundation has advanced the understanding, care, and training of the human voice by uniting clinicians, scientists, teachers, and performers. The Annual Symposium is a five-day international meeting featuring advanced programming presented by leading professionals in voice care. More than 500 voice care professionals attend from approximately 35 states and 30 countries.
This workshop will explore how voice, chant, and music serve as universal tools for peacebuilding and cross-cultural connection bringing together Chandrika’s expertise in healing chants with Destination Peace’s methodology of using music to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers.
Destination Peace’s Expanding Media Presence and Foreign Correspondent Role
In 2025, Destination Peace significantly expanded its international media presence, with founder Emanuel C. Perlman emerging as both a respected global analyst and an increasingly active foreign correspondent. This growth has been strengthened by a deepening collaboration with Chukwuma Ephraim Okenwa, CEO of Lead Network Africa and Destination Peace Ambassador, whose regional expertise and civic leadership have become integral to Destination Peace’s work in West Africa.
Across multiple appearances on TVC News Nigeria, a network reaching more than 24 million daily viewers, Perlman provided analysis on Middle Eastern geopolitics, U.S. political transitions, and global governance. His commentary on the Gaza humanitarian crisis, institutional bias in international bodies, and Nancy Pelosi’s retirement, positioned Destination Peace as a credible voice within one of Africa’s most influential news networks.
Perlman’s correspondent role came into sharper focus through his substantive reporting on Afia TV’s “The Eastern Eye.” Joined by Chukwuma Okenwa, he delivered in-depth coverage of Southeast Nigeria’s tourism and economic development potential. Their combined perspectives, Perlman’s immersive, relationship driven reporting and Okenwa’s distinguished civic leadership offered a distinctive counter narrative to prevailing international stereotypes about Nigeria. Together, they highlighted regional innovation, community resilience, and development opportunities often overlooked in global media.
Perlman’s field-based reporting emphasized authentic cultural engagement and firsthand observation, culminating in an original musical tribute to Enugu that underscored his personal investment in the communities he covers. His growing association with Okenwa and Lead Network Africa has expanded Destination Peace’s global outreach and deepened its capacity for responsible, community rooted journalism.
Collectively, these media engagements reflect Destination Peace’s evolution into a multiplatform source for informed global analysis spanning the Middle Eastern conflict, U.S. governance, African regional development, and cultural diplomacy. Perlman’s dual role as commentator and correspondent, combined with his expanding partnership with Okenwa, positions Destination Peace as an organization committed to accountability, human welfare, and multi-dimensional storytelling grounded in both policy expertise and lived experience.
MEDIA HIGHLIGHT: Inspire You & Me Episode 343 | Hosted by Jessica Lani Rich | KFVE Hawaii
Our Founder & CEO was featured on “Inspire You & Me,” a weekly 30-minute television program highlighting people making a difference in their communities and the world. Since 2016, the show has produced over 300 inspirational stories. This episode explored Emanuel’s pursuit of spreading world peace through music and Destination Peace’s mission of using music as a universal language for conflict resolution.
Quote from Our Founder
“When we sing together, whether in Honolulu, Philadelphia, or Enugu we discover that the language of peace needs no translation. Music is the universal voice that reminds us we are all members of one human family.”
Emanuel C. Perlman
2025 Year in Review
A year of courage, connection, and global bridge-building
2025 was a year in which peace was not merely discussed… it was lived. Across continents and cultures, in castles and classrooms, in palaces and community centers, Destination Peace International advanced a vision of dignity centered leadership rooted in memory, music, and moral clarity.
Global Milestones & Premieres
U.S. Premiere of One True Voice – Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center, Baltimore:
The American debut transformed a Baltimore community space into a civic sanctuary for justice and intergenerational healing. Educators, clergy, civic leaders, and community members gathered to explore how music, memory, and moral courage can reshape public life.
World Peace Day – Enugu, Nigeria:
More than 1,000 participants filled The Base Landmark Centre for a historic Peace Summit featuring the international premiere of One True Voice. The event united traditional rulers, educators, youth leaders, artists, and civic partners in a shared call for dignity and dialogue.
International Peace Designee Honor:
During the World Peace Day celebration, Emanuel C. Perlman delivered the keynote address and received international recognition for peace leadership recognizing five decades of global peacebuilding across 46 countries.
Global Launch of Reclaiming Respect – October 16, 2025:
Over 70 attendees from six continents joined the virtual launch, now available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and major booksellers worldwide. Neuroscientists, educators, development leaders, and artists affirmed the book’s value as a practical guide to restoring dignity in a divided world.
Diplomacy, Cultural Heritage & Field Missions
Royal Audience & Palace Visit:
Our founder and his wife, Janice, were warmly received by His Royal Majesty King Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu in his palace, a moment of cultural diplomacy that affirmed the deepening partnership between traditional leadership and modern peace initiatives. His Royal Highness has become a Destination Peace Ambassador.
Ghana’s Elmina & Cape Coast Castles – A Pilgrimage of Memory:
Visits to the slave dungeons created an experience with profound historical trauma. Through music, reflection, and dialogue, the journey honored ancestors while inspiring new pathways toward unity and healing.
Airport Presidential Style Welcome in Enugu:
Emanuel and Janice Perlman were welcomed with drummers, dancers, dignitaries, and Special Forces, a testament to the region’s embrace of Destination Peace’s mission.
