Barbara Villaseñor is a member of PEP’s Executive team. For the 34th year, her family gathered on the family grounds to practice peace and give thanks in the simplest, most joyful way they know how. Every November, on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, they open their home and their hearts to the public for what they call Snow Goose Global Thanksgiving.

It began decades ago with a simple insight from Barb’s ex-husband Victor, a writer who still lives in his own house just across the lawn from her:

Here is how his writings have been described: Victor Villaseñor is the internationally acclaimed, bestselling author whose luminous storytelling has touched the hearts of millions around the world. Best known for his classic family saga "Rain of Gold" – hailed as the Latino Roots – Villaseñor brings the vibrant struggles, triumphs, and spirit of Mexican and Indigenous people to life. His books have become literary treasures, taught in schools, cherished by families, and celebrated for their truth, humor, and unshakable Global Hope of One Race, Our Human Race, and that we’re all basically good people in Our Hearts and Souls.

What he said to Barbara was, “Valentine’s Day celebrates love. The Fourth of July celebrates patriotism. Why don’t we have a day to practice peace?”

So, they created this special day and called it Snow Goose Global Thanksgiving.

And why Snow Goose? Because for millions of years, snow geese have flown in perfect harmony. The strongest males take turns breaking the wind so the others — especially the females and the young — can keep up. They move forward together, as a united flock. They are a symbol of what peaceful cooperation truly looks like.

Snow Goose Global Thanksgiving isn’t political, and it isn’t tied to any religion. It’s a day for people — neighbors, strangers, families, newcomers — to gather as a community, share food, listen to music, and meet someone they’ve never met before. Everyone brings a dish to contribute to a long buffet table; the family provides live music; admission is free; and every single person is welcome.

The very first Snow Goose Global Thanksgiving was held in Madrid, Spain. The second was in Plymouth, Massachusetts. And every year since, the dream has remained the same: to give people a way to practice peace, not just talk about it.

This year at the Villaseñor home, about 150 people joined in. Before Covid, they had typically more than 500, and in earlier years they saw 12 other communities around the country hosting their own Global Thanksgiving celebrations. Its unsure now how many are still happening, but the original vision was never about making one gathering bigger — it was about inspiring millions of small celebrations everywhere. The vision is peace practiced in every town, every neighborhood, every garden, every home willing to open its doors.

Project Enduring Peace believes small acts — moments of community unity and connection are the seeds and reflective of the global peace system PEP is working to secure using our specially created video and the peace petition you have signed. Links to both of them are found on our website, www.projectep.org. If we believe in it and work for it, we can create a world where cooperation replaces conflict, and where people everywhere decide to fly forward together.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. You may even want to host your own Snow Goose Global Thanksgiving.  Please continue to share our video with others and encourage them to sign the petition. 

May peace be something we can all practice — not just hope for.

With gratitude,                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Project Enduring Peace

For All Children. For All Time. No More War!