Lyon College will promote peace and kindness this September in recognition of Arkansas Peace Week.

The Fourth Annual Lyon College Peace Rally will be held Thursday, Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. on the back steps of the Brown Fine Arts Building. This event will take the place of chapel this week.

Sponsored by the Chaplain’s Office and the Director of Diversity, the Peace Rally is open to everyone both on and off campus.

Lyon’s chaplain, the Rev. Magaret Alsup, said this year’s event will focus on the theme of kindness and how it “can lead us to peace.”

“In a world where peace seems to be lacking and kindness can be hard to find, we will focus on ways we can be kind to ourselves and our community.”

The event coincides with Arkansas Peace Week, which is from Monday, Sept. 16, to Friday, Sept. 20. International Peace Day is on Saturday, Sept. 21. Alsup said that is why Lyon will hold the Peace Rally during that week.

This year’s guest speaker will be Lindsey Carter, executive director of the Child Advocacy Center (CAC). Carter will share how kindness is at the center of her job and how people can be kind to all those they encounter.

A community reflection time will follow. People who have gathered can paint rocks with words of encouragement to be placed in one of two “Kindness Rocks” gardens— one on Lyon’s campus and the other on the CAC campus.

A community luncheon will follow on Couch Garden.