SHELLYE DAVIS STATEMENT WHEN SHE WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED TO BE A WORLD PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE– Friday, April 8, 2022
Executive Vice President Davis said: “I am profoundly honored, humbled, and blessed to accept this World Peace Prize award of ‘Roving Ambassador for Peace. ‘It is great to receive an award of this magnitude on behalf of all those who have stood with me on this journey. Words cannot begin to translate what this means to me personally. But I try to be a beacon of light and hope for those who fight for equality and justice day after day. We all deserve to be treated fairly and have a seat at the table. I have made every attempt possible to be a voice for others who have been silenced.
I believe social justice is a key component to achieve peace. I have seen firsthand that solidarity is ‘a must’ to stimulate justice. No matter what part we play, just as every knit in a sweater is equally important, we can only make an impact together. As I child, I was fortunate to have loving parents, Vernal Davis and Alice Davis, who were advocates for education and being of service to others. They instilled in me the mantra: ‘We do what we can when we can.’ When others have done all they can, we pick up the mantle and carry it because as it stated in 1 Corinthians 13:13, NKJV:’- And now abide faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.’
I have faith that we can do it. I work with the hope that together we can change any injustice. When I see an opportunity to be of service, I do it in love because I know it will make a difference. Our future depends on being active and present now. I am deeply grateful to Fr. Sean McManus and Barbara Flaherty— also a Judge on the Awarding Council and Chairperson of the World Peace Prize Presentation Ceremony— for this World Peace Prize award.”
ACCEPTANCE ADDRESS
June 29, 2022.
First, I give thanks to God who guides my footsteps.
Thank you, Father McManus and Barbara Flaherty.
Thank you for this distinguished honor.
I thank the Irish National Caucus/Irish Peace Foundation for understanding Labor fights for Peace, Justice, and Economic opportunities for working people.
I want to thank the late and great President Richard Trumka’s vision and passion to help formally launch the World Peace Prize within the Labor Movement on February 3, 2016. He was pleased the World Peace Prize has connected the Labor fight for social justice with the building of peace nationally & globally. I am humbled & blessed to carry that baton forward.
I am so grateful my mother and father who taught me to always look both ways —to use my voice and to do the right thing even if no one was watching.
I am inspired and encouraged to continue this journey. Some days are more challenging than others, but something happens when you stand in the trenches and experience the ultimate reward of letting others see that someone cares. That growth and progress continue with hope. I know that it is important to let people know that their work matters.
I am grateful that someone believed in me. That someone knew I was capable to be more. That I was capable to do more. For every struggle and setback strength comes from knowing our history. Knowing that someone fought for us, and it is important to fight for others. And I will always be an advocate and defender for what is right.
I will continue to fight for justice.
I will continue to fight for equality, diversity and inclusion.
I will continue to fight for fair treatment.
I will continue to find the U and I in U-N-I-T-Y.
Without peace there is no justice.
Thank you for sharing this moment with me. It means so much when you know your efforts are appreciated. But I never did this for an award. I do this because I can. I do it because GOD allows me to. I just pray that I can continue to be an impact. It just goes to show that the blessing is truly in being of service to others.
Thank you all for coming. I am truly honored, humbled, and blessed. I accept this award in honor of all the people that came before me so that I would have the opportunity to do the same.
As Fr. Mc Manus says…
“In solidarity—for ‘peace is the fruit of solidarity.’ “
Thank you.
Shellye Davis
Executive Vice President
CT-AFL-CIO
