The GWEN Luminary Award Ceremony, Los Angeles, California, USA

September 18, 2025

On September 18, 2025, the 10th Annual GWEN Luminary Awards honored extraordinary leaders who inspire change, empower communities, and create peace through storytelling, innovation, and compassion. We also made history on this day by planting the Peace Pole gifted by The Goi Peace Foundation on top of the Hollywood Hills at Yamashiro Restaurant, shining light upon the epicenter of entertainment to bring peace through films, TV, and social impact programs. 

As part of the awards program, we held a Peace Pole ceremony, facilitated by Maki Saionji-Kawamura of the Goi Peace Foundation.

Participants wrote their thoughts of peace on paper and placed them on the Peace Pole, and before the establishment, there was a meditation where each person shared “the place, person, situation you want to send peace to at this moment.”  Afterwards, they all chanted “May Peace Prevail On Earth” for Humanity in the World, and united the thoughts of the participants.

Motown Music Industry Legend Mickie Stevenson, long-time leader of the reintegration program in America’s prisons and correctional facilities, Dr. Mary Ann Ross, National Association of Women Veterans Founder, Tara Jones, Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete, Yumi’s Universe artist Joel Christopher Payne, former NBA player AC Green, and others joined us. It was a special time to pray for peace with everyone from the worlds of sports, entertainment, social activities, and politics.

Thank you very much to everyone who participated on the day who created this wonderful place together, and to the organizer Tess Cacciator, CEO/Founder Global Women’s Empowerment Network – (Executive of the GWEN Luminary Awards – 10th annual GWEN Luminary Awards) for providing us with the opportunity to create such a place.
Next time you are up at Yamashiro (a historic Japanese restaurant in the Hollywood Hills, behind the Magic Castle), visit the Peace Pole and share your loving, peaceful energy.

This year’s incredible honorees include:
Mickey Stevenson – GWEN Legendary Music Award: He is the first A&R executive at Motown. (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, and more)
Dr. Mary Ann Ross – GWEN Luminary Award –  long-time leader of the reintegration program in America’s prisons and correctional facilities
Carmel Rivello Maguire – GWEN Golden Gal 
Sandra de Castro Buffington – GWEN Social Impact Award – Advocate for Social Responsibility for TV, Film, and more
Mussie Hailu – GWEN Global Humanitarian Award – URI and Peace Advocate
GOI PEACE FOUNDATION Masami Saionji – GWEN Global Peace Award – you know these ❣️
Tara Jones – GWEN Luminary Award – Head of the Women’s Veterans Association
AC Green – GWEN Luminary Award – Humanitarian and NBA champion “Iron Man”
Chosen for Change (Michael Brown) – GWEN Community Impact Award – Chosen for Change with regard 
Dr. Mary Casey – GWEN Luminary Award

Together, we honor these visionaries who are lighting the way for a more peaceful, just, and united world. 

#MayPeacePrevailOnEarth #GWENLuminaryAwards #PeaceThroughStorytelling #GlobalImpact @GoiPeaceFoundation @UnGunInstitute @URI #ChosenforChange

May Peace Prevail On Earth

Maki Saionji