Education, Youth Leadership & Community Engagement
Queens Model School – Chant Demonstration & Graduation Honors:
Hundreds of enthusiastic students and faculty participated in a live demonstration of Emanuel’s chant methodology, showcasing music’s power to synchronize hearts and minds. Emanuel and Janice also presented certificates at the Nursery and Primary graduation, celebrating the next generation of peacebuilders.
Leadership & Career Summit at IMT:
Destination Peace collaborated with the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) for a Leadership and Career Summit, visited the IMT Art Gallery, and engaged in strategic dialogue about integrating peace education into institutional life. The distinguished Rector, Prof. Gozie Ogbodo became a Destination Peace Ambassador.
Peace Builders Summit:
Religious leaders, traditional rulers, and civic advocates gathered for a summit on shared values, unity, and practical pathways to peace amplified through AFIA TV and regional media.
Peaceful Homes Podcast:
Launch of the new podcast series hosted by Uche and Chukwuma Okenwa, focusing on strengthening families and communities.
Media Expansion & Narrative Transformation
AFIA TV’s Eastern Eye – Tourism, Culture & Peace:
On AFIA TV’s flagship program, Emanuel and Chukwuma Ephraim Okenwa explored with the celebrated host Alex Ogbodo, a Destination Peace Ambassador, how cultural tourism can drive economic growth, preserve heritage, and strengthen community identity.
TVC News Nigeria – Global Diplomacy in Prime Time: Emanuel’s appearances on TVC News brought principled leadership and cross-cultural insight to millions across Africa.
Reframing Africa’s Narrative:
Through media, writing, and field reporting, Destination Peace worked to counter reductive stereotypes and elevate African innovation, resilience, and leadership.
Groundbreaking Conversations – A Platform for Heroes, Innovators & Luminaries
Co-hosted by Naila Chowdhury and Emanuel C. Perlman, Groundbreaking Conversations emerged as one of the year’s most powerful platforms for elevating voices of conscience. Each episode transforms personal struggle into a collective anthem of triumph.
Featured Stories of Resilience:
UPCOMING – January 2026:
Twyla N. Garrett: Serial Entrepreneur, White House Invitee & International Developer: A motivational speaker and bestselling author from Cleveland, Ohio, Twyla founded a Homeland Security consulting firm and later a construction management company, earning an invitation to The White House to speak on job creation and economic growth. Her book My Mother’s Words chronicles how she transformed a childhood of abuse into entrepreneurial success. Now she’s building “Beyond the Blueprint” in Ghana, developing housing with local materials and workers in partnership with Chief Nana Obokese Ampah.
Previous Episodes:
- Marion Lazan – Holocaust Survivor: A child survivor whose testimony offers a moral compass for generations.
- Gary Bowersox – Gem Hunter of Afghanistan: A real-life adventurer whose courage and curiosity illuminate the pursuit of meaning in dangerous landscapes.
- Katherine Sy – Survivor of the Chinese Cultural Revolution: Her escape through shark-infested waters and treacherous terrain embodies ingenuity and unyielding determination.
- Ruxandra – Survivor of Romanian Persecution: A story of breaking free from oppression to build a life rooted in dignity.
- Chukwuma Ephraim Okenwa – Founder, Lead Africa Network: A visionary leader whose work empowers youth and strengthens civic institutions across Africa.
Groundbreaking Conversations ensures that the world does not merely remember these stories – it learns from them.
Upcoming Events 2026
- February 2026: The Explorers Club Hawaii Chapter, Honolulu – Sasha Eha Tozi Hawoo®: A Musical Peace Expedition Across West Africa
- May 27-31, 2026: The Voice Foundation 55th Annual Symposium, Philadelphia – Workshop with Chandrika Tandon: Harmonizing Humanity: Voice, Chant, and the Universal Language of Peace
- Ongoing: European Peace Tour planning and international expansion initiatives
- Strategic Horizons 2025-2026: Building on work in Ghana and Nigeria, Destination Peace is preparing new peace forums, workshops, and exchanges across China, Hong Kong, and North Macedonia. Each engagement adapts the Destination Peace framework, music, memory, respect, and narrative repair to local histories and needs.
Our Latest Posts
- Respect is the Missing Measure in Our Global Symphony of Peace
- Reclaiming Respect in a Post Pandemic World
- Over 70 Global Leaders Gather for Virtual Launch of Reclaiming Respect
- “Sometimes courage flows to where it earns the safest applause.” E.C.P. – Destination Peace
Visit destinationpeace.org/blog for more articles and insights.
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Looking Ahead
As 2025 draws to a close, we enter 2026 with renewed purpose and expanded opportunities. Our upcoming presentations at The Explorers Club and The Voice Foundation represent significant milestones in bringing Destination Peace’s message to new audiences from scientific explorers in Hawaii to voice professionals in Philadelphia.
The collaboration with Grammy Award winning artist Chandrika Tandon exemplifies our belief that music and voice are universal tools for healing and connection. Together, we will demonstrate how ancient traditions of chant and song can address modern challenges of division and disconnection.
We invite you to join us on this continuing journey, whether by attending our presentations, reading Reclaiming Respect, listening to the Peaceful Homes podcast, or simply practicing the principles of respect and harmony in your daily interactions.
From standing in centuries old castles to standing before thousands at a Peace Summit… From intimate conversations with survivors to expansive media broadcasts across Africa… From the pages of a book to the voices of students chanting in unison…
2025 affirmed a simple truth: Peace is more than an aspiration… it is a practice and together, we are practicing it boldly.
2026 we are actively creating a peaceful world, one respectful conversation, one shared song, one connection at a time.
Destination Peace International Inc.
Peace… Measure by Measure. destinationpeace.org